When we are trying to persuade someone of something – to buy in to our idea or our product; to give us a job; to sign up as a client – we need to get them to trust us. We need them to understand that we want the same things: you want them to know that they can trust...

Lots of people worry that they are going to forget their words when they’re giving a speech or presentation. And it’s a valid fear: when we’re nervous, we often experience the terror of our mind going blank (I still have anxiety dreams about this from my acting days)....

With three children in the house, there’s normally someone having a meltdown. Quite often, me! But last night was my daughter’s turn. She couldn’t find her school iPad in her bag. Within five seconds she was crying - completely catastrophising the situation: “I can’t...

The end of an interview can be a relief, especially if you’ve been feeling the pressure, but don’t switch off too soon. For as long as you’re in the room, or on the call, they can see you – and that means they’re making judgements of you. Your departure must be as...

My clients learn how to structure, and deliver, a brilliant presentation. They know how to identify their key message; the language they need to use to inspire and persuade; how to use storytelling…They know how important it is not to waste the opportunity. If you’ve...

Interviews can be nerve wracking, of course – you’re putting yourself out there to be judged, and there are sometimes high stakes; you may really want, and need, this job. This can create a serious imbalance: you’re giving all the power to the interview panel, letting...

Do you ever bet on the horses? I don’t, as a rule, but I have been to the races a couple of times and, in my complete ignorance about anything at all to do with horse racing, I do what loads of us do: I choose based on the name! I pick a name that stands out, or one...

Lots of people struggle with confidence. The minute we enter “Presentation Mode”, we feel awkward and self-conscious. We become incapable of natural movement and feel constricted, getting stuck in a cycle of public speaking fear. Authenticity really matters: true...

As a public speaking coach, I work a lot with clients who want to learn how to create and deliver a brilliant presentation; or to nail their next interview; or confidently deliver a best man’s speech. But I also get a approached by people who want to improve their...

I’m in to insightful, outcome-based, bespoke training – I take time to understand your challenges before creating a programme just for you. But there’s no denying there are some fundamental rules that we would all benefit from remembering the next time we get up and...

I recently worked with a lovely client called Amanda, who is a health data analyst. Her presentations were all about, well…data. How to capture it, and what to do with it. Presentations about data – about numbers, statistics, and graphs – have the potential to be...

You can prepare and rehearse your presentation as much as you like, but I know people still get a bit scared of that bit at the end when you’re expected to take questions from the floor. It’s worth exploring why you feel like that. Often, it’s because we can’t...