While many people fear and struggle with public speaking in general, a large audience can be one step too far. Think about speaking at a conference with 200 people or keynote speaking to 500 participants or delivering a wedding speech to about 100 friends and relatives. During these situations, it is undeniable that the large audience only amplifies our nervousness …
The blame game is a situation in which one party blames others for something bad, a mistake or something unfortunate rather than attempting to seek a solution. Blame is one-sided and is not about trying to understand what happened. Unfortunately, the blame game is far too prevalent in organisations and teams today. Nobody wants to be caught out, or be …
One of the questions I get asked by clients is: should I read my speech or presentation from notes or a script? There is no wrong answer here. It depends on the situation. Of course, there are a few occasions when I would recommend reading from your script or notes. But there are also many situations where public speakers don’t …
An essential communication skill in today’s workplace with increased pressures and ever-changing demands is the ability to be assertive. Being assertive enables you to explain yourself clearly, defend your views, stand up for others and speak your truth. Additionally, being assertive while being honest allows you to honor the rights and beliefs of others. It is important to understand that …
Feedback is vital to the health and culture of any organisation. When we are open to feedback, we become aware of our performance, and we learn and understand our behaviour and actions. This knowledge and awareness can help us understand and appreciate how our behaviour and performance may impact others. It is often the most powerful route to positive change …
We all know that Virtual Presentations (Zoom, Teams, Webex etc) can be difficult as a presenter. Audiences can be easily distracted, zone out, keep working on other projects, and basically disengage from the Virtual Presentation. As a professional speaking coach, I often get asked how I can better manage my Virtual Presentations so that my audience is involved, engaged, and …
