Shortcuts to Communication Success

Have you ever shared a story and noticed halfway through that the person listening had already gone somewhere else? Most of us would never place ourselves in the category of people who dominate conversations. But the gap between how we think we're coming across and how others are actually experiencing us can be wider than we realise. In this episode, Shola shares a personal story from her school d...

Did you know that Shola is an introvert who spent over 10 years as a professional singer and now speaks in front of audiences of up to 3,000 people? In this episode, she challenges some of the assumptions we carry about what introverts can and can't do, and why so much of the friction introverts experience at work isn't really about introversion at all. Because the gap for most introverts isn't co...

Have you ever walked into an interview feeling reasonably prepared, and then the very first question throws you completely? "Tell me about yourself" sounds simple. But without preparation, it's easy to say too much, too little, or nothing useful at all. In this episode, Shola breaks down what interviewers are actually asking when they pose that question, and shares practical ways to answer it with...

Have you ever done something at work that felt helpful at the time, only to find out later it was working against you? Shola shares two stories from early in her career, one as a note-taker who avoided speaking up, the other as a manager who focused on her team while her client work suffered. Both jobs ended the same way: being called out for underperformance, for the same underlying reason. In th...

Have you ever been in a meeting where something questionable gets said, and you spend the next few minutes debating with yourself whether to say anything at all? Most people treat speaking up as a confidence problem. But often it's a decision problem. Before you even think about the words, you need to work out whether it actually makes sense to say something in that moment. In this episode, Shola...

Have you ever tried really hard to persuade someone, only to feel them pulling further and further away the more you pushed? In this episode, Shola shares three practical ways to become more persuasive that have nothing to do with stronger arguments or repeating yourself. Because often, the real barrier isn't your message. It's the resistance you're creating without realising it. Go to www.sholaka...

Have you ever been mid-sentence in a meeting when someone cuts across you, and then spent the rest of the conversation wondering whether you should've said something? In this episode, Shola shares three practical ways to handle interruptions, and how to work out whether it's worth addressing at all. Because not every interruption deserves a response, but some absolutely do. Go to www.sholakaye.com...

Have you ever walked away from a heated moment and wondered whether you should've just said something there and then? In this episode, Shola explores why stepping back isn't weakness, and how knowing when not to respond can actually be the more powerful choice. Using the Emotional Audacity framework, she shares a simple way to check in with yourself before you act, so you're choosing your response...

Have you ever watched someone build up to a big idea, only for time to run out before they got there? In this episode, Shola shares a simple but powerful framework called BLUF, Bottom Line Up Front, and why leading with your conclusion isn't lazy, it's one of the most respectful things you can do for your audience. Because your listeners shouldn't have to wait until the end to find out why any of...

Have you ever sensed you've lost the room, but kept going anyway? Most of us treat presenting as a one-way thing. Get the words right, hold your nerve, get to the end. But when we're in that mode, we miss what's happening right in front of us. In this episode, Shola shares why asking questions during your presentation isn't a weakness, it's one of the most powerful things you can do. And why being...

If you've ever asked for input in a meeting, only to be met with silence and then discovered afterwards that everyone had plenty to say, you're not alone. In this episode, Shola explores why listening is one of the most courageous skills in leadership, and why the usual advice about it so often falls short. Learn three practical ways to listen more bravely from Shola's Emotional Audacity framework...

In this episode, Shola explores why listening is one of the most courageous skills in leadership, and why the usual advice about it so often falls short. Using the emotional audacity framework, learn three practical ways to listen more bravely, even when it feels uncomfortable or risky. Whether you lead a team, contribute to one, or simply want to have more honest conversations at work, this episo...

Have you ever explained your point brilliantly, had all the facts at your fingertips, and still felt the other person pulling further away? You're not alone. In this episode, learn three practical and unexpected strategies to help you become more persuasive.  Whether you're trying to win over a colleague, influence a decision at work, or simply get your ideas heard, these strategies will help you...

