The Speaking Club: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking

In the last show I told you that as a speaker you are also a marketer of your message. That’s when you’re on stage, but in order to get to that stage you’re going to have to learn how to successfully market yourself as a speaker. A big part of that includes showing promoters how working with you will help make their event a success. That’s why in this episode I’m going to share the key things you need to demonstrate to be attractive as a speaker, and the things that will separate you from the herd in an event promoters’ eyes. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: Why getting the right speaker is so important to the success of an event The nine ingredients of a highly bookable speaker The importance of being ‘easy to work with’ and what that means How to become the promoter’s dream speaker Thanks for listening! To share your joke go to https://www.thespeakingclub.com 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. Resources: https://www.storyledmarketing.com The Story Led Speaking Program https://wwwstandoutpitch.com      

In this show, I’m going to be talking to you not only as speakers but as marketers of your message. That’s because I’ve had students raising the question of how long you should be sharing the same presentation before you change things up? I have some strong views on this. I believe there are some fundamental marketing principles that come into play when you are considering this question as a public speaker. The students that asked about this were potentially going to make a big mistake and I don’t want you to fall into the same trap too… Enjoy! What you’ll discover: What Category Kings are and what we can learn from them The importance of defining the problem you solve How you become a thought leader Actionable tips for moving forward and avoiding pitfalls 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. Resources: https://www.storyledmarketing.com The Story Led Speaking Program https://wwwstandoutpitch.com Play Bigger by Al Ramadan, Dave Peterson, Christopher Lochhead and Kevin Maney    

With a Master's in Health Science, Verla Fortier is a former Director of Surgery at The Toronto Hospitals in Toronto, Ontario and a retired Associate Professor of Nursing at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. At 63, after a long and high-powered career, she was looking forward to retiring back to her hometown in Manitoba, when a routine visit to her own Doctor shattered her plans. Instead of moving back to enjoy life in the country she was confined to her bed and she felt like her life was over. That was when she had an epiphany and decided to go against the prescribed medical advice and take her life and future into her own hands. She is now an author and speaker, sharing the almost miraculous results she has experienced in her own life to help other people avoid dementia, live longer and reduce the effects of chronic illness. I am sure you will enjoy this show! Whatwe talk about: Ground-breaking research into green space and its effect on mental and physical health. What broken record thinking is and how to avoid it. Why you shouldn’t spend time in the Heartbreak Hotel How green space can help prevent dementia Why grass, trees and shrubs can help us live longer What an outside mindset is and how it can help people with chronic illness How we are positively affected when trees get defensive! Top tips for getting the most benefit from being outside. The difference Verla experienced between speaking in the corporate world and sharing her new message. Why you shouldn’t let one bad gig stop you from speaking your truth. Why stories are so important. Resources* All things Verla: Website - Treesmendus.com  Take Back Your Outside Mindset by Verla Fortier The Global Forest – 40 Ways That Trees Can Save Us by Diana Beresford-Kroeger Joanna Penn – The Creative Pen Podcast Other Resources: https://www.storyledspeaking.com https://www.standoutpitch.com https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.thespeakingclub.com/speakingcourse  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 for the books, I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)    

My mission is to help people overcome any fears they may have about public speaking, using stories or adding humour to their talks, so that they get to share the message they’re passionate about in the most powerful way. My focus in my 121 coaching and courses is on teaching my students to be the vehicle for their message that could change lives. Everything I do is aimed at landing that message in the most engaging and compelling way and helping them to get out of their own way to achieve that. Now I’m not saying that my way is the only way, far from it…there are many other great speaking coaches and companies out there…but when I hear things shared or taught that will undermine people’s confidence or speaking impact, or turn them off public speaking altogether then I feel compelled to debunk those things, and that’s what this episode is all about! Enjoy! What you’ll discover: Why you need to focus on outcomes not perfect delivery Three myths about public speaking success The upside of filler words What the seven most popular TED talks have got in common Why being ‘over produced’ as a speaker will turn your audience off The power of detachment and letting go Why you need to instigate an identity separation Three truths about public speaking success Thanks for listening! Resources: The Story Led Speaking Program https://wwwstandoutpitch.com Ted Talks: Ken Robinson – Do Schools Kill Creativity Amy Cuddy – Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are Brene Brown – The Power of Vulnerability Mary Roach – 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Orgasm James Veitch – This is What Happens When You Reply to a Spam Email Cameron Russell – Looks Aren’t Everything Believe Me I’m a Model Dan Pink – The Puzzle of Motivation 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.    

