 People may give many speeches during their careers, but there is something special about giving a talk as you accept an award. It’s a unique moment to be asked to share what this honor means as you talk about the events that led up to this point. While folks may have an idea of what they’d like to highlight during their speech, how to start it can be overwhelming. I’ve found the best way to begin an award talk, is to start by reflecting on what this moment means. Reflection is a powerful tool and it can be used in a variety of ways.
That’s why you could open your talk with: When I found out I got this award, I started to reflect on everything it’s taken to get to this point. When I first started (this project, my career, learning this skill)... I never envisioned I would end up here. I remember attending this conference early on in my career and seeing someone else get this award. I was so inspired by that person’s journey… and it’s amazing to be standing here today. I never imagined I’d be up here accepting this award. I remember when I was first starting out I thought I would be… Inspiration is unpredictable. You never know what you’ll be doing when an idea comes to you. I remember being in… I may be the one getting this award, but I did not get here alone. There were some very important people I was lucky enough to work with, and it’s with their partnership that I am standing here today. When I was younger, I always wanted to be… I dreamed of… This is an amazing honor. And I have to say that getting here has been quite an adventure. When I think back on it, a few key moments really stand out. If you have the rare opportunity to give a talk as you receive an award, try opening the speech by reflecting on what this moment means. It’ll help you connect with the audience as you share your important work. Author: Bri McWhorter, MFA © Activate to Captivate, LLC  Certain phrases tend to get repeated often—in meetings, presentations, and everyday conversations. Over time, we start to echo them in our own communication, often without thinking.
But some of these familiar phrases are less effective than they seem — especially those that draw attention to what we don’t want people to focus on. When we highlight what’s not important, we risk distracting our audience from what truly matters. It's far more effective to guide their attention to the key points you want them to take away. That’s why I recommend rephrasing the following: Original: I won’t read this all to you, but… Rephrased: I’d like to direct your attention to… Original: You don’t need to remember everything here, but… Rephrased: What’s important to remember is… Original: I know there’s not a lot of time left, so… Rephrased: Right now, I’d like to emphasize… Original: I’m not going to go through all of this, but… Rephrased: I’d like to highlight… Original: I won’t discuss all of these details, but… Rephrased: The main point is… If you want your audience to focus, don’t draw attention to what you’re skipping. Instead, emphasize what matters. These subtle shifts in language can make your message more impactful and help your audience engage with the important details you’ve shared. Author: Bri McWhorter, MFA © Activate to Captivate, LLC  Facilitators put time, care, and effort into crafting an engaging agenda. With so many moving parts, it’s a skill to keep everything moving and discussions on track. That’s why it’s good to be aware of various pitfalls that can undermine the energy and impact of an event. One of the most destructive patterns to be aware of is — the negative discussion spiral.
When there’s a packed agenda, people can get tired; and stress and fatigue are powerful emotions. If the conversation goes on long enough, it’s easy for a negative topic to be brought up. While there’s nothing wrong with discussing problems, it’s important to know that stressful topics can spark a reaction. Once that spark gets lit, it can be difficult to manage. Now, just because something is negative, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be discussed. It is important for charged topics to have space. However, as a facilitator, it’s crucial to be aware of when these conversations happen. While each agenda is going to have unique factors at play, the main thing to remember — is not to end your event in a negative spiral. That’s because the feeling people have at the conclusion of an event, is the feeling that lasts the longest. If a negative spiral starts, it’s important for facilitators to be aware of the clock. If you realize there’s not much time left before the event ends, add a new question or reflection into the space. That way, there’s still time to pivot. If there isn’t a lot of time left, it might be better to diffuse the conversation by taking a moment to share a reflection or recap of the material covered throughout the entire day. Help bring people’s attention to the other parts that you actually want them to remember. Timing is important. While discussions will fluctuate, you don’t want a negative topic to override an event. Be aware of the clock and always be sure to end an event in a thoughtful and impactful way. Author: Bri McWhorter, MFA © Activate to Captivate, LLC  In a meeting, a team may need to cover a wide range of topics. That’s why whoever is leading the meeting is responsible for keeping the discussion moving, ensuring everything can be addressed. But because projects are often complex, figuring out the best order for these topics can be challenging.
