The Speaking Club: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking

Covid-19 has affected all our lives, forcing us to make dramatic changes to the way we live and work to adapt to a new reality. Life will revert to some form of ‘normal’, but this experience will result in some lasting behavioural shifts...and more remote working and online communication are likely to be two big ones.  The bottom line is that not only do we need to get comfortable presenting online, but we need to get comfortable having sales conversations online if you want to grow your business now and in the future. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or a corporate leader with sales teams who have to make this transition, it’s going to be important that you are able to start back strong in this new context.  That’s why I’ve brought Diane Banister, the CEO of Intelligent Dialogue, on the show. She has spent decades helping companies develop their sales capability and has made a significant change to her own business by bringing it online, with incredible success.  I hope this episode gives you some tips for communicating in this new context and taking your business forward. Enjoy!  What you’ll discover: How Covid-19 hit Diane’s offline training business and what she did about it. The difference between ‘responding’ and ‘reacting’ when business challenges arise.  The differences between training virtually rather than live and how to handle them.  Why moving to online communication requires you to be at the top of your game. Whether you should be selling right now and if so how.  The challenges many are going to face getting back to work.  How sales conversations will change in the new communication context.   Why it’s wrong to make blanket assumptions about how your customers have been impacted. Why you should be spending time on making your message relevant for where each of your customers might be.  All things Diane Banister: Successfully Navigating Sales Conversations Online Training Videos  Coupon Code for The Speaking Club Discount = TSC2020 LinkedIn  Twitter  Books: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss Resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thespeakingclub/ https://www.facebook.com/SarahArcherSpeak/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.thespeakingclub.com/masterclass https://www.standoutpitch.com Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts:                                                       leave a comment below.     Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.  To help the show out:     Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one. ·      Subscribe on iTunes.

Professor Monder Ram OBE is an expert on small businesses and ethnic minority entrepreneurship research. He has published many papers, consults with small businesses, is a global keynote speaker and a government advisor too. I am also very proud to say he is one of my star students too. In this episode not only do we discuss some of the findings of Monder’s many years of research into small business challenges and particularly the challenges that migrants and migrant entrepreneurs face, but we talk a whole heck about his speaking too! This show is a goldmine for great insights and tips that will help you shine as an authentic, captivating speaker and I’m sure you’re going to love it. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: Why Monder thinks stories are needed more than ever in the academic arena. How sharing real life stories as a scientist has helped Monder influence public policy around small businesses. The three areas of entrepreneurship that trip many small businesses up. Why the issues that face most entrepreneurs are amplified for migrant business owners. The travesty of wasted talent in our communities that could fill vital business roles. How Monder ditched his slides in speaking in 2004 and hasn’t used them since. The differences between a practitioner, academic and policy making audiences. How Monder tailors his talk strategy and content for the different audiences he talks to. The in-depth process Monder uses to prepare for a talk. The importance of flow, engagement, framing and starting the talk with a bang. Why being yourself when you speak is vital for connecting with your audience and building your confidence. Why academics and all speakers should consider focusing on the struggle and the ‘why’ rather than just the results in their communication. All things Monder Ram: LinkedIn Monder Ram Twitter @monderram Email m.ram1@aston.ac.uk Books: The Examined Life by Stefan Grosz Resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thespeakingclub/ https://www.facebook.com/SarahArcherSpeak/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.thespeakingclub.com/masterclass https://www.standoutpitch.com Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts:                                                       leave a comment below.     Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out:     Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one.     Subscribe on iTunes.  

Content flow relates to the composition of your talk and how you get your audience from ‘a’ to ‘b’. This is relevant whether you’re doing a 15 second Tik Tok, three minute facebook live, blog or or a 45 minute keynote. You need to consider some often overlooked factors relating to ‘content flow’ that will affect the experience people have on their journey with you... whatever medium it’s on, or how long it may be. Get it right and you may win a fan, but get it wrong and you may leave your audience bored, confused, and unlikely to bother engaging with you again.  In this show I’m going to be sharing those factors you need to pay attention to, so that your content keeps your audience focused, engaged and eager to take the next steps with you.  Enjoy! What you’ll discover: My Gambian nightmare and why it matters to your audience.  The starting point for any speaking content. Why speakers can learn a lot from tattoo artists. The key ‘content flow’ ingredients for a great talk. What a segue is and why it matters. The secrets to good segues. Why stories and gaps are your friend for keeping your audience focused. Get the audience committed. Resolution and the warm fuzzy feeling it brings. Resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thespeakingclub/ https://www.facebook.com/SarahArcherSpeak/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.standoutpitch.com Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts:                                                       leave a comment below.     Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out:     Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one.     Subscribe on iTunes.

