When you’re nervous about an upcoming presentation, it can cause stress on your body and mind which will impact on your ability to communicate your message effectively. In this article I outline a simple exercise to help combat the symptoms and instil a sense of calm; it can be done anywhere at any time you feel a little scattered, apprehensive or anxious.
What's the best piece of advice you've received about public speaking? In this article I share the two words that changed EVERYTHING for me about how I prepare and deliver presentations.
Long ago I lost count of the number of people who have said to me “I HATE public speaking!” But what if I told you that you could learn to love public speaking?
If you fear or loath public speaking and avoid it at all costs, you may be missing out on opportunities to promote your business, progress your career or share a few words about a special person at an important occasion such as a wedding or a funeral.
Having the right speakers and break out session facilitators is crucial to the success of an event. Therefore, if you’re in charge of planning, it’s important to put time, effort (and money) into finding the right speakers who will engage and inspire your audience and ensure your event is talked about for years to come. In this post I share my top tips to help you book the ideal speaker.
Are you using the most powerful tool in PowerPoint? Did you know about the power of the ‘B’ key when delivering a presentation? It’s such a simple tool, but it can transform how you connect with your audience. In this post I explain what the ‘B’ key does, why it’s useful and how it will elevate your next presentation to a new level.
What kind of impact do your presentations make and are your talks remembered by your audience? Last month I had the opportunity to attend the Global Speakers Summit in Bali and in this post I share techniques that some of the speakers used to elevate their delivery and ensure they were remembered as highlights of the convention.
Whilst watching The Jacksons in concert recently, I loved their showmanship and ability to really connect with the crowd. We can learn a lot about how to improve our presentations from their theatrical approach, so in this blog I share 11 techniques that you can apply to take your audience engagement to the next level.
As a busy professional, you may think you don’t have the time to improve your public speaking skills, but just a few adjustments can greatly improve the way you are received. Check out my final conversation in this series, where I spoke with award-winning speaker Lee Warren who shared fantastic ideas that are easy to understand, easy to implement and will easily transform the way you present.
Sally Foley-Lewis is a multi-award winning global expert who has authored several books on leadership and productivity. She specialises in supporting middle managers to boost productivity, self-leadership and confidence, and during our recent chat, she shared some fantastic tips on how you can improve your presentation preparation and delivery.
What can you learn about presenting from Sesame Street? What are the best techniques to build confidence? And why should you disregard most public speaking advice? Answers to all of these questions and more can be learned in my latest conversation with the amazing Pegine Echevarria, best-selling author, award-winning business woman and one of the world’s top leadership motivational speakers.
Have you ever wondered how professional speakers make it look so easy? Or why some conference speakers engage, educate and entertain audiences for a fee and others present for free? In my conversation with Anthony Stears, best known as ‘The Telephone Assassin’, he shares ideas on how to take your speaking to a more professional level and what it takes to get paid to speak.
Do you identify as an introvert or an extrovert, or maybe something in between? Often those who are more introverted feel they can't be great at public speaking, but it might surprise you to know that introverts have some definite advantages when it comes to giving a presentation. Find out more in my conversation with Jennifer Kahnweiler, one of the top global leadership speakers on introverts.
Do you think some people are just born funny? Or can we all learn techniques to add humour to our communication? Check out this post where I interview Jeremy Nicholas, motivational speaker, humourist and self proclaimed 'keynote tickler', to find out how to add humour to keep audiences laughing and listening.
Have you ever wondered how to deliver a great presentation when you really can't be bothered? Or why your online meetings and presentations seem so boring and flat? Or how to get rid of your nerves before speaking in public? In the fourth interview in my recent series, I'm in conversation with Julie Creffield, award-winning speaker, author and activator of people who shares her answers to those questions and so much more!
Suffer from impostor syndrome? Want to know how to capture and keep your audience’s attention when you are presenting? In this conversation with Joanne Lockwood, founder and CEO of SEE Change Happen, she shares her journey to becoming a global speaker, explains how she repositioned herself after gender transition and gives practical advice to help you become a better presenter.
Do you want to find your authentic public speaking style? Have you ever wondered how professional speakers and event hosts make it look so easy? Find out the answers to these questions and much more in my conversation with Warwick Merry CSP, CVP who has been engaging and entertaining audiences for over 20 years.
Do you struggle with trying to be the 'perfect' presenter? Would you like to learn more about how to engage your audience and create a meaningful connection with them? Recently I interviewed the fabulous Pam Burrows, known as The People Booster; she shared loads of tips on how to be a more confident and authentic communicator.
In theatre there is a concept of a ‘fourth wall’ which refers to the invisible barrier between the audience and the actors on stage. Whilst many stage techniques can be used to enhance your presentation style, there is no escaping the fact that you need to ‘cross the fourth wall’ when public speaking. Read on to find out why…
Do you dream of leaving your job and going into business? Or maybe you’ve already taken the plunge? In 2023 it’s 10 years since I took the leap from the world of an employee to working for myself. In this post I am sharing 10 lessons I’ve learned, so you can avoid making some of the mistakes I’ve made!