To manage these shifts, many people rely on transition phrases like: On a completely different note… Let’s switch gears… We’re going to change topics now… Sometimes, these transition phrases can be useful as they help reset the energy in the room. They give people permission to let go of the previous subject so they can refocus on something new. However, when a team is already feeling overwhelmed and stressed about juggling various projects, these abrupt shifts might make things feel more scattered. Jumping between unrelated topics can max out people’s cognitive load and cause them to shut down. In these cases, using more connected transitions may be helpful. For example: This leads us to our next goal… On a related note… Now that we’ve talked about _____, we can discuss______. When our to-do list feels chaotic, even small connections between tasks can make a big difference. If your team seems stretched thin, try using connection-based transitions. They can help everything feel a bit more aligned—and a little less overwhelming. Author: Bri McWhorter, MFA © Activate to Captivate, LLC  Networking events are great because they give people an opportunity to connect. They provide space for people to mix, mingle, and meet new folks.
However, networking events can also be intimidating, especially if you’re at an event alone. Part of this is due to the fact that sometimes it can feel impolite to interrupt a group of people talking. However, when we keep to ourselves, we end up missing the purpose of a networking event — to make new connections with unique individuals. While it can be difficult to approach a new group of people, it’s easier when you have a few opening phrases to say. So at your next networking event, instead of worrying about what to say, try out these phrases instead:
Networking events can be intimidating, but they are far more manageable when you have opening phrases ready to use when trying to connect with new groups of people. Author: Bri McWhorter, MFA © Activate to Captivate, LLC  We often repeat the phrases we hear, which is why it's common to come to a meeting and hear things like:
"We have a lot to get through today.” "We have a packed agenda this morning.” "Let’s get started — there’s quite a few things to discuss." These phrases are typically meant to encourage focus and productivity. Unfortunately, they’re not always effective. In fact, these phrases can unintentionally send the wrong message. Instead of creating an extra motivation, they often highlight what’s lacking — time. Even though everyone has set aside time for the meeting, these phrases imply it’s still not enough. They emphasize how packed people’s days are, reminding them that even more effort is required. It’s true a meeting may have a full agenda. But if the goal is to empower the group, it’s worth choosing language that supports that goal. To inspire and energize your team, it’s better to start in another way. I recommend opening with something positive like gratitude, excitement, or appreciation. For example: "I’m so glad we had this time reserved to connect.” "I’m excited to hear everyone’s updates on this project.” "I appreciate you all coming today." Be mindful of how often your language reinforces scarcity — especially around time. People already carry plenty of stress. That’s why it’s helpful for leaders to choose phrases that center on abundance and appreciation instead. Author: Bri McWhorter © Activate to Captivate, LLC  Making a mistake is hard. It’s even harder when someone publicly points it out. Perhaps you misremembered a fact, reordered a timeline, or defined a term incorrectly, and someone stops you and brings attention to it. When someone calls out a mistake you made, I believe the best response—is to thank them.
However, this has to be more than a quick, yet polite, brush-off in order to move on to your next point. Your response has to be genuine. If someone corrected a potentially foundational miscommunication, thank them for helping clarify your message. By pausing, thanking the person, and acknowledging the misstep, you show your colleagues a few things: 1. You can handle mistakes with ease A great way to build trust on a team is by handling missteps graciously. For projects to succeed, we rely on being able to work well with one another, and part of that comes from feeling safe enough to step in when a mistake is made. 2. You are open to collaboration Great teams work because they can share ideas. If one person can’t acknowledge another person’s help, then it’s not really a team atmosphere. 3. You are comfortable acknowledging issues Many issues in organizations are preventable, but sometimes people aren’t able to acknowledge when they mess up. This creates mistrust in the team, the project, and organization. It’s much better when you work with people who can admit mishaps to help avoid issues in the future. When someone steps in to say you misspoke, they aren’t trying to point out how you failed, they are trying to help you succeed. Especially if it’s a foundational oversight, it’s important that someone corrected you early on. Real leaders are able to graciously acknowledge their mistakes. It helps build trust within the team and in your leadership capabilities. Author: Bri McWhorter © Activate to Captivate, LLC  Many speakers get thrown off when their presentation doesn’t match their rehearsal. Maybe they say something out of order or forget to mention a specific detail. While this might feel like a big deal to the speaker, the audience usually has no idea a mistake even occurred. That’s because they have no reference point since they don’t know how the presentation was originally planned. The only way they’ll notice an error, is if the speaker draws attention to it.
