by Anna | May 18, 2023
A couple of days ago, my friend Sarah messaged me for some advice. In her new role, she has been asked to present to the board. Her exact words were: “I’m really hoping I get hit by a bus or something so I don’t have to go”. And she wasn’t joking. Sarah isn’t alone in...
by Anna | Mar 27, 2023
A lot of people start their presentation with the wrong idea. They go out there thinking about how they can sound like the authority on something – how they can elevate themselves and sound brilliant. Public speaking has this aura of “ego” around it that is, in my...
by Anna | Feb 13, 2023
I was recently interviewed, for a Podcast, about public speaking – general advice on how to engage; how to feel confident; and so on. The interviewer, Andy, commented that I didn’t seem to “um and ah” very much, and, on listening back to the recording, a realised he’s...
by Anna | Nov 21, 2022
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...
by Anna | Nov 8, 2022
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)....
by Anna | Oct 6, 2022
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...
