The Art of Communication

How much can our Hair affect our Confidence? In this episode, Robin talks to one of London's most sought-after celebrity hairstylists, Gustav Fouche. From his stunning salon in Notting Hill, he's created looks for red-carpet events, TV commercials, and magazine covers. As well as looking after actors like Kate Hudson, singers like LeAnn Rimes ... and ordinary people like Robin!  How much...

Going blank. What happens when you're giving a speech or going for a job interview and your mind goes blank? It's a horrible feeling. You can't even remember your own name! How can we prepare ourselves so this doesn't happen and how do we deal with it when it does? Join Robin Kermode and Sian Hansen as they discuss these and other questions in another fun episode. 

Difficult Conversations. We all have to have them. Most of us dread them and some of us put them off. How can we make them less difficult and less awkward? Robin Kermode and Sian Hansen answer these and other 'difficult' questions. The conclusion? More voice, less emoji! Join them for another fun episode. 

Successful Job Interviews. In this episode, we look at how to be successful at a job interview. What should we say? Or not say? And how should we say it? How do we sell ourselves without looking desperate?  How can we stay calm and relaxed? And can anyone become a successful interviewee? Robin Kermode and Sian Hansen answer these and other questions. Join them for another fun episode.   

The Power of Storytelling. In this episode, we look at storytelling. Why do we love stories and why do they help make our messages more memorable?  What's the best way to tell a story? Is there a magic formula? And can anyone tell a story? Robin Kermode and Sian Hansen answer these and other questions. Join them for another fun episode. 

Random Acts of Kindness. In this episode, we look at why kindness, and especially random acts of kindness, help us connect with other human beings and communicate successfully with them. What can leaders do to build a 'kinder' culture?  Is kindness important and relevant for companies at this time? Robin Kermode and Sian Hansen answer these and other questions. Join them for this heartwa...

Can your Physical Fitness Help Build Your Communication Impact? Robin Kermode talks to legendary fitness guru Josh Salzmann . Josh has been a fitness instructor for over 40 years. He is a published author and popular media commentator working with senior executives and leading entrepreneurs, members of the Royal family, sports personalities and actors such as Sir Kenneth Branagh, Kate Winslet, Ang...

Wedding Speeches. When you're speaking at a wedding you probably want your speech to be emotional, and you might want it to be funny, but you definitely don't want it to ruin the big day. So how can you make sure your speech lands well with the happy couple and goes down a treat? Join Robin Kermode and Sian Hansen for this special edition of The Art of Communication podcast on Wedding Sp...

How to tell a joke. Can anyone be funny? What about timing?  What if no one laughs?! When should you tell a joke? Should you laugh at your own jokes?! Is it best to tell jokes or funny stories?  In this episode, we take a look at how to tell jokes and funny stories. Join Robin Kermode and Sian Hansen for this fun episode.

Adapting your Style.   Communication has dramatically adapted over the last year. How can we take advantage of this to make sure that our message lands with every audience, every time? Why might we need to adapt our communication style anyway? In which circumstances? In which ways? And how? In this episode, Robin Kermode and Sian Hansen discuss the subtleties of adapting your style.

What is Confidence? Almost all of us will feel a lack of confidence at some stage in our lives. It's a real and very human worry.  Animals don't seem to have this doubt. It's unlikely that a leopard gets up in the morning asking, 'Am I a good leopard or a bad leopard?' Unless they sense an immediate threat, they just go, 'I'm a leopard!' Join us for this fun...

The Communication Expert Series: The Very Rev. Peter Elliott, former Rector of Christ Church Cathedral and Dean of New Westminster. In this episode, Robin Kermode talks with The Very Rev. Peter Elliott , former Rector of Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver and Dean of New Westminster in the Anglican Church of Canada. Peter is a wonderful speaker and he shares his thoughts about confidence, engaging...

Pitch Perfect.  How you can make a pitch work for you so that it lands with your audience, every time - whether you are speaking face to face or via video conference? It's about the structure and the delivery. It's about making your client or your customer feel important. And it starts by making your pitch 'not sound like a pitch'!

The Communication Expert Series: Gitikka Ganju Dhar, India's most awarded live event host. In this episode, Robin Kermode talks with Gitikka Ganju Dhar, India’s most awarded TV and live event host. She’s an actor, orator, TV Anchor, Moderator, Voice Over artist, Live events MC, and now India’s most in-demand Virtual MC.   She has shared platforms with Prime Ministers and Heads of State, she h...

Sell by not selling .   No-one likes being 'sold' to. In this episode, we look at how to sell without selling. Or rather how to sell without looking like we're selling. We should always be helping someone solve a need or a problem they have. That way we ask questions, we build trust and we sell without selling.

The Communication Expert Series: Joanna Trollope CBE, Best Selling Author. Robin Kermode talks to best selling author Joanna Trollope CBE . She’s written 22 contemporary novels, 11 historical novels and an edited collection of poetry. Four of her novels became TV series. She has been translated into over 20 languages, sold almost 9 million books and was awarded the OBE in ‘96 and the CBE last year...

The Communication Expert Series: Philip Mould OBE, Art Expert and BBC TV presenter. Robin Kermode speaks with art expert and BBC broadcaster, Philip Mould OBE . His TV series, Fake or Fortune, is the BBC's most-watched arts programme. He talks about how art communicates to him and how he communicates art on the world stage. 

The Communication Expert Series: JoAnne Good, Award Winning BBC Radio Presenter.  Robin Kermode talks to JoAnne Good , award winning BBC Radio presenter, about how you connect and communicate on the radio. This is part of our Communication Expert series.

The Human Voice.  Many people say they don't like to sound of their own voice. They wish it was stronger, deeper and had more impact. We all can learn to develop our voice in just one week. Here Robin gives us some simple tips to make a real difference to our voice. 

How to Ace a Video Conference Call.    Many of us will be working from home and might well be using video conferencing for the first time. Here, Robin Kermode and Sian Hansen discuss how to ace a video call. It might well be a new skill for us but if we're going to have to use this medium to communicate - let's try to be really good at it! 

Stand and Deliver.  In this episode, we look at how you can stand on stage, looking and feeling confident, so that your audience listens to what you have to say. We look at how you stand and 'own' the stage so that you look and feel comfortable up there. And what to do with your hands!

Creating Chemistry on a First Date!    In this episode, we look at the perils of a first date and how to read if your date is 'into you' - or not! What’s the best venue? Should you arrive fashionably late? What should we wear? How should we behave on a date? And how do you know if you should go for a second date?! These and many other questions are answered here!

Don't Let Public Speaking Nerves Derail You!    In this episode, we discuss why we get nervous in various situations . Whether we're going for a job interview, running a meeting, pitching, presenting, persuading, or standing on the stage and giving a keynote speech we can all learn to deal with nerves. Robin gives some specific exercises to help deal with those nerves. Some of them are a...

Don't You Just Love Networking?!  Many people say they hate networking events. The idea of walking into a room full of people they don't know fills them with terror. But here Robin explains how we can all learn to get good at these events and even come to love them! Yes ... seriously!

Can you teach Charisma?    In this episode, we look at that elusive quality Charisma. What is it? Can you teach it? And how you can get more of it! There are times when we want to walk into a room and for other people to feel we have presence. Can you teach Charisma? Yes, it really can be learned - we show you how!