Even the best can be better
‘Twas the night before conference when all you could hear Was the sound of hearts pounding with nerves and great fear. The deadline was looming, the paper not writ, Nor even the hint of a relevant script. The content a…
Speaking fear is your friend, embrace it!
When you stand up to speak, you want to share something you care about with your audience. At the same time, you want them to enjoy the ride and leave with something they value. Flip that around and sit yourself…
Women & Power
If you read just one book in 2018, may I urge you to give Mary Beard's Women & Power your attention. Based on a couple of lectures she delivered in 2014 and 2017, Beard accessibly explores the impact of Western culture on…
Happy endings – how to end your speech with impact
Once upon a time, there was a great speaker called Facunda who set her audience alight with riveting openings and challenging questions. She skilfully elaborated ideas with supporting evidence and stories. Audiences hung on her every word. And then it…
On parle le francais en France?
It's too easy to get stuck in your comfort zone, to get stuck in a rut. What would you do to give yourself a new challenge? I've decided to start speaking in French and I'm delighted to tell you I've…
The first time
This wasn’t the first photo I ever took, but it was the first photo I took after completing my first photography course. Those frozen water droplets were deliberate. I was so thrilled and excited, I even had the photo printed…
How do I present? Let me count the ways
Forgive me for borrowing shamelessly from Elizabeth Barrett Browning, but a quick canter through Twitter reveals any number of ways to improve your public speaking and presentation skills. For example: Answer this 1 question and your audience will love you…
Winning beginnings – opening your speech with impact
You’ve written your speech. You’ve edited, re-edited and re-edited. Your speech has a clear structure and message. Now for the crucial opening words and their delivery - winning beginnings. Research has shown that the first 90 seconds of any speech have…
