The Truth Talk to me

I use a process in my work that gets me to the core of any challenge, and leads to what I call an Essential Truth that – once formulated – informs everything else. So, what’s the Truth about Andrew Crighton and iPrimate? It’s HELP.

I’m at a place in my career where I’m exploring new horizons and breaking boundaries to help others… and help myself. I’ll tell you a lot more about it sometime, but, essentially, the new horizons have to do with VOCATION and the breaking boundaries has to do with LOCATION.

VOCATION means publishing… for a writer. And for this writer that means non-traditional publishing (you’re reading it). And it means content (you’re reading it). Whether my new horizons serve ME or YOU, they’re challenging and rewarding.

LOCATION is about flexibility. Kids have gone; home in the city less relevant. I still have one foot in Toronto, but I’m really living on the shores of Georgian Bay. Some people know I have a 1989 Volkswagen bus/camper in which I can go anywhere, anytime to write. And meet. And collaborate. But, mostly, breaking boundaries has to do with the Internet. I’m determined to get more clients/patrons/working relationships/ partners in other geographies, because we all really share the same geography, these days (you’re reading it).

So, it’s about VOCATION, LOCATION. And it’s about HELP.

May I?

Andrew Crighton, iPrimate
127 Kingswood Road
Toronto, Ontario m4e 3n4
416.356.4262

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Home / iCOACH – Crighton’s Criteria

February 1, 2010

iCOACH – Crighton’s Criteria

Crighton's Criteria Label

The most important factor in becoming a better speaker (even if you’re already a passably good one) is a willingness to open yourself to coaching – to listen to what someone else sees and hears, and to adapt accordingly.  I have a small, exclusive speech coaching practice that deals with two areas of excellence:

  1. Public speaking
  2. Presentation development

For more than 30 years my job has been to help people communicate their ideas – and one area I have specialized in is helping people feel confident when they walk up to the podium, and turn round to face an audience.  I’ve put on-stage a colourful assortment of CEO’s, presidents, world leaders and unlikely personalities.  In many cases, I write what they speak, too.  We collaborate in developing creative presentation ideas that bring to life what they want to get across.  And then I help them to improve the delivery of the ideas.  My goal is to transform a mere speech into an engaging performance.

I have developed some simple tools to do this work – Crighton’s Criteria.  I call them a set-of-rules-that-set-you-free-to-be-the-best-you-can-be-on-stage.  In a mouthful, there are 15 of them. A ll begin with the letter ’P’.

I love this part of my work, because it’s the one thing I do that brings me into close contact with people, and allows me to make a direct impact on their lives.

So check out each of my Criteria (below) and/or read a bit more about my background in this area.

Poise: How comfortable is your presentation for you? How comfortable does it make your audience feel? READ MORE »

Posture: What is it communicating?  Stand tall.  Stand proud. READ MORE»

Podium: Crutch… or a tool?  Don’t cling to it. READ MORE»

Pacing: Fast, slow.  Change gears.   Slow it down.  And then slow it some more. READ MORE»

Pausing: What you don’t say can be more important than what you do. READ MORE»

Patterns: Test the boundaries of your dynamic range. READ MORE»

Pronunciation: Be deliberate.  Mind your P’s and Q’s, as if you’re talking to an audience of 8 year-olds. READ MORE»

Pitch: Choose your place on the octave, and find your own, sweet tone. READ MORE»

Personality: Let your personality out – it can be scary. I can only recommend one solution.  Do it. READ MORE»

Poetry: Words are magical tools that can fire the imagination, lift the spirit, or cut to the heart. READ MORE»

Passion: If you really feel what you’re saying, your audience will too. Put your emotions on display. Be “unreasonable”. READ MORE»

Permission: When you stand on stage, you have permission to deliver a performance.  Take it. READ MORE»

Practice: It makes perfect. READ MORE»