Viv Conway and Tash Meys originally had companies on the side whilst they were friends at college. They focused on Instagram as the platform to grow their businesses, and eventually had so much success with it that they decided to ditch their side hustles and open up their own Instagram agency called Ace The Gram.  Not only have they mastered Instagram to move their personal profiles to over 200K followers, but they have worked with clients from 70 followers to 1.9 million followers across Australia, the USA, the UK, and New Zealand. From influencer marketing and giveaways, to using Instagram for driving traffic to your website/product, Viv and Tash now work to bring their knowledge and passion to anyone who wants to leverage social media for their business. They are excited to share everything they have learnt along their journey and they’re doing that on this show. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: Where Instagram fits into the social media ecco-system. Why patience is needed for sustainable growth and better quality followers. Why your ideal audience is not only critical for your business in general, but super important when it comes to Instagram. How having a clear message and understanding the niche that you are in will grow your audience faster.  Guidance on strategy for using Instagram in your business. One of the biggest myths about how to reach your audience on Instagram. What it means to optimise your profile and how to do it. How you can use influencer marketing in your marketing strategy. What ‘valuable’ content looks like on Instagram. Specific tips for speakers and entrepreneurs who want to build their audience and brand using instagram. What branded hashtags are, and how to use them to your advantage. Where Instagram stories can fit into your strategy. Understand more about the Instagram algorithm and how this might help you. Why using multiple social media platforms is important for your marketing strategy, and which combination is currently the strongest. Tips for using Instagram to build a community and boost engagement. All things Ace the Gram: Website acethegram Instagram @acethegram Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/instagramgrowthandengagement/ Books: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins The Defining Decade - Why Your Twenties Matter and How to Make the Most of them by Meg Jay Resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thespeakingclub/ https://www.facebook.com/SarahArcherSpeak/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.thespeakingclub.com/masterclass https://www.standoutpitch.com Thanks for listening!  To share your thoughts:                                                       leave a comment below.     Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out:     Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one.     Subscribe on iTunes.

Kristin Linklater has been helping people to transform their voice into an instrument of passion, power and performance for many, many years. I am honoured that she is a guest on the show and that she is sharing such value for anyone that wants to reach their full potential as a public speaker. She has had a long and distinguished career as a teacher and actor in Europe and America. She has worked with some of the most prestigious theatre companies and dramatic institutions in the world and has written one of the seminal books on voice technique based on hearing ‘the person, not the voice.’ Kristin has published several articles on voice and has lectured and given workshops in the U.S., the UK, Europe, Russia, Taiwan and China. Since 1965 she has trained over 200 teachers in her methods; they teach in a majority of the actor-training programs in the U.S., and in Australia, England, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Finland, Spain and Russia. Today, Kristin is still teaching her method in courses at the Kristin Linklater Voice Centre in the Orkney Islands.   I hope you enjoy the show.  What we talk about: The mysterious origin of modern voice technique. The connection between mind, body and voice. The difference between a ‘free’ voice and an ‘inhibited’ one. The ‘vertical’ experience of the voice and why speakers should be using this in their talks. Why we ‘unlearn’ how to use our voice to its full potential. How our jaw protects us from ‘feeling’ unwanted emotion.  Examples of bad voice habits and how they impact the quality of our performance? How trying to control our voice reduces our vocal stamina. Why public speakers must ‘feel’ the words and not hide behind a presentational tone. The link between our limiting beliefs and our voice. Why the stories we’re silently holding onto are sabotaging our voice and our message.  The step on stage ‘mantra’ for conquering the primal fear that stops you from speaking or affects your performance.  Tips for speakers to help improve the quality of their voice. Kristin’s process for putting her own keynote talks together. How Kristin uses stories to create aha moments.  Who really wrote the plays of Shakespeare! All things Kristin https://www.linklatervoice.com Freeing the Natural Voice by Kristin Linklater  Freeing Shakespeare’s Voice by Kristin Linklater  Books: The Brain that Changes Itself by Norman Doidge Other Resources*  https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.mystorywizard.com https://www.standoutpitch.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/thespeakingclub/ Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts:                                                         leave a comment below.       Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out:       Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one.       Subscribe on iTunes. *(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

