Hands-Free Impromptu Speaking Impromptu speaking requires a high degree of trust and willingness to let go of a fear of judgment, memorising, quests for perfection or “being right”. When speaking, your job is to let the story stream through its course, flowing around rocks or impediments in its path and trust your words will pour out juuuuust right for that
Conversational Fillers “Umm and err” are conversational fillers. A filler is a word or sound which signals in a conversation or speech, that the speaker has paused but has not yet finished. Recently I was asked to give a radio interview, this time about “why people use conversational fillers and why they are so annoying.” The main offenders were “umm
Why Should You Write A Speaker Biography? A Speaker Biography turns listeners ON. A Speaker Biography is usually read out loud by an MC to introduce you and your topic to the audience. It explains WHY you are qualified to talk on the topic and WHY the audience should listen to you. A powerful introduction will warm up the audience
How To Speak To A “Closed Group” Have you ever tried to introduce yourself in a meeting, group or event and as much as you tried to insert yourself into the conversation, you are passed over by the others, as if you don’t exist? It’s hard to maintain self-confidence in an environment where you feel ignored. Actually it’s hard to
Why do some people generate more attention and authority than others? Is it something they do with their voice? Speaking and Leading are flip sides of the same coin.
Invite Your Inner Speaker To Dance My friend Amanda a dancer, gave an impromptu speech at a meeting. She announced it was her final night. While she spoke, Amanda kept her body moving in a silent dance. She spoke of her gratitude and shared what she’d learned while packing up her bag for the last time. Finally she touched each
The 4 F’s Of Public Speaking Fear Fight Flight Freeze Flirt …I bet you are wondering where “flirt” comes into it and whether it involves batting your eye lashes at a big bad audience? Well… it can! Unless you are up with social psychology, you may have only heard of the Fight Or Flight Response. Fear is now deemed far
The Vulnerability Of Public Speaking Uh, oh… your chest feels like it may explode, your throat is constricted and your face is hot. Strong emotions are rising and about to overwhelm your carefully constructed boundaries. Oh no, not now! Now you need to look good. You need to convey strength, confidence and above all, professionalism. Too late. A tear escapes
Cheese Is A Terrific Starting Point Many people find it difficult to “just be themselves”, especially shy people at parties. Remember that feeling when you first walk through the door, confronted by a sea of unknown faces or backs? Should you stick around or should you run? Parties can bring up fear of being separate or rejected by the group.
Un-Networking Un-Networking is brilliant for shy people. It is the art of being genuinely interested in meeting new people with no expectations of selling them something. I developed an early horror of cheese and chardonnay networking events, filled with drunken blokes with no home to go to, but a hellava lot of business cards to press sweatily into any willing
