Could Public Speaking Make You Feel More Alive in 2019?
I was prompted to write this post after one of my friends shared an experience whilst on a Skiing Holiday over the New Year Period. My friend, whom I happened to know is an aspiring speaker, posted the following comment on FaceBook “ “Managed to ski today. Turns out I feel more alive when I…
Read MoreHow to write a speech – Harness the magic of metaphors
I read a fascinating article recently which reminded me of the power of metaphors to make communication more colourful and engaging. It got me thinking about metaphors relating to public speaking and the idea for this post about how to write a speech just popped into my head and wouldn’t go away! A few hours…
Read MoreSpeech Editing – Stop Trying to Squeeze Too Much In
Why Is Speech Editing Critical For Better Presentations? One of the most common mistakes made by business presenters is the tendency to cram too much information into their speech. There seems to be a myth that the more information you present, the more persuasive the presentation will be. But nothing could be further from the truth. …
Read MoreSpeaking To Time – Learn How to Avoid Overrunning
Speaking to time – Hands up if you get frustrated by speakers who overrun! Presenters who have not mastered the art of speaking to time are one of my pet hates, and it seems that I am not alone. Overrunning is one of the most common complaints in both the business and community sectors. Few people appreciate speakers…
Read MorePublic Speaking – An Everyday Act of Courage
“I need to be confident before I can speak!” As a presentation and public speaking coach, this simple statement is by far the most common reason people give for avoiding presentations or public speaking. And, on the face of it, it makes perfect sense, until you realise that confidence isn’t something that can be bought…
Read MoreQuality Feedback Is Critical For Self Improvement
Recently I had the pleasure of speaking to a group of inspiring Oxfordshire Project members in Abingdon on the power of quality feedback. I received excellent feedback from the event and was delighted to learn that this topic had resonated so deeply with the audience. As a result, I thought I’d capture the key messages…
Read MoreStorytelling for Speakers – Beware The Dark Side
Many people have written about the importance of storytelling for speakers from the perspective of the audience. They remind us that packaging information and ideas in the form of a story make it more memorable. But I have never seen an article warning presenters about how the stories they tell could be holding them back from…
Read MoreVocal Variety Tips, Part 3 – Pitch and Resonance
Having learned about the importance of speech projection and delivery speed in the first two articles in this series on vocal variety, it’s now time to turn our attention to pitch and resonance. What is pitch and why is it important? In vocal variety terms, pitch relates to whether you are speaking in a high, low or natural…
Read MoreSpeaking Speed – How to Perfect Your Pace
Welcome to the second post in a series of articles on vocal variety for speakers and presenters. In the previous article, I shared some ideas about how public speakers can make the most of their voice projection. Today, I’d like to show you to make the most of your speaking speed. Vocal Variety – How Fast…
Read MoreSix Elements of Vocal Variety and How to Master Them Part 1- Volume
What is Vocal Variety? Vocal variety is just one of nine key components of effective speaking, but it is often ignored or misunderstood. In this series of posts, I’d like to look at this important topic in greater detail and show you how you can improve your impact and engagement by learning how to harness…
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