Mike Michalowicz is a best-selling author, speaker, multi-millionaire business owner and the man that Simon Sinek calls “the top contender for the patron saint of entrepreneurs”  However, his work today came as a result of learning some crucial business and life lessons after losing everything he’d made from selling two companies. Since then Mike has devoted his life to finding better ways for himself and other entrepreneurs to grow healthy, strong companies.  He is a former small business columnist for The Wall Street Journal and business makeover specialist on MSNBC. Mike is a popular main stage keynote speaker on innovative entrepreneurial topics.  One of his most popular books and systems is Profit First, which is used by hundreds of thousands of companies across the globe to drive profit. He has written many others and his latest book, ‘Fix This Next’, is accidentally, but perfectly timed to help many business owners suffering as a result of the crisis.  In this show, I’m getting the low down from Mike on many things that will help you as a speaker and business owner to move forward despite the challenges that you are facing on the journey.  I hope you enjoy the show. What we talk about:     Why Mike has dedicated his life to investigating the journey of successful entrepreneurship.      The origin of Profit First as a way of managing cash in your business.     Why traditional accounting methods don’t work for entrepreneurs.      How ‘Profit First’ works.      The amazing results it has had for entrepreneurs and businesses in sustaining profitability.     The ‘Survival Trap’ exercise that you can run for your business.     Why Mike developed the ‘Business Hierarchy of Needs’ to identify the right actions for your business if you’re feeling overwhelmed or facing a crisis in your business.     The story of Cottonwood Coffee and how they used the business hierarchy of needs.     How speaking fits into what Mike does.     Why you should give people actionable content when you’re speaking.     The ‘One Step Back’ technique and how you can use it to pivot.     Why you shouldn’t give until it hurts and what you do should always have a sales foundation.     How and why Mike uses stories and humour in his talks.     The way that Mike overcame his public speaking anxiety.     Why you should listen to people’s wallets, rather than their words. All things Mike https://www.mikemichalowicz.com https://www.fixthisnext.com Books: Profit First by Mike Michalowicz Clock Work by Mike Michalowicz The Toliet Paper Entrepreneur by Mike Michalowicz How to Stop Worrying and Start Living – Dale Carnegie  Other Resources*  https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.mystorywizard.com https://www.standoutpitch.com https://www.thespeakingclub.com/masterclass Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts:                                                         leave a comment below.       Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out:       Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one.       Subscribe on iTunes.  *(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)  

There is one common factor I’ve noticed time and time again in relation to people who ‘make’ it, whatever field or industry they’re in.  That common factor is that those who achieve success don’t live their lives based on expectations, they set their own course. The path that they follow is based on what is possible and it’s available to all of us equally, although it’s one that few people choose to tread. In this show I want to explore why that is, and the difference between what is probable versus what’s possible, so that you can choose a new perspective and path for yourself to achieve the success you want in speaking, business and life. Enjoy! What you’ll discover:     Why my family regret me doing a sponsored swim at eight-years-old.     The difference between probable and possible when it comes to mindset     Why the young and the naive succeed     The problem with expectations      What L’esprit de l’escalier is and how we can avoid it.     Why we need to limit our research     The reason we should steer clear of opinions     Why we need to use the past as a springboard not an excuse     The role models for mindset     Why we need to use fear as a compass Resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thespeakingclub/ https://www.facebook.com/SarahArcherSpeak/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.thespeakingclub.com/masterclass https://www.standoutpitch.com Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts:                                                       leave a comment below.     Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out:     Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one.     Subscribe on iTunes. *(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

