30 things nobody tells you about powerful speaking
There’s all sorts of advice in books, online, and being espoused in public speaking courses everywhere about what you absolutely must know to stand up on a stage and own it. I’ve been speaking publicly since I first sat behind the microphone at 5AD, the radio station that offered me my first journalist and newsreader gig at the ripe old age of 20. I want to share with you what I’ve learned during my 25 years in the game so you can focus on what’s genuinely necessary to become a truly powerful speaker, and ditch everything else.
The world needs to hear what you have to say
Most of what I consider my greatest achievements involved walking away. They came with a decision to let go, say goodbye, and walk – sometimes run – in another direction. My greatest achievements have been hard-won. I imagine yours have too. You may not have miraculously recovered from an incurable disease overnight, survived being shot 13 times by a mad man, or climbed Mt Everest. None of that is necessary for being a powerful speaker. You have a message to share and stories filled with wisdom that could make a difference for other people. Your words matter. Your voice matters. Your life, your experiences, and your truth matter.
Self assurance, confidence, and what to do when you come under fire
I have a client who writes blog posts for a well known and extremely popular online site. She was tickled pink to get the gig, and her words on the site drive traffic to her already booming online neck of the woods. My client is a self-proclaimed activist. She’s on a mission and you’d better […]
How to penetrate a lack of attention from your audience
Speaking at a lunch is tricky. With waiters clearing plates and topping up wine glasses, people trying not to speak but whispering anyway because they haven’t finished with their calamari and want to say so before their plate’s whisked away, a guy reaching down to pick up his napkin, and the woman at the end […]
Not everyone will like you. Speak anyway.
Not everyone will like you. You know that. Your mind comprehends it. So why does the fear or rejection stretch all the way to the moon when you have to stand up in front of an audience? A few months back I spoke at a paper bag lunch. I’d been invited by a consultant to […]
Why and how powerful speakers tell people what to do
My daughter doesn’t like being told what to do. In fact, in our household of three rather strong characters, no-one likes being told what to do. My darling girl’s usual response to a directive (more so to one of her dad’s than mine) is: You’re not the boss of me! Just for the record, she […]
12 talks + my take: TEDx Adelaide
At the weekend I attended my first live TEDx event. There was such care and commitment from all the volunteers who created the event, and they crafted something very special. Close to the stage, lying back on a bright orange bean bag, with my note book and pen at the ready, I was excited to […]
To PowerPoint or not to PowerPoint?
I don’t use PowerPoint. I don’t even know how to use PowerPoint. That’s a deliberate choice I’ve made. Why? Because I want to be the kind of speaker who can engage and captivate my audience all on my own. I want to tell stories and share them in ways that make people care so that […]
