As I sat listening to some speeches recently, I realised that most speakers fail to impact an impact when they speak. Their speeches might be fairly interesting and their central idea may even be unusual enough to garner interest. However, the impact on the audience, either entertainment, persuasion of information ends-up being quite limited. So, limited that … Read more
When people ask me if I enjoy being a senior leader in my organisation, my answer is a consistently ‘Yes I do.’ Leadership is an amazing experience as it allows you to shape and influence an organisation and perhaps more nobly to turn a vision and a dream into reality. Nevertheless, I’ve said before that leadership … Read more
How does your speech title impact how others perceive your speech? Your speech title matters more than you think and can impact how your audience perceives your speech, even before you’ve said a single word. The broken promise I sat through a public speaking competition a few days ago and one of the speech titles … Read more
This post is part of a series of posts aimed at PMO professionals ahead of my keynote Public Speaking Demystified at the Future PMO Conference on October 17th in Hammersmith. A fortnight ago, when discussing informative speeches, I also mentioned that most speeches or presentations either seek to inform or persuade an audience. Persuasion immediately triggers images of … Read more
Impactful public speaking is made-up of well-structured content delivered in a strong and confident manner. Eye contact and body language are key elements of a strong delivery. However, the one that can make the difference between a weak speech and an impactful one is the speaker’s voice. Your voice is a muscle One thing that … Read more
This post is part of a series of posts aimed at PMO professionals ahead of my keynote Public Speaking Demystified at the Future PMO Conference on October 17th in Hammersmith. In earlier blog posts in this series, we covered the importance of basing your presentation around a single idea and additionally why you should be clear on what … Read more
One of my favourite aspects of attending big events like the Toastmasters 2019 Convention. In Denver, is catching up with peers and acquaintances from all over the world. More than educational sessions, training, and trophies. The real value of these events lies in the connections we build and maintain. Yet, once upon a time I … Read more
The words you use can make the difference between a good speech and a great speech. They can keep your audience engaged, interested and allow audience members to paint mental images of what you say. Only a few general principles should be followed to use good language when speaking. The magic of synonyms I didn’t … Read more
A topic that often comes up when I work with clients. Or with anybody doing speeches and presentations. Is how to memorise one’s speeches and presentations. Forgetting one’s content is one of the most common fears that people have with public speaking. Do you need to memorise your speeches in advance? Does it matter if … Read more
An excellent way to improve your public speaking skills and to become a confident speaker is to join a Toastmasters club near you. Here are some top insider tips for you to make the most out of your Toastmasters membership. 1. Attend meetings regularly You’ve joined a club whose members and atmosphere you like. Congratulations, … Read more