About 20 years ago Colette Etheridge fell ill with anxiety...one event triggered her to lose control of her life and become someone she didn’t recognise. She was lost in a world of paranoia, displaying irrational and selfish behaviours without a thought for anyone else. After four months of hard work she managed to make the changes she needed to and get her life back on track. Today, she helps others conquer anxiety issues including depression, fears and phobias. In this episode, she is sharing her story and many tips and tools for beating any anxieties you might have. You’ll get benefit from this show if you’re struggling to cope with what’s going on in the world at the moment, or you’re having to step outside your comfort zone to respond, or  you just want some help to overcome your public speaking issues. I hope you enjoy the show. What we talk about: How anxiety showed up in Collette’s life and the impact it had on her. Whether anxiety is an illness or a state of mind. The difference between types of anxiety and phobias. The best way to keep our minds healthy in today’s world. How animals help with anxiety. Why gratitude is a big part of getting and staying mentally healthy. Whether affirmations work? Why hypnotherapy works much faster on tackling speaking anxiety. How fear of speaking on stage or on video is driven by our beliefs. My reluctance to do Facebook lives and why this is. The process for reprogramming your subconscious to overcome the limiting beliefs that hold you back. Managing your business finances.  All things Colette https://smallstepscounsellingservice.com https://www.facebook.com/SmallStepsGlos/ https://childbehavioursolutions.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/ChildBehaviourSolutions/ Books: Inner Talk for Peace of Mind by Susan Jeffers A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown Other Resources* https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.mystorywizard.com https://www.standoutpitch.com https://www.thespeakingclub.com/masterclass Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts:                                                  leave a comment below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes. *(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

It might not be sexy, but whether you have a speaking business, or a business that you grow through speaking, you are going to want to listen to this show, now more than ever. Even in normal circumstances poor cashflow kills more businesses than anything else, but when there is turbulence its reach is much bigger. If you are struggling at the moment, this show may help you find a lifeline. If you are experiencing a boom or getting buy, it’s also important you listen to get the right things in place to protect your business and preserve the cashflow that can so often trip people up even when the order book is full. Cashflow expert Nicki Kinton is sharing a range of advice from getting late payments in, to what to cover in your terms and conditions to maximise the chance of your business getting paid. I hope you find it useful. What we talk about: The biggest mistakes entrepreneurs and business owners make in relation to cashflow. What records you should be keeping about your cashflow. What a cashflow forecast is and why it’s important. Why you need to re-educate late paying customers. How to chase late payments without damaging the relationship Why great credit control processes can create customer loyalty How country culture can influence credit control behaviour Actionable steps you can take to pre-screen customers for their ability to pay you. How to deal with large company payment terms. Tips for creating terms and conditions that protect your business. The difference between a booking fee and a deposit. How speaking has helped Nicki’s business to grow. Why speaking is great for honing your message. All things Nicki: Website – https://confidentcashflow.com https://www.facebook.com/ConfidentCashflow/ https://twitter.com/ConfidentCashfl https://www.instagram.com/confidentcashflow/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickikinton/ enquiries@confidentcashflow.com  Books: The Hobbit by JRR Tolkein Other Resources* https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.mystorywizard.com https://www.standoutpitch.com https://www.thespeakingclub.com/masterclass Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts:                                                  leave a comment below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes. *(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

Now more than ever we need to be meeting our audience where they are to reach them with our message. As an MC at comedy gigs being able to build a rapport with your audience is an imperative and that is why I am chuffed to have Christian Russell-Pollock as my guest on this show. An award-winning comic and marketer, Christian is a master at engaging his audience whether it’s onstage doing comedy or online promoting events or individuals. In this episode he is sharing some game changing tips for speaking and growing your brand. Enjoy! What we talk about: What Christian loves about stand-up comedy. How you can cover if your material doesn’t land and still get a laugh. Why it’s better to know your material and trust yourself than learning every word. How to bring an audience into the experience and move easily between your material. The difference between an MC and a performer and how the skills of an MC can increase your impact. Christian’s tips for being successful with humour. Why the truest thing is the funniest thing and what that means. Top tips for an MC that apply live and for online events. The No1 thing you should think about when building your brand. Why you need to give your audience a way to keep in touch. Persona examples and why this matter. Why it’s important for your audience to like you. Why you should always find your opposite to work with in business.   All things Christian: Website(s) – https://1steditionmarketing.com https://www.crpcomedy.com Twitter @crpcomedian Books: It’s Not How Good You Are it’s How Good You Want to Be by Paul Arden Man of Letters by Spike Milligan Other Resources* Getting Your Public Speaking Persona Right! – 103 https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.mystorywizard.com https://www.standoutpitch.com https://www.thespeakingclub.com/masterclass Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts:                                                  leave a comment below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes. *(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)