If you make a small mistake, just move on. If you realize you forgot an important detail, avoid saying, “Oh, I forgot to mention…” or “I meant to say this earlier…” Instead, seamlessly introduce the information with phrases like, “And something I’ll add is…” or “I’d also like to point out…” This helps the narrative move forward smoothly. If you do make a bigger mistake, try not to wince or react negatively. Instead, calmly say, “I’ll clarify that…” and continue. Try to handle presentation mishaps the same way you would in a regular conversation—with ease. Mistakes only become a big deal if you make them one. The more dramatic the reaction, the more memorable the mistake. Rehearsals are a preparation tool, not a rigid script. They help establish a strong foundation, but a live presentation is more dynamic. Factors like the audience, the room’s energy, and the moment itself make each talk unique. Part of what makes public speaking exciting is its unpredictability. Embracing these nuances allows for a more natural, engaging experience. In order to prepare for a presentation, remember to stay flexible and present. The audience isn’t there to judge whether everything goes exactly as planned—they’re there to connect with you and your story. Author: Bri McWhorter © Activate to Captivate, LLC  Subtle details can significantly impact the effectiveness of a presentation. One of the details that has a huge influence on a presentation, are the titles in a slide deck.
Titles serve an essential function in presentations. As the largest text on the slide, they naturally draw attention, making them a powerful tool when used effectively. Here are a few ways to leverage the power of titles: 1. Use Titles to Prompt Your Key Phrase It’s common for presenters to click to a new slide, glance at the title, and momentarily forget what they want to say. This often leads to filler words like “um” or “uh” as they try to recover their train of thought. To avoid this, place the key phrase or word you want to remember in the slide title. When you advance to a new slide, the title becomes your visual cue, guiding you to the right opening phrase. Not only does this create smoother transitions, but it also benefits your audience. When the words they see match the words they hear, it enhances clarity and keeps folks engaged from the start. 2. Avoid Questions in Titles Unless your presentation directly addresses specific questions (such as a research aim or customer inquiry), avoid using questions in your slide titles. Repeated question marks can subtly imply uncertainty around the work. Instead, it’s better to use statements. Statements convey confidence and stability, making your data or ideas feel more grounded. For example, a question like “Why is this important?” could be reframed as: “The Importance of This Work.” This shift reinforces certainty and strengthens the overall tone of the presentation. 3. Focus on Empowering Words Many slide titles inadvertently emphasize “effort” or “work,” which can unintentionally make the presentation feel like a list of challenges or burdens. Instead, highlight the goal or outcome in your title to create a more positive and motivational tone. For instance:
This adjustment can shift the focus from labor and effort towards empowerment and progress. Using your slide titles strategically by incorporating key phrases, avoiding unnecessary questions, and highlighting empowering words can elevate the entire presentation. Thoughtful, intentional titles not only guide your delivery but also create a more engaging and impactful experience for your audience. Author: Bri McWhorter © Activate to Captivate, LLC  People often ask me whether telling a joke during a presentation is a good idea. While jokes can be an effective way to connect with an audience, they come with risks. Audiences are unique, and their reactions can vary widely. When a joke falls flat, it can derail the entire presentation.
For this reason, I generally advise against using jokes in presentations. The challenge is that presenters have no control over how the audience will respond. Instead, I recommend focusing on having fun during your presentation. Unlike jokes, which rely on delivering a punchline and expecting a specific reaction, having fun doesn’t depend on audience feedback. When a speaker genuinely enjoys sharing a story or laughs at a situation, it creates an inviting atmosphere. This approach allows the audience to relax and enjoy the moment without feeling pressured to respond. Meanwhile, the presenter remains in a positive mindset, regardless of how the audience reacts. So, instead of aiming for a perfectly executed joke to engage your audience, focus on enjoying yourself. By shifting from relying on laughter to fostering joy, you create a welcoming space where the audience feels comfortable connecting with you and your message. Author: Bri McWhorter © Activate to Captivate, LLC  It’s a terrible feeling to “blank out” or “freeze” during a presentation. Everything comes to a screeching halt, adrenaline starts pumping throughout your body, and a small pause can seem like an eternity. To help presenters avoid this moment, I’ve identified three main things that can trigger a “blank out”.
