“No word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.”
– Mark Twain
If like me you have assiduously avoided giving presentations and public speaking all together please keep reading. You are not alone.
I am with you or I was until I met the charming, charismatic and oh-so-brilliant Robin Kermode. It was at a business course run by The London Finishing Academy that I took part in a session on public speaking. Robin is one of the most respected communication coaches globally and so it was an enormous opportunity to spend some time learning from him. And at the end of it all, I gave my speech. I enjoyed it and I am going to do it again soon.
Here is a little clip just to give you a flavour...
Robin is a mine of helpful tips and strategies about speech construction as well as delivery. Amusingly he advises that before starting to speak, squeezing your thighs or buttocks helps to calm nerves and add gravitas to your stance. I did this and found it most effective. 😊 He also tutors on voice quality, the power of the two-second pause and switching on your inner twinkle.
Find Robin at robinkermode.com and also on his wonderful podcast The Art of Communication. He has also written a book entitled Speak so Your Audience Will Listen so there are many ways to benefit from his huge talent.
As to whether public speaking is an art or a science, I think it is a bit of both. Some of us perhaps have a more innate capacity to stand up and be heard but all of us can learn and improve with the right support and guidance. My advice is to let Robin be your guide and give it a go.
Sincerely,
Tina
Founder at BagButler.Ldn