Today it feels that stress, anxiety and depression are reaching epidemic levels, and for many people who slip into that black hole, it can take years to scramble out and get life back on track...if they manage it at all. For public speakers there are many potential triggers for stress and anxiety… the actual act of speaking can be terrifying for some, then there’s the rejection to deal with, and perhaps one of the biggest ones we face…the old imposter syndrome. That’s why I decided to invite Linda Clarke on the show. I have been working with Linda to develop her new workshop and I’ve been so impressed by her story, her knowledge and experience and the results she gets people. So, for me it was a no brainer to ask if she would come onto The Speaking Club to share her wisdom with you. A Master Hypnotherapist, with many other qualifications to her name, Linda has been in practice since 2006. She was based in South Africa for most of that time, with a thriving business, even treating Nelson Mandela’s Granddaughter as part of a documentary at one point. But her life changed dramatically in 2017 and what would have sent most people over the edge, gave Linda the perfect opportunity to take her own medicine. I am sure you will enjoy this show! What we talk about: What Hypnotherapy is and how it works. How your thoughts can help or hinder your situation when you’re going through a difficult time/transition. The top 3 things you can do to cope in a high-stress situation. The two different ways of being mindful and how they can help you perform better. Specific tips for managing anxiety and stress around public speaking. The importance of building the right neural pathways. Primal needs – what they are and why they matter. Why your talk doesn’t need to be perfect to be effective. Why you should speak to the audience you’ve got not the one you want. The importance of trusting your instincts in business. Resources* All things Linda: https://www.lindaclarke.co.uk email:linda@lindaclarke.co.uk Other Resources: The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton The Molecules of Emotion by Candice Pert Full Catastrophe Living by John Kabat-Zinn https://www.storyledspeaking.com https://www.standoutpitch.com https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.thespeakingclub.com/speakingcourse  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 for the books, I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)  

I believe your goal as a speaker is to make your talk believable, interesting and thrilling. That’s because if your audience can relate to and is captivated by your message, then they will be more likely to remember it, and be moved enough to take the action you want. To achieve this goal, you need to recognise that whilst every second of your talk counts, there are some moments that are critical for achieving that goal and successfully building the narrative of the journey you are taking your audience on. In this podcast I’m going to give you tips on identifying those big moments and making them count. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: What ‘big moments’ are How you can find them The questions you need to ask when you find them A reminder of the performance tools you can use to help you bring these moments to life 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. Resources: https://www.storyledspeaking.com https://wwwstandoutpitch.com https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/media/2019/09/watch-nigel-farage-falls-perfect-phone-prank    

I love stories, but I love stories with humour more! So does your audience, and in fact the majority of the population. Humour brings people together, builds a connection between you and your audience and is more likely to get your message shared. The trouble is that it can seem scary and hard to do in public speaking, and that is where this episode comes in. For most of my life I’ve worked in the corporate world by day, alongside doing stand-up comedy and theatre by night! During that time, I realised that the humour I used in the comedy clubs, was not going to be appropriate when speaking to audiences in my corporate job. The principles behind creating the humour were exactly the same but my brand and my audience were not. I know the power of comedy in both contexts and that’s why I’m so passionate about helping you use it in the right way to get results in your speaking generally, and your stories especially.  So, in this show I’m focusing exclusively on adding humour to stories rather than writing jokes for jokes sake. I’m going to be giving you five simple tips that you can use to make your stories funnier in a low risk way. Have fun and let me know how you get on!! What you’ll discover: Why people laugh Why it always comes back to your audience How to get laughs from small details Why you need to channel your inner magician What you can learn from the film Evolution about making things funny The golden comedy formula A variation on the rule of three Things to be mindful of when using comedy   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.   Resources: TED Talk – I Got 99 Problems…Palsy is Just One – Maysoon Zayid Evolution Scene Episode 19 – Humour 101 for Public Speaking Episode 28 – How to Make Your Content Funny Without Forcing the Gag  