1. When you click to a new slide People often blank when they switch to a new slide because, even though they know the content they’d like to share, they don’t know what sentence to say as they begin. This often happens because the words in the title of the slide don’t match the transition phrase the speaker wants to use. That’s why I recommend putting the key words you want to remember in the title. That way, when you click to a new slide, you see the phrase you want to share and you can keep the narrative smooth. 2. Trying to remember a script It’s common to blank out if you’re trying to remember a specific script. When people memorize something, they often read the script in their mind during the presentation. Unfortunately, if something happens in the room such as someone asks a question you weren’t expecting, or if you forget one word, the entire script can disappear from your mind. That’s why I like to think of my speeches as stories. Instead of visualizing the text in my mind, I visualize images in the narrative. I think of each slide as a piece of the story, not specific sentences I need to recite. By going into storytelling mode, you’ll be able to adapt to variables more easily, engage the audience more, and avoid moments where you freeze if you forget a minor word. 3. Replaying a previous rehearsal Rehearsing a presentation is important. You want to feel prepared before an important event. However, on the day of a presentation, people often try to “replay” how they rehearsed it. When that happens, speakers stop paying attention to the present moment and “rewind” to a previous time. They try to share the presentation like they practiced in the past, which can cause a speaker to blank out. The purpose of a rehearsal isn’t to give you something to “replay”. Rehearsals are a way to build a solid foundation for a talk so that you can get familiar with the material. When you’re giving a talk don’t think back in your mind to a previous moment. Instead, focus on sharing your story with the people in front of you. To help you avoid blanking out during a talk, add in key transition phrases on your slide, think of the presentation as a story, and trust that your rehearsals have prepared you for the present moment. Author: Bri McWhorter © Activate to Captivate, LLC  People often have a hard time starting a speech in an authentic and organic way. It can be difficult to transition smoothly from the opening of the talk to the main content. This transition is incredibly important, because the way you begin and continue a story should feel seamless. That’s why it’s helpful to have a few techniques to captivate an audience’s attention in a conversational and engaging way. I’ve found that the most powerful techniques can be broken down into three categories:
1. Location Commenting on the trip to a conference, the location of an event, or the area everyone is currently in, is a great way to open a talk because it helps focus everyone’s attention on the present moment. For example someone might open their speech by saying: “As I was sitting on the plane yesterday, I started thinking about how excited I was to meet with you all today.” “This conference is always one of my favorite events to attend.” “This is such a beautiful venue to be in with all of you.” Bringing up the location helps people focus on what is currently happening so they absorb the content you are about to share. 2. Reflection Another great way to open is through reflection. This can happen by sharing thoughts about what an event means, how you prepared for this moment, or thinking back to an earlier time in your career. For example, you could share: “It’s wonderful being with you at orientation today. It’s interesting because I remember when I first started graduate school…” “It’s truly an honor to welcome you all. The first time I ever attended this event was almost a decade ago.” “As I was preparing for this keynote, I started thinking back on my career and what moments had the biggest impact on me.” By being vulnerable and sharing something personal, the audience can easily connect with you on a deeper level. 3. Gratitude Being grateful is a wonderful and easy way to bring positivity into the room. People can comment on what the event means, how it’s nice working with a particular group, or how fun it’s been collaborating with the team for a certain project. For example you could open with: “I’m so glad that we get to have this yearly retreat. It’s important to get the opportunity to chat and connect with the wonderful people we have on this team.” “This is one of my favorite groups to collaborate with. I always appreciate how creative and passionate everyone is about the work we do.” “We are doing a lot of important work right now and the reason we’ve been able to make such a large impact is because of everyone in this room." Bringing appreciation into the room is an easy way to help set the tone for the rest of the speech. Finding an organic way to open a talk or a meeting is important. Talking about the location, reflecting on the moment, or sharing some gratitude, is a great strategy to easily connect and engage with an audience. Author: Bri McWhorter © Activate to Captivate, LLC  Whether you’re waiting for someone to log online, or you’re sitting in a conference room before a meeting, people often find themselves in situations where they need to fill time before an event begins. That’s why it’s important to plan out some topics to chat about. People usually connect over the weather, tv shows, sports, etc. But if you have repetitive meetings with people, you’ll want to expand your small talk repertoire.
