ABOUT THE BOOK

Briefly Speaking is a compendium of hundreds of Eloqui speaker tips, arranged into three books: Prepare, Present and Communicate. Readers can quickly access their desired topic and put these new skills into practice.

Each tip is supported by fascinating research and case studies from the world of sports, arts, politics, and science. These tips leverage performance techniques from the entertainment industry along with cognitive science and impression management.

 Speakers will use these books:

• When organizing and structuring important presentations
• To find and communicate their authentic voice
• When “stuff” happens, and they must quickly readjust, especially when the outcome is critical
• To stimulate imagination and creativity
• When they need safety nets, especially when circumstances change
• To serve as anti-stress remedies, while giving them confidence and authority
• When they need motivation to reach beyond their imagined limitations

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Deborah and David are skilled directors and corporate spokespersons with years of experience in the entertainment industry, as well as the corporate arena.  

DEBORAH SHAMES: 

Prior to founding Eloqui with David Booth, Deborah was an award-winning director of film and TV. She founded the only female-owned production company in the San Francisco Bay Area– Focal Point Productions, which she ran for 15 years. 

Deborah has directed luminaries including Wendie Malick, Rita Moreno, Danny Glover, and Angela Lansbury. To launch three of her independent films, she formed the video distribution company of Deborah Films. Today, Deborah is frequently engaged for national conferences as a keynote speaker or coach, and for leadership development training.

Deborah specializes in working with female executives. She preps authors, CEO’s, Olympic athletes, and TV anchors before national media tours, and works with celebrity and on-air talent at major studios. Deborah led a prominent business group in Calabasas and was honored as “Consultant of the Year” by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal. 

DAVID BOOTH: 

David has represented global corporations in trade shows throughout the U.S. and Europe.  He has served as spokesman and on-camera narrator for hundreds of training videos in banking, technology, energy, and telecommunications. 

David has also guest-starred on television series including The Practice, Judging Amy, Gilmore Girls and played Drew Barrymore’s father in the film Scream. 

David has an MFA in Directing, designed the Advanced Acting Program at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, performed leading roles at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and in the original ensemble of the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. He was Managing Director of the Tennessee Williams Center in Key West and acted in a Tennessee Williams world premiere. 

ELOQUI:

Deborah and David are co-founders of Eloqui, a business communication and presentation training firm based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They have translated performance techniques from the entertainment industry for the business professional. Eloqui training utilizes the latest research from neuroscience on how to be memorable. They also draw upon impression management from the field of psychology.

Their book Own the Room: Business Presentations that Persuade, Engage and Get Results was published by McGraw Hill. It has become a business bestseller and is in its third printing. 

Deborah’s book Out Front: How Women Can Become Engaging, Memorable and Fearless Speakers (2016), resulting in her being awarded the “Author of Influence” by the Women of Influence National Organization.