engaging an audience

How to Stand Out as a Speaker

How to Stand Out as a Speaker

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.

Presentation Tips from The Jacksons

Presentation Tips from The Jacksons

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.

Speaking with passion never goes out of fashion

Speaking with passion never goes out of fashion

One of the best ways to engage people when you’re speaking is to be passionate about what you’re saying. In this post I explore the importance of connecting with what excites you about your message and expressing it with energy and enthusiasm.

A different way to manage public speaking anxiety

A different way to manage public speaking anxiety

Do you suffer from stage fright or get a little anxious about public speaking? Feeling nervous about being in front of an audience is fairly common; even the professionals experience nerves before an important speech or performance. I recently had a chance to try out a new method for managing public speaking anxiety and had quite a profound experience. Read on to find out more…

Brain Friendly Tips to Engage People in Training Sessions

Brain Friendly Tips to Engage People in Training Sessions

Have you ever been to training sessions where you’re sitting in one place for long periods of time listening to the trainer drone on and on as they work their way through dozens of boring text filled PowerPoint slides? Don't be that trainer! In this post I share tips about accelerated learning techniques to keep your audience awake and engaged...

Presentation Lessons from a TEDx Event

Presentation Lessons from a TEDx Event

TED talks have changed the speaking landscape and I was honoured and privileged to be one of the speaker coaches once again for the Glasgow TEDx event at the SEC Armadillo. In a day that showcased 16 speakers some of them were more memorable than others, so in this post I look at some of the talks that stood out and examine the reasons why. Read on to find out how you can use the techniques to make your own communication more powerful.

4 Speakers, 4 Countries, 4 Public Speaking Lessons

4 Speakers, 4 Countries, 4 Public Speaking Lessons

In one year I attended four professional speaking conventions in four countries on four continents. In this article I share the lessons we can learn from the stand out speakers at each event...

Lessons from Hosting the Scottish EDGE Final

If you had an opportunity to compere the final of the UK’s largest funding competition, how would you feel? If you’re like most people, including me, you may feel a little daunted by the prospect!

How to Engage an Audience - Lessons from Professional Speakers

How to Engage an Audience - Lessons from Professional Speakers

The Professional Speaking Association aims to help its members to ‘speak more, speak better’. Here are some lessons we can learn from speakers at their annual conference about how to engage an audience.

7 Lessons Public Speakers Can Learn From Pantomime Actors

7 Lessons Public Speakers Can Learn From Pantomime Actors

Despite pantomime being a completely different form of communication to public speaking, as speakers we can learn a lot of lessons from this style of entertainment. Incorporate these seven lessons when preparing and delivering your next speech to fully engage your audience...