Many presenters are unaware of some of the basic rules of the stage so in this post I share with you some of the points you should take into consideration whenever you are in front of an audience...
Lessons From My Most Difficult Speech Ever
Delivering the the eulogy at my brother's funeral was tough; however, at that emotionally challenging time, I was grateful I was able to write and deliver a well-crafted, succinct and heartfelt tribute to him because I had taken the time to develop my public speaking skills. Here are some lessons from my most difficult speech ever...
10 Tips for Motivating Your Team
21 Best Quotes About Public Speaking
9 Attention Grabbing Ways to Open a Presentation
During the first 30-60 seconds of your presentation, your audience will decide whether they like you and are interested in listening to what you have to say. It’s a very short time to draw people in and it’s important to ensure that you don’t waste those first few precious moments to effectively engage them so here are 9 attention grabbing ways to open your presentation...
7 Worst Ways to Open a Presentation
Speaking Tips from the Man Who Has Spoken At 2,500 Funerals
This week I was delighted to have the opportunity to interview Neil Dorward who is known as The Legacy Man. He was the first full time civil funeral celebrant in Scotland, and has written and delivered over 2500 funerals in the past nine years. In this post he shares a bit about his work and some great tips for public speaking...
5 Ways to Energise Your Presentation
If you think about speakers who really connect and truly engage an audience, there’s a good chance it will be those who bring an authentic energy, enthusiasm and excitement to their presentations. These qualities are infectious and they enable speakers to bring their audience on a journey with them. But how do you inject energy into your presentation? Here are five ways to infuse your talk with a liveliness that will have your audience captivated...
8 Tips for Remembering Your Presentation
One of the biggest fears my clients have is about forgetting what they are going to say when public speaking and I am frequently asked for advice on how to memorise a speech or presentation. In this post I explore the different schools of thought about this and provide some suggestions on how to prepare effectively to remember your presentation...
How to Speak ‘Off The Cuff’
How do you react when you’re asked to ‘say a few words’? Are you one of the many who become completely tongue tied; barely managing to ‘um’ and ‘err’ through a mumbled ramble of incoherent nonsense before shuffling away hoping the ground would open up and put you (and your audience) out of misery? If so, read on for tips on ‘speaking off the cuff’ from Scotland's impromptu speaking champion, Renée Philippi...
Can You Learn to Love Public Speaking?
5 Reasons Why Stories Help Your Presentations Sparkle
How Fast is Too Fast When Delivering a Speech?
I am often asked how many words should be included when drafting a speech. This can depend on a number of factors, not least the language being spoken and the culture in which it is spoken; speech rates can vary from region to region, person to person and even each time you speak. In this post, find out what impacts your rate of speech and how many words you should be aiming for if scripting your pitch or presentation...
The Power of Passion in Public Speaking
How to Make Your Speech Come Alive Using Subtext
Famous Russian actor and theatre director, Constantin Stanislavski was quoted saying, ‘Spectators come to the theatre to hear the subtext.’ The use of subtext is used in acting to communicate so much more than just the words and the technique can also be used to give life and meaning to your presentations and connect with your audience on another level...
7 Lessons Public Speakers Can Learn From Pantomime Actors
What happens in a coaching session?
Using Body Language to Inspire Confidence (in yourself and others)
One of my favourite TED Talks is by Social Psychologist, Amy Cuddy called ‘Your body shapes who you are.’ It shows how you can reduce stress and feel more powerful simply by changing the way you hold your body, which is essential for confident and credible communication...
How to Give a Wedding Speech That’s Memorable (for all the right reasons!)
There is a lot of information on the internet about how to create the perfect wedding speech and toast; but often writing the speech is not the problem - it could be nerves that cause the most angst. If you’ve been given the honourable task of giving a speech at a wedding, it is important to get it right so here are some tips...
