How do I know if I am a Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced?
Ask yourself:
- What training have you had?
- What public speaking experience have you had?
- What public speaking are you going to be doing next?
- How do you feel about your performance?
- Where are you now?
- Where would you like to be?
- What would you like to do to get there?
Beginner: You have no training or experience whatsoever, are possibly very nervous and don’t know where to start.
I’m an actor and teacher of public speaking, offering group and individual coaching in speech-making and reading to an audience. I’ve trained people in the UK and abroad for over ten years. And as an actor for the last fifteen years, I’ve performed in cabaret, film and one woman shows at the Edinburgh Festival. I understand about getting nervous [ we all do], but I’ve learned how to deal with it.
When I first learned to drive, my mind was going round in circles –“ mirror signal manoeuvre clutch gears hands on wheel mirror throttle …BUS!”
Now with experience, I know where I want to go – and just drive.
When you learn public speaking skills, you may initially find your mind going “opening words eye contact lighthouse projection pace whiteboard how does the powerpoint work what bit comes next …NERVES …!”
But with experience, you’ll know where you want to go – and just speak.
Every time you talk to someone, say something to the family, speak to a group of friends in the pub – you’re speaking in public. You can already do it. Relax. Breathe. Think. Speak. You can do it all. But nerves and an “I can’t…” mindset can override the knowledge and skill you already have, giving you a negative attitude that can hold you back.
We learn to fear the fear. The effect of adrenaline becomes the thing we dread, the focus of the fear.
My training will help you to appreciate that these physical and psychological experiences are the results of that adrenaline – and to accept it as a friend, the fuel you need to power up your presentation. It will help you to identify and highlight skills you already have, to develop and practice new skills.
Look good, sound good and feel good when speaking in public, at any level.
Beginners’ courses
Spring into Public Speaking
A Speech in a Day
Beat the Fear: Nerve-busting and Confidence-boosting