Welcome! This podcast is returning with a new name and a broader focus. If you used to listen to Shortcuts to Public Speaking Success, you're in the right place. And if you're brand new here, this is a brilliant place to start. In this episode, Shola shares the story behind the podcast's evolution from public speaking into the wider world of communication and what that means for you as a listener....

Billie Shepard has been an actor and an acting coach for forty years. Twenty years ago she recognized business speakers have the same performance anxieties that actors deal with and so she founded the Billie Shepard and Associates Acting Academy. She uses acting techniques to transform all types of business speakers into powerful presenters. Now Billie is what with some amazing and super well-know...

Baljit Kaur is an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant. Listen to learn about how to foster inclusiveness in the workplace, applying transactional analysis principles for effective communication, the importance of understanding individuality and personal experiences in organisations to build a good culture... READ MORE Go to  www.sholakaye.com  for useful freebies, tips and more. Create a...

Olivia James is a Harley Street Therapist who works with people suffering from fear of speaking and who have experienced trauma. Watch this interview to learn a simple technique Olivia has used to help her clients overcome speaking anxiety. WATCH THE INTERVIEW HERE Find out more about Olivia's work https://harleystreetcoach.com Go to  www.sholakaye.com  for useful freebies, tips and more. Create a...

I am so excited today because I have a wonderful guest here with me on today’s show, who has helped me no end to bring the message of How to be a D.I.V.A. at Public Speaking to the masses.  A little while ago, I decided that I would find a wonderful voiceover or voice recording artists to help me to get the book... READ MORE Go to  www.sholakaye.com  for useful freebies, tips and more. Create a sp...

Are you ready to be connected under any circumstances? If you are going to make a presentation, do you have what it takes to connect up your presentation with the AV at the venue under any circumstances? I’m sorry if you are listening to this on my podcast you cannot see this bunch of cables I have in my hand. I urge you to jump onto my website www.sholakaye.com/blog and check out this episode the...

Do you ever feel that your voice doesn’t cut through? Perhaps because it’s too breathy?  One of the problems with a breathy voice is you don’t get very much volume when you’re speaking. Another problem with having a very breathy voice is that it can become fatiguing to listen to by the audience... READ MORE Go to  www.sholakaye.com  for useful freebies, tips and more. Create a speech stress-free a...

Is it time for you to tone it down a bit for your audience? Interesting question, right? I’m going to explain a little bit more what I mean in just a moment. Just recently an agency contacted me, they’re based in Miami, and they asked me if I was available to do a professional speaking gig. I was available so I said yes... READ MORE Go to  www.sholakaye.com  for useful freebies, tips and more. Cre...

I want to ask you today have you eaten the food of champions before? If you haven’t then you need to stay tuned and watch the entire video. And I’m not talking about Atkins diet, or whether you’re a vegan, or whether you are… I don’t know there’s so many different diets out there… I’m not talking about dieting. I’m talking about the food of champions which is otherwise known as feedback... READ MO...

When you speak and perhaps you forget a couple of words, or it doesn’t go as perfectly as you had hoped, do you beat yourself up? Do you sometimes find you are judging yourself while you’re speaking and you can’t be 100% present with the audience and focus because that little negative voice is chatting away? Today I want to share a tip that you can use. A little hack that will help you to stop jud...

Do you need to speak slower when you are in front of an audience? That’s the question that I am sometimes asked so let’s have a chat about it today, shall we? A few years ago, I was participating in online dating and I went on a date with a guy who spoke really slowly. So slowly that after about five minutes on the date I was desperate to get away... READ MORE Go to  www.sholakaye.com  for useful...

Are you through a person that continually wants to improve at whatever it is that you do, speaking being one of those things? If so, then I’m going to share a little step by step process you can use to regularly improve your public speaking... READ MORE Go to  www.sholakaye.com  for useful freebies, tips and more. Create a speech stress-free and fast with my free guide  5 frameworks to ace a short...