How to plan the perfect elevator pitch

An elevator pitch is a brief, persuasive speech that you use to spark interest in what your organisation does or in yourself as a professional. The idea is to capture…
Presentation Skills Coaching for Teams

How to Become a Charismatic Person

There are two misconceptions about charisma. The first? Charisma is seen as an elusive trait that people either have or don’t have–this is not true. The second? Charisma is about…
effective communication

How to Improve Your Diction and Articulation

Public speaking can be a daunting task for many individuals.  One of the key elements to becoming an effective public speaker is to have clear diction and articulation.  Poor diction…

What To Do When You Go Blank

Public speaking is a skill that many people aspire to master, yet one of the most common fears associated with it is the dreaded moment when your mind goes blank. …

How to Navigate Public Speaking as an Introvert

Introverts find public speaking challenging due to their inward-focused nature and preference for solitude and smaller, more comfortable gatherings. Still, honing your public speaking skills is beneficial. It can: Improve…
public speaking courses london

What are the Best Public Speaking Courses in London?

Public speaking is a critical skill that can enhance your professional trajectory, expand your network, and boost your confidence. Whether you’re giving a presentation at work, speaking at a conference,…

How to Develop Your Own Signature Speaking Style

Developing a signature speaking style is pivotal in establishing a unique and memorable presence, whether you’re addressing a boardroom, a classroom, or a vast audience at a conference.  This personalised…
effective communication

How to Deliver a Memorable Presentation at Work in Six Steps

Effective communication is the cornerstone of impactful speeches and presentations. It connects the speaker’s ideas to the audience’s understanding, creating meaningful connections and leaving a lasting and memorable message in…

From Good to Great: Advanced Public Speaking Techniques

Public speaking is a vital skill for professional success, enabling individuals to convey ideas clearly, persuade and motivate others, and build their personal brand. Whether delivering a presentation to colleagues,…

How America Got Mean

The title of David Brook’s recent article in the Atlantic had me bemused and saddened. It’s such a consequential issue that speaks somewhat to how much we’ve removed our ability…

Always carry a childhood picture

I carry this picture in my wallet. It’s an old black and white photo of me on a donkey on Blackpool beach, aged two and a half. Why do I…

After Dinner Speaking

An after dinner speech can be a great opportunity to share stories, entertain our audience, and make a lasting impression. But that opportunity comes with certain challenges. Your audience might…

My 2022 Christmas video!

 I know things are tough in the world right now but there are millions of people going about their daily lives being kind and compassionate. Let’s spread a little…

Add some sparkle to your Christmas Reading

Being asked to read in a religious service is a great honour, whatever our faith. But for many, it can fill us with dread – whether we are there in…

Did you ever win a cup?

When you were at school, did you ever win a cup? The Mathematics Cup? The Science Cup? The Sports Cup? It seemed that every year at Prize Giving a handful…

The return of the handshake

I am delighted, as I’m sure you are, that we are starting to shake hands again. Historians tell us that our ancestors, the chimps, have been shaking hands in some…

The pen is mightier than the email

Do you remember as a child being forced to write thank-you letters for birthday or Christmas presents? I was one of five children and, as we opened our presents, we…

Even the ‘greats’ rehearse

Some people say they don’t like to rehearse because it makes them feel stale or somehow false.  They want to feel authentic and free-flowing. They often feel more relaxed in…

What is Confidence?

A leopard doesn’t get up in the morning and think, ‘Am I a good leopard or a bad leopard?’ It just says, ‘I’m a leopard!’ But us humans seem to…

How to sound like a leader in 2021

Did you know that over 60% of UK workers think their boss does not possess good leadership skills – and 40% actually left a previous job because of this. My…

5 phrases not to say on a video call

1.   ‘OK, shall I start my presentation?’ When we go into a store to buy something, we want the salesperson to tell us, in their own words, why the product…

Are you ready for virtual and remote working?

We’re in an unprecedented third lockdown which, for nearly all businesses, means working from home or remotely and communicating virtually. Nothing can beat the banter, the ability to connect and…

Adding a sense of kindness on Zoom

It’s hard to get back into work mode after the Christmas break, but it’s even harder than usual this year.  Working remotely isn’t easy and being away from colleagues can…

The Handshake and The Elbow Bump

I don’t know about you, but I didn’t realise how much I missed shaking hands. We’ve clearly been taking it for granted for years. I’m a great one for shaking…

Are you following the Curtain Up rule?

I don’t know about you, but I’m generally pretty punctual. I’ve been an actor for over 30 years and the one thing you learn as an actor is that if…

The art of listening

We don’t really associate listening with communication. We know listening is a natural part of the communication process. When we converse with someone, we’re not the only ones talking the…

The language of flowers

There is an etiquette to sending flowers. Which do you give someone on their birthday? Which do you chose for a funeral? Which do you take to a friend in…

Why disagreements can be healthy

Many of us do not enjoy disagreement and conflict and see it as very negative and unhealthy. This isn’t always the case. Here, I give my reply to select questions…

Five secrets to success at job interviews

Stand up whilst waiting/login early We are often shown into a boardroom before an interview and offered a seat whilst we wait. Don’t take it. You don’t want their first…

Three mistakes to avoid at job interviews

Whether your interview is face-to-face or via video call, here are three mistakes many of us naively fall into and must avoid. Don’t sell Never look like you’re selling. Try…

What is the best posture on a video call?

For many of us, video calling is a very new phenomenon that we’re trying to get used to. On one hand, we have technical questions: How do they work? How…