Last week I was in Boise, Idaho attending a conference called ‘Offermind’. It was primarily about marketing and how to create an irresistible offer, but there were lots of golden nuggets that applied to speaking too! As you may know I coach and consult on marketing and speaking with a specific focus on storytelling and humour. That’s because I believe that the two are so closely linked AND as well as educating and motivating your audience speaking is also one of the best ways to market and sell your products and services. All of the speakers who were on stage at the conference were amazing and I was particularly chuffed to be able to see one of my marketing heroes in action. This guy is also one of the highest paid speakers in the world, so when he talks, I listen. He gave away many value bombs during his keynote including the one I’m going to be sharing with you today! Enjoy! What this episode covers: Why frameworks are important How to make your audience engage with the framework before you even share it with them How the same teaching framework will enable you to flex your talk to fill five minutes or five hours! When you should stay at the strategy level and why. The one thing you should always do with your framework to get your audience motivated to implement what you’re sharing. Thanks for listening! Resources: https://www.storyledmarketing.co.uk/podcast https://www.standoutpitch.com https://www.thespeakingclub.com/speakingcourse Leaving a review: http://www.saraharcher.co.uk/itunes http://www.saraharcher.co.uk/stitcher https://www.imore.com/how-rate-or-review-podcast-your-iphone-or-ipad 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. See you next time.

Over the years, I’ve noticed a disease that has infected many, many people…particularly those working in the corporate world. That disease is ‘slide sickness’. The symptoms are nasty, and they result in the audiences for your talk slapping themselves in the face to stay awake. I know that what to do with slides pre-occupies and perplexes many speakers and since I’ve only touched on the topic of slides once before in a guest show, I’ve decided to go a bit deeper in this episode. I’m going to give you my take on the seven deadly slide sins and how to avoid them, so that you are confident about using slides and they won’t cause you problems again. Enjoy! What this episode covers: Where slide creation comes in the preparation process Slide design and what you need to think about Why you need to think about what your audience can see How you can avoid unnecessarily breaking the audience connection What your slides say about you and your business How to avoid falling into the fun trap How your slides can support your success Thanks for listening! Resources: https://www.storyledmarketing.co.uk/podcast https://www.standoutpitch.com https://www.thespeakingclub.com/speakingcourse  Slide Clicker Adapter for your Mac Leaving a review: http://www.saraharcher.co.uk/itunes http://www.saraharcher.co.uk/stitcher https://www.imore.com/how-rate-or-review-podcast-your-iphone-or-ipad 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. See you next time.

When you ask the love of your life to marry you, your daughter tells you she’s getting married, (to someone you approve of), or your friend asks you to be best man… after the initial joy, often comes dread. That’s when you suddenly remember that you have to do a wedding speech. Now whether you’re an experienced public speaker or not, the stakes always feel higher in these situations. It’s their big day, you’ll be speaking in front of some of the toughest critics going…family, friends and in-laws… and you feel obliged to try and get some laughs. That’s why I thought it was time to do another episode on this terrifying topic. I specifically invited my friend Chris Waddell to help me do this show for a number of reasons. He is a veteran wedding speech giver, and recently was best man for his brother, he is very funny, and…he had a lot to say about the last wedding speech episode I did on the show! Alongside his speaking and comedy, Chris is a Graphic Designer, Photographer and pusher of peoples’ buttons! The tips and hacks Chris and I cover in this show will help your public speaking generally, but if you do have a wedding speech coming up…don’t miss this show! What we talk about: How Chris decides on the approach to his speech. The tools and ingredients he uses to craft his talks. Adding humour to your speech without having to write a joke from scratch. The fine line of propriety and how to navigate it. Why you should avoid in-jokes, unless you can bring everyone in the audience in on it. Chris’ process for putting his talk together. How you can engage your subconscious to find material for you 24/7. What a ‘bonding gag’ is and how to use it to get your audience onside. The importance of tightening your material. Rehearsal tips that will keep you on track on the big day. What you shouldn’t do after cracking a joke! Resources* All things Chris: Twitter & Instagram = @Count_Christoph https://www.waddelldigital.co.uk  The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks Other Resources: https://www.storyledspeaking.com https://www.standoutpitch.com https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.thespeakingclub.com/speakingcourse 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 for the books, I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)