That’s why I suggest thinking about: What would you like people to imagine you doing when you’re not working together? I like to think of activities in three categories: 1. When you’re not at work 2. When you’re collaborating with other departments 3. When you’re working on your current projects For example, perhaps you want people to envision you exploring new places by going hiking or traveling. Then, you could talk about a recent trip you had, or a place you’ve been researching that you’ll go to soon. Or, maybe you want people to imagine you collaborating with different departments. Then, you could share how you just came from a great meeting where you were working with someone on establishing a new initiative in your organization. Or, if you want folks to picture you actively working on your current project, you could share how you’ve been spending time creating a new presentation that you’re going to share with a client. No matter what you share during downtime, it’s an opportunity for folks to have more information about you that helps them visualize you in action. That’s why the stories you share through small talk are important. They give other people information to pull from when you’re not around. That’s why it’s good to be intentional about every opportunity you have to connect, including while you wait for something else to begin. Author: Bri McWhorter © Activate to Captivate, LLC  Time is one of the most important factors presenters need to be aware of during talks. People usually have packed calendars and it’s critical to respect their schedules. However, even though speakers are given a time limit for their presentations, it’s easy for timing issues to arise. Either the meeting is running behind, other speakers took too long, or tech issues prevented the talk from starting on schedule. That’s why many speakers find themselves having less time for their presentation than they originally planned for.
When this happens, it’s important to alter your message to help get the schedule back on track. You don’t want to be the person who prevented someone from leaving on time to pick up their kids, shortened a coffee break, or made someone late for another meeting. Plus, once your talk goes over the allotted time, people aren’t even paying attention to your message. Instead, they are watching the clock and thinking about the next activity they have planned. Therefore, if you realize you have to cut your presentation down, I recommend shortening the beginning of it since that’s usually when the supplemental information is shared. Instead of giving all the background that leads up to your point, state the main point of the slide in one sentence and then move on. Even if you have a lot of information on the slide, don’t explain it. Instead, relay the main point and continue on to your next idea. That way, you’ll still have enough time to spend on the important part of your talk. You don’t want to run out of time or attention on the message you’re actually there to share. For example, instead of explaining all the past research, simply say, “We’ve conducted a lot of research to reach this point.” Or, if you have a slide with all the different programs offered to students or employees, instead of going through all of the details you could say, “We have a lot of programs available.” Then, move on to your next point. Of course it would be more ideal to explain everything on your slides, but if you have to cut out information, omit the part that isn’t critical for this moment. The same tip can be applied if you find yourself over-explaining your slides in the middle of a presentation. If you suddenly realize you’re running low on time, simply state the point of the slide you have up, perhaps add in one detail, and then move on. Timing is important. That’s why it is crucial to have a plan in place for any scenario. It’s nice to be known as a speaker that people can count on no matter how much time you have. Author: Bri McWhorter © Activate to Captivate, LLC This newsletter is going to be a bit different, as this moment marks a very special occasion. Activate to Captivate has now been providing communication training for ten years!
This anniversary is quite meaningful to me, as it’s allowed me to take a moment and reflect on the tremendous journey I’ve had. From teaching a few workshops a year, to a few workshops a day, I am forever grateful to the people I’ve been able to coach and collaborate with for the last decade. It’s certainly not easy starting a small business. However, when you deeply love doing something, and you’re lucky enough to work with people who recommend your work to others, amazing things can happen. When I think of just some of the milestones I’ve had, including trademarking my own public speaking program, W.A.V.E.®, becoming an international speaker, leading workshops for numerous scientific foundations, having my services written into training grants, being an executive coach at various companies, and having worked with thousands of researchers at universities across the country… it is difficult to fully express what this moment means. To everyone I have been able to work with over the last decade, please know how thankful I am. Being able to spend every day facilitating communication workshops, helping people craft engaging presentations, and coaching folks as they prepare for promotions, has truly been the greatest gift — and it’s only possible because of all of you. I had no idea how wonderful the last ten years would be and I can only dream of what amazing adventures the next decade will bring! Author: Bri McWhorter © Activate to Captivate, LLC |
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AuthorBri McWhorter is the Founder and CEO of Activate to Captivate. Archives
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