The Speaking Club: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking

Five years ago, I launched The Speaking Club and it's been an interesting journey. From me talking to myself in a little cubby hole, wondering if anyone would listen, to the show being downloaded in over 190 countries and it becoming a top 1% podcast, regularly in the charts. To recognise this milestone, I decided that I wanted to share my biggest learnings over the past five years, some of which...

A lot of the heavy lifting for your brand is done by the image you present to your target audience offstage.  People not only look at your credentials and experience, but also your photo to gauge how you come across and whether you'll be a right fit for them or their audience.  That profile picture of you is often the start of the 'know, like, trust' journey and it's important that you don't fall...

As Brené Brown pointed out, there is power in being vulnerable. I believe there is even more power in showing that vulnerability through a story about a personal experience. BUT … if that story is emotionally charged then there are some additional things you need to consider before you share it.  That's because it can be done badly, and when that happens you can make your audience feel uncomfortab...

Phil Coley started off his business journey as a sports psychologist working with olympians, world and european champions in a variety of sports and disciplines. Phil's ability to influence team performance in the sports arena was spotted by a business leader, who wanted to achieve the same success with his sales team. This led Phil to train 100 sales managers and initiated his switch from sports...

Over my career, I've worked with lots of scientists, IT specialists and engineers, and I know that sometimes it can be challenging to communicate complicated concepts and ideas in a way that's simple enough for your audience to understand. However, those people who can do this successfully stand out from the crowd and are sought after as speakers and leaders.  That's why in this insights episode,...

Shrenik Shah has been described as the 'Yoda' and 'Mr Myagi' of cancer.  At the age of 44 he was working in marketing to support his family, when he started to get unwell, he lost weight, began to lose his voice and after about six months of deterioration he decided to go to the Doctor.  The diagnosis was stage four vocal cord cancer, and he was given an ultimatum by a cancer surgeon … lose your v...

In the last episode of the show I shared 12 podcasts that could help to level up your speaking skills. I also told you that my intention is that anyone I work with, through my programmes and this podcast has compelling content AND charisma as a speaker.  Speaking skills and delivering your message confidently are a big part of that, but there is one thing that separates the speakers you remember f...

To be a great public speaker you need substance and style. I've seen many speakers who are very showy, but their content completely misses the mark, and I've seen speakers with a great message to share, but who fail to communicate it in a way that engages their audience. I want anyone I work with, through my programmes and this podcast to have compelling content AND charisma as a speaker. I want y...

I can't think of one person I've worked with, whom I haven't had to coach on using more pauses in their talks. That's because most of us are uncomfortable with silence even in 121 conversations, so throw an audience into the mix, plus nerves, and passion, and you have a recipe for speedy speaking. The trouble is that the pause is a powerful speaking tool that you want to be able to wield to make y...

Many people suffer from performance anxiety and it can get in your way if you want to speak to grow your business - but stage fright can have a whole other level of impact if your business is performing. That is the situation that singer-songwriter Elisa De Napoli found herself in. She spent a number of years trying a number of different remedies to overcome her fears, but none of them worked. In...

Most of us human beings are weird. We make these declarations about what we want, then when it comes to taking the steps necessary to make that happen, we do everything we can to avoid them. And the longer we do that, the bigger the task seems to be and the more we beat ourselves up for not doing it. If you have behaved the same way, or you're stuck at the moment, then take solace from the fact th...

Dre Baldwin has approached his life as if he is the exception to the rule. He has achieved what some people would have deemed impossible … becoming a pro basketball player without playing for his college basketball team. His story is fascinating as is the way that he thinks about what's possible for him, and the way that he views obstacles that others would see as insurmountable. Today, Dre is the...

We all want our talks and messaging to have punch, to take our audience closer towards saying 'yes' to our idea, change, product or service. But that won't happen unless we understand and include what I call 'the big idea'. When I've taught this concept to people I've seen the lightbulb go on, and it helps them to shape not only their talk, but the other messaging around what they do.  That's why...

Everyone, to some degree, has anxiety around speaking, and it can affect us all in different ways. Maybe it affects your ability to relax, try new things and show your personality when you speak, or maybe anxiety is paralyzing you, and keeping you stuck and small.  That's why in this episode I've gathered together insights from experts with different perspectives on managing anxiety and fear, and...

If you're anything like me at the moment, you may feel torn between wanting to be a global citizen and keep up with the news, and wanting to forget about it all and bury your head in the sand. Our world is facing multiple challenges and at a time when we should be joining together to overcome them, we seem more divided than ever. All of this can make you feel helpless and hopeless.  That's why I w...

I see so many people with a great story to tell and an important message to share getting deflated and frustrated after their talks.  Even after people in the audience come up after and say… "that was so inspirational … thank you"  They get upset and frustrated because despite being inspired, no-one takes action.  And when that happens it leads to the inevitable question. What am I doing wrong?  T...

I reached out to invite Gavin Howarth to be a guest on the podcast for a number of reasons.  Firstly, he writes some of the most engaging and authentic posts I've seen on LinkedIN that get a lot of traction Secondly, one of his posts made reference to an experience he had whilst waiting to do a talk recently, and I knew that this would be useful to you. Thirdly, he is a brilliant leader and has a...

If you want your talks to stand out, inspire, entertain and be more memorable, then you need to use stories and humour.  Getting the right stories together and crafting appropriate jokes are the first thing you need to get right, but that doesn't guarantee things will go the way you want. That's because there is another issue that I see tripping people up in this area, and often they're not even a...

Elevator pitches are often thought of as only relevant for entrepreneurs, sales people and business owners. But I'm here to let you know that if you are an employee, then you need to understand how to create a pitch too. In this show, I'm going to share all the reasons why you need a pitch, the big mistakes people make, and the ingredients of a great pitch. My aim is that you understand what you n...

In this episode I've pulled together insights from four powerhouse networkers, and each of them is an expert in creating value and building relationships. What they share will make sure you grow your network powerfully and authentically, so that your business or career prospers and you make some great friends along the way. Devora Zack has carved out a reputation as a networking guru, and what she...

With a Master's in Health Science, Verla Fortier is a former Director of Surgery at The Toronto Hospitals in Toronto, Ontario and a retired Associate Professor of Nursing at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.  She is also a returning guest to The Speaking Club, and she is back because she has written a new book that I believe will save lives. In episode 88 , her first interview with...

So many organisations struggle to implement change effectively. Certainly in my many years of being involved in projects and big change programmes, I rarely saw one that didn't overrun, exceed the budget and lose employee goodwill along the way. It wasn't until I left the corporate world and trained in marketing, sales and influencing that I understood why it happened so often, and how to proactiv...

If you listened to episode 218 of the show you will have heard me talking to AnnMarie Wyncoll, who helps people write and publish their books. But one thing that AnnMarie was very clear on was that once the book is written whether you're with a publishing company or self-publishing - the marketing and promotion of that book pretty much rests with you. You probably won't be surprised to hear that s...

Have you got a story to tell? Do you have a big message to share? Perhaps you should consider writing a book. Just like a great talk, a book is a fantastic way to bring that message or story alive for people and in a way that you can scale… as long as it's done in the right way. But there are many potential traps waiting to slow you down, or stop you from getting the book finished and out into the...

Your voice is one of the most neglected, yet most important tools you have as a public speaker.  Your ability to be heard clearly, to last out the talk energetically, and to connect powerfully with the emotions of your audience are all reliant on your voice. That's why for the first of the insights episodes, I have pulled together highlights from some of the best voice artists and teachers to help...