Public Speaking Confidence and The Inverse Tardis Effect
I’ve wanted to write a new post about public speaking confidence for a while now, but I was struggling to find the right angle to take. Then, I happened to be talking to a friend about the TV series Dr Who when the idea for this post hit me. Read more…
Read MoreBook Marketing Made Simple – A Review
Having published by first book The Presenters Edge, back in December 2016 and, having made loads of book marketing mistakes along the way, I was keen to read Karen Williams Book Marketing Made Simple My first reaction after reading this useful publication was – “I wish I had read this before I published my first book!”…
Read MoreQ&A Tips for Speakers – How to Turn Terror into Triumph
I have noticed that many speakers dread the traditional Presentation Question Time slot at the end of their presentation. When I ask them why this is, the most common reasons given are: Fear of losing control Fear of being asked difficult questions Fear of not knowing the right answers Fear of making a fool of…
Read MoreCommon Presentation Skills Myths Debunked
Are your beliefs about your presentation skills holding you back? “A belief is simply a thought that we have ceased to question Someone once told me that a belief is simply a thought that we had ceased to question and that started me on a voyage of discovery to explore my own beliefs to find out…
Read MoreHow to Improve Communication Skills – Avoid These Common Mistakes
I first got interested in how to improve communication skills almost forty years ago, when I started working for a large corporation. I slowly became aware that most of the problems that occurred in the business were rooted in that mysterious process that we glibly label “communication.” Sometimes the cause was a complete lack of communication, (deliberate…
Read MoreGuest Speakers – Respect Your Audience Or Else…
A lesson on how not to respect your audience I attend a lot of presentations and am always on the lookout for what speakers do that turns me on or turns me off. Last week I attended a digital marketing show and was dismayed to witness one of the invited guest presenters committing one of…
Read MoreWant to be a better presenter? – Then don’t copy your colleagues
DON’T BE A MONKEY! I write lots of posts about how to be a better presenter or speaker but am continually frustrated that I still see so many poor presentations. Why is it that, despite being well into the 21st Century, many people still bore the pants of their audiences? The number one reason for…
Read MoreHow To Be A Better Speaker – Recognise Progress On Your Journey
If you want to be a better speaker, learn from my mistake Nobody becomes a better speaker overnight. Mastering the art of public speaking takes time and practice, but this means that, if your goal is to be a better speaker, every mistake or slip feels like a failure. Two years ago I decided to learn…
Read MoreMicrophone Techniques for Speakers and Performers
Why is handheld microphone technique so important for speakers? Have you ever seen someone speak into a handheld microphone and yet been unable to hear them clearly, you’ve probably been tempted to blame the PA system? But what if I told you that the cause of this all too common problem is the presenter’s…
Read MoreAudience Motivation Secrets for Speakers and Presenters
I was prompted to write this post after a question from one of my students. She worked in a college and asked me if I had any tips for engaging demotivated or disinterested teenagers. My suggestions seemed to hit home with her, and she even mentioned how useful they had been on the end of…
Read More