The Speaking Club: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking

A load of old rubbish, or the secret to unlocking everything you've ever hoped and dreamed of? Those are the two sorts of reactions that you get when the subjects of 'Manifestation' and 'The Law of Attraction' come up.  Like many, I watched 'The Secret' and was ever so slightly skeptical that if I visualised a Maserati turning up in my garage it would happen … (I actually don't have a garage, so I...

If you feel that there is a gap between where you are with your speaking and where you want to be, then chances are this show will give you an insight into what might be causing it and how to begin closing it. That's because in this episode, I'm going to be sharing how I believe you need to 'be' as a speaker, if you're going to use speaking to successfully build your audience, business or movement...

My life and business revolve around stories… in my downtime I love reading, watching and listening to them, and in my business, I tell, teach and write them. But it's not just my life that stories impact… they underpin the fabric of all of our cultures, religions and societies, and they can bypass defences, connect with us, and build bridges like nothing else can.   Whilst the power of stories has...

If you're hustling day and night, but finding you've very little to show for it in terms of results, then don't worry you're not alone. One of the biggest complaints you'll hear from people in business is that "there's not enough time in the day"... any yet many of us are wasting so much of it without even realising.  This can cause overwhelm, stress, anxiety and potentially burnout… and that's wh...

The news that you're going to have to do an interview presentation can result in a number of different reactions. Frustration and worry, overconfidence, or a complete meltdown that can even lead to withdrawing your application! It's understandable why people can feel nervous, or cavalier about them. Often you get just a title, if you're lucky maybe a few lines of a brief, and if you're unlucky may...

After graduating with a degree in interpersonal communication, Brett Hill ended up becoming a technology expert, before bringing the two strands of technology and communication together to create a distinguished and successful career as a technical speaker and storyteller.  Alongside that career, Brett has spent many years studying and practicing mindfulness in many forms.  He studied Hakomi, a mi...

Let's face it… on the surface some topics look dryer than the Sahara Desert… and a lot of people will get blocked from sharing their message because they struggle to see how they can make it interesting. But I don't believe there's any subject that you can't make engaging for an audience. So, if you've dreaded your turn to pitch at a networking meeting, or you've said "no" to speaking opportunitie...

There are some obvious benefits to improving your memory if you're a speaker, or you need to use speaking as part of your job or to grow your business. Remembering your content, people's names, complex information to name but a few… BUT besides these valuable advantages that improving your memory brings, there are other positives that make it a compelling goal. That's why I am so pleased to have D...

There are some obvious benefits to improving your memory if you're a speaker, or you need to use speaking as part of your job or to grow your business. Remembering your content, people's names, complex information to name but a few… BUT besides these valuable advantages that improving your memory brings, there are other positives that make it a compelling goal. That's why I am so pleased to have D...

It's going to be interesting to watch this year unfold, inevitably things will begin opening up again as the vaccine begins to turn the tide against COVID, but we all know that the landscape of business will not go back to the way it was.  The scrabble to shift online has birthed new professions, industries and communication platforms. It has also resulted in companies realising that there are sig...

As a girl working hard in her parent's bakery in a small village in Austria, Bernadette Bruckner never imagined she would be standing on stage helping people transform their lives. That's what she does today, but the journey to get there was painful both physically and emotionally.  Lost and broken, Bernadette began searching for herself in order to find her way back to mental and physical health...

Whether it's books, film, television, newspapers, or the internet, it is true that those who tell the stories have enormous power to influence. I believe in today's digital world great stories are also the secret to standing out, making people care and successfully selling online As a comedian, writer, speaker and performer… (not to mention years as an HR professional relying on influence over pow...

After bumming around the world overcoming baggage from his past and avoiding responsibility, Paul Wilson made the unexpected 180 degree turnaround to become the Emergency Response Manager for the Channel Tunnel. After a successful career, Paul felt ready to make a change which embraced his lifelong interest in the mind and human behaviour. He subsequently trained in a number of different methods,...

Your elevator pitch is one of the first and most important marketing assets you need to get together. It's also likely to be the first bit of public speaking you do related to your business.  Considering both the significant positive or negative impact it can have on your business, it's surprising how few people invest in learning how to create and deliver it with power and impact. But that's not...

Like many people, Lottie Moore hit a wall in the middle of her career, losing herself in the process of living the 'expected life'. Unlike other people though, she made the decision to pack one suitcase and escape with her 10 year old daughter to deepest, darkest Africa...well Burkina Faso to be exact.    There she learnt a lot about what made her happy, but she didn't finish the journey of self-d...

Scott Gazzoli is a regular listener of The Speaking Club and he is just starting out on his journey as a stand up comedian and podcaster. When he reached out to ask me to come on his show, so he could pick my brains for himself and his audience, I checked him out and then said a big fat "yes". He's a guy who's transitioned from being a financier to embracing his creative side, and he is going all...

I love to know what's stopping you, slowing you down and getting in the way of you getting the results you want with your speaking. That's why when people start working with me, join the Speaking Club Facebook Hub or post in the group I'm always asking what's the biggest challenge. Over the past 12 months, we've been gathering the responses, so that I can make sure that this podcast, and my coachi...

Jill Salzman is on her third entrepreneurial adventure. She has already successfully sold two businesses, one in the music industry and one in baby jewelry. CNNMoney has called her a "mommy mogul," she was named one of the Top 50 Women to Watch In Tech.  She's also an author, a podcast host for Inc. Magazine's top-rated entertaining business podcast, Breaking Down Your Business, and an internation...

Even though I coach people on speaking and marketing, inevitably I always end up working as much on mindset as I do on developing skills and strategy.  That's because, in my experience as a coach, and from my own journey, the thing that trips us up most as an entrepreneur are our thoughts and beliefs.  It doesn't matter how many skills you've got, your mindset can be your biggest saboteur - showin...

Brandon Fong made a connection at the age of 22 that changed his life. It led him to work alongside one of the most successful podcasters and entrepreneurs around and gave him access to an elite group of influencers at the top of their fields. This all became possible because of the lessons that Brandon learned from his parents at the age of 12. These lessons enabled him to master at a young age,...

I've been a big fan of Marie Kondo, a tidying expert, for a while, (even though when I first heard Tim Ferris interviewing her a few years before I was like what?! Really? People need help with folding!?)  I started practicing her techniques about 18 months ago, and I love the space, calm and good habits that it has created for me and my home.  BUT this episode isn't a promo for Marie, folding you...

Paul Archer is a lawyer, trainer and campaigner, who can make even the most complex things simple and relatable.  As an employment lawyer he has represented both employers and the aggrieved, creating compelling arguments to win over tribunal panels. As a trainer, he has worked with many companies and charities, making the law accessible and manageable. As a campaigner he has championed many causes...

Networking meetings after Covid19 are definitely a different experience...and for some of us the convenience of not leaving the house and the thrill of knowing you're talking business in your 'jammie' bottoms, has worn off.  Zoom fatigue is definitely a thing… and it's surprising given that most of us can manage to sit for hours watching a whole box set of our favourite show on Netflix. The troubl...

Whatever way you look at it, business comes down to relationships. People do business with people not companies. Peter Beaumont has led the marketing teams for some of the most iconic global brands, in a career spanning over 80 countries.  In that time he figured out the secret to creating and managing relationships and now he speaks and consults with other companies using his six step process to...

If you're currently not getting the results you want with your speaking or business, then this episode is probably going to help you.  I think at some point we've all fallen into the trap I'm talking about today, I know I have and still do.   It's one of the best ways we deceive ourselves into thinking we're moving forward, when it's actually like we're on a treadmill, and we're only walking on th...