Chuck Hooper

Author, speaking coach and business intelligence consultant

Chuck Hooper is an author, speaker and business intelligence consultant specializing in data visualization and analytics. His Course Correct biography describes more than five decades of business experience and workshops that help people become better speakers and presenters. It also introduces his book 59 Minutes to Great Storytelling.

Chuck's chapter recalls discovering that his presentations could do more than explain technical material. By using personal experiences and stories, he found ways to engage and encourage the people attending. That experience led him towards a greater focus on speaking and writing.

Understanding the audience is central to his approach. Chuck asks presenters to know their material, identify the purpose of a talk and consider what listeners need. He organizes a speech around a clear beginning, a developed middle and an ending that gives the audience something to remember.

Practice and mentoring also feature in his contribution. Chuck describes helping other speakers improve and encourages preparation that reduces distracting filler words. His chapter connects professional knowledge with the communication skills needed to make that knowledge useful to a room of people.