Communicate with Confidence

16/06/2022

The other day I did a script-in-hand performance, where the actors don’t learn lines but have the script with them.

Is that because they are lazy you may ask?
No, it’s because of the time.

We had one rehearsal and then we did the show.

I felt a bit nervous as I hadn’t done many of these types of performances before.

And, of course, it’s easier to act in some ways without holding a script.

But as the words are right there in front of you, the focus is on the connection with the other actors, playing your part, being in the moment - acting in other words.

So, of course, we couldn’t forget our lines as they were right there (although of course, we could lose our place)

People often ask me what they can do if they forget what they’re going to say when they’re presenting.

In some ways, it’s the same as if you’re acting.

Take a moment and breath, and a thought (or line if you’re on stage) will enter your head.

It may not be the next point you had planned out (or your next line if on stage) but the audience doesn’t know that.

It’s ok.

The audience wants you to do well.

They want to enjoy your talk or show.

15/06/2022

Do you learn your presentations word by word.....

13/06/2022

We may not want to actually climb up Machu Picchu (or we may!)

Whatever your mountain, hill, or boulder, there is a way forward.

And maybe you’ll take a different path from others

And that's fine.

You can take your own path

One which is right for you.

You can go it alone

Or have someone by your side, each step of the way.

Whichever works for you.

Please get in touch with me if you’d like to find out how I can support you on your journey up the mountain

12/06/2022

Who is it for?
The Step Up and Nail It programme is suitable for you if

✅ You have a really important presentation coming up and you need it to be smoking hot -what you say, how you say it, the whole shebang!

✅ If you’re an introvert and you want help with moving outside your comfort zone as you become more visible

✅ You’re looking for exciting ways to engage your audience

Book a free 15 minute no-obligation chat to see how we can work together 😊
👉 https://buff.ly/3Fm2DFq

10/06/2022

Should I make my audience laugh?

If you want to and it feels appropriate then yes ~ please be my guest!
I believe it’s such a personal choice.

At my Dad’s funeral, I was giving a talk and the first thing I said was, “I’m not going to stand behind the lectern because you won’t see me, just like Dad (and even though this isn’t exactly true, anyone who has met me in real life knows I am small in height).

It got a chuckle.

Dad liked to laugh and even when he had serious dementia he could still crack a joke so I know he would have approved.

What I suggest you don’t do is feel you have to be entertaining. I always say play to your strengths. Although humor can certainly be useful, usually when you’re asked to give a talk or presentation they are not wanting a stand-up comedian, otherwise, they would have asked for one.

So don’t sweat the jokes!

Please book a free call to discuss your public speaking goals [email protected]

09/06/2022

Currently, I’m rehearsing for a show I’m in next week in Clevedon, next month in Bristol, and Edinburgh Festival in September.

To be honest we’re re-rehearsing as we put the show on last summer.

I’m pretty chuffed to be acting in Edinburgh as it’s my first time performing there.

As we’ve done the show before of course this makes the rehearsal process much easier.

The show is a series of monologues and I’m doing one.
Another actor is doing two – fair play to her!

This leads me in to talk a bit about scripts, learning lines, and how this relates to presenting.

If you watch a TED Talk or a TEDx Talk they are scripted and rehearsed and rehearsed so the words come out naturally and effortlessly.

Sometimes, people ask me if they should learn their presentation word for word, and the answer, in my view, is it depends.

If you want to learn your words so they are going to come out the same each time you need to learn them REALLY well.

I mean so well that you don’t even have to think about what’s going to come out of your mouth, so you can focus on your audience and deliver them well.

And if you’re going to know them SUPER SUPER well this takes TIME.

So do you have the time?

And, also, you have to make sure it sounds organic and fresh in that moment.

Which can take practice.

The other way to do it, of course, is to practice it, with your slides if you have them or cue cards and know that it will come out slightly differently each time.

It can be easier to make it sound natural this way.

You decide.

07/06/2022

If "smash my presentations" is on your to do list....my next Powerful Presentations is Thursday 30th June 🙌

The Early bird at £149 is still running ⚡️

Book here 👉 https://bit.ly/3PsCdXm

Moves away from death by powerpoint and design, structure and deliver presentations which captivate your audience!

06/06/2022

OK so we may not be wearing a wonder woman cape, however, a lot of us will have heard of the “Power Pose” where women are encouraged to put their hands on their hips before an important interview, meeting, or talk to feel more powerful.

It’s said to increase testosterone.

Then some studies actually show it doesn’t.

To me, what’s important is how it makes YOU FEEL.

If you want to feel more powerful and it works for you then please go ahead and use it.

If not, something else will – it’s always about finding out what works for the individual.

If you’ve got a specific talk coming up and would like some more help please get in touch to book a free telephone call [email protected]

03/06/2022

Believing that you’re enough gives you the courage to be authentic

We are all perfectly imperfect. Every single one of us.

When we can get to the place where we believe we are enough, with our own strengths and vulnerabilities just like everyone else, then it’s much easier to connect with others, because we are desperate to connect with real human beings with their perfect flaws ❤️

If you’d like some support around your communication please get in touch for a free call [email protected]

01/06/2022

"Ground before speaking"

When you are approaching the spot where you're giving your talk, try this ~
👉 put your attention on your feet,
👉 feel your feet in your socks/tights
👉 and feel them in your shoes and feel your shoes on the floor.

For more help, please book a free call to discuss your public speaking goals [email protected]

30/05/2022

✔️ We want things to be easy right?
✔️ We want things to flow

Other people may make things look easy.
We don’t know what they’ve been doing behind the scenes.
We don’t know how much experience and practice they’ve had.

It’s easy to put others on a pedestal and for us to come off as lacking somehow.
In my experience, this is so true for public speaking whether that’s in person or online.

If you don’t like it and would like to enjoy it or even love it there is a way forward.
Instead of a thing, you avoid which can become a bigger thing in your mind imagine looking forward to it.
What possibilities open up then?
With the right training and support, you can do this.

My next Powerful Presentations workshop is running on Tuesday 30th July in central Bristol, the Super Earlybird ends tomorrow (31st May)

If you or anyone you know may be interested please click here 👉 https://bit.ly/3PsCdXm

29/05/2022

How are your mind monkeys?