The Speaking Club: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking

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)          

I have a weird background that mixes a long corporate career with speaking, stand-up comedy, theatre, content marketing and coaching. Over the past eight years I’ve been drawing on that unique blend of experience to teach and coach people to connect with and captivate audiences through storytelling and humour. Throughout that time, I’ve learnt what works best to get results for people and now I’ve captured that success path in my 10-step Story Led Speaking system. In this show, not only am I going to share those 10 steps with you, but I’m also going to signpost you to previous podcast episodes that are relevant for each step. This system includes the four core ingredients you need to become a sensational speaker and the six-stage process that you must go through every time to get consistent and powerful results with your public speaking. So, whether you’re looking to motivate, educate, sell, pitch, or get stakeholders to buy in I promise this episode is going to be golden for you! Enjoy! What this episode covers: The secret to unlocking creativity even if you are a left-brainer. The four core ingredients you need to become a sensational public speaker. The 6-stage process for getting results in your speaking every time. Where to get the low down on the core four from previous episodes. Thanks for listening! Resources: To find out more about my Story Led Speaking Program click the link below. https://www.thespeakingclub.com/speakingcourse https://www.storyledmarketing.co.uk/podcast https://www.standoutpitch.com Mindset Mastery: https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/thespeakingclub/001 Story Mastery: https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/thespeakingclub/005 https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/thespeakingclub/007 https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/thespeakingclub/009 Performance Tools: https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/thespeakingclub/038 https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/thespeakingclub/047 Humour 101: https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/thespeakingclub/019 https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/thespeakingclub/028 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.

Katherine Brooke-Mackenzie helps people feel well again using alternative therapies, but particularly colon-hydrotherapy. She has spent a large part of the last 15 years happily taking people’s crap. Based on what she has seen she believes that many of us are living with discomfort, pain and shame because we don’t feel like we can talk about what’s wrong…and she is on a mission to change that. In this episode we discover the personal challenges and epiphanies that led Katherine to what she does today. She explains why we need to be paying attention to the connection between our minds and our bodies and she shares some great tips for improving our gut health. We are also talking about Katherine’s public speaking, and how after years of trying she has finally overcome the fear and found her voice. She is sharing about what she does to engage people in a topic that is not normally discussed in polite society. What we talk about: The connection between our mental welfare, realising our potential and the crap we carry around with us. Myths about poo The factors that influence a healthy gut 3 top tips for a healthy poo The anxiety Katherine had around public speaking and how she overcame it The importance of having a structure, frameworks and stories How important it is to value your experience Why it’s so important to trust yourself and the preparation you’ve done. How humour can help with taboo topics. Why you need the loo before a big talk. The impact of getting the confidence to speak publicly in other areas of Katherine’s life How our thoughts influence our world. Resources* All things Katherine: https://www.thehealthygutclinic.co.uk https://www.talkingaboutthebrownstuff.com https://www.facebook.com/talkingaboutthebrownstuff/ LinkedIN Other Resources: The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton 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)

Most of us that speak in public have a relatively high level of expertise in the topic we’re presenting on…and that is how it should be. But therein lies a risk and an issue that has turned many potentially scintillating talks into snooze fests.  Depending on our experience as a speaker, the context in which we’re speaking and our own level of insecurities, there is sometimes an overwhelming desire to ‘prove’ ourselves and show how much we know. (Trust me I’ve been there before!) The trouble is that this is often at the expense of engaging our audience and getting our message across.  Here I’m going to share my three top tips to help you avoid the ‘expert’ trap, so that you land your message and create light bulb moments for your audience. Enjoy! What this episode covers: The shift in thinking that will transform your speaking Why common sense is ignored and what to use instead How to keep your audience attentive all the way through How to simplify your message and create light bulb moments The antidote to boring big data  Thanks for listening! Resources: Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath 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.

It has taken Anthony Taylor a number of years and false starts to find his path and purpose. Like many of us he was lost for decades looking for fulfillment in status and financial reward, until he discovered contentment for him was helping people develop the mental toughness and resilience to achieve their goals. In this show he is sharing his journey, alongside his suggestions for building resilience and developing the personal tools to cope with whatever life throws at us. He is also sharing his experience of stepping up to the next level in public speaking and how he changed his game in order to serve his audience better and increase the impact of his message. If you want to become a better public speaker this show has lots to offer you. What we talk about: Why building resilience has never been more important Emotional snapping, what’s causing it and how to avoid it. The power of knowing your worth and your values The difference between role performance and identity What ‘self-mastery’ is and why you should work towards it Anthony’s top three tips for building resilience The difference between delivering workshops and delivering keynotes How digging deeper into your target audience beliefs can magnetise your talk How to focus and captivate your audience at the start of your talk The power of picking a niche for your speaking and business   Resources* All things Anthony: https://www.threefifty9.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonytaylor2 Other Resources: Maverick by Ricardo Semler 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)

Helen Langford has a very nice voice, and you may even have heard it before as she does get about a bit! Having trained to be an actor, she switched to voiceover work when she discovered that not only did she like it but people liked her voice. Working mostly for corporate clients, including companies like Nestle Royal Mail, Boots, Highways England, and Cambridge English. Every day she tells stories, explains tricky concepts, promotes brilliant ideas and gets to be somebody new! In this show I asked her to share her story and some voice tips to help public speakers bring their talks to life. So listen to the show to discover Helen’s secrets for increasing engagement and utilizing one of the most powerful tools in your public speaker’s kit. What we talk about: Why it’s important to record yourself as a public speaker. The power of the pause and why it should be one of your go to voice tools. How to avoid the droning voice. Why your voice is never fully dressed without a smile The difference between pitch and tone Why you should warmup your voice before you speak Simple vocal warmup exercises you can do at the side of the stage. The power of ‘now’ and how it can fuel our success. Resources* All things Helen: https://www.helenlangfordvoiceovers.co.uk https://www.linkedin.com/in/helensvoice/ Other Resources: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle 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)  

There are two reasons I created this podcast episode. Firstly, I heard a story from an influencer that really pushed my buttons. This story made me realise that a lot of organisations and coaches who teach and influence public speaking may be failing to share a vital ingredient for success…and I don’t want you as a Speaking Club listener to miss this out. That’s why in this show, I’m going to share what I believe is the primary thing to focus on and develop on your journey to becoming a sensational speaker and why. The second reason for this show is that during the course of coaching my students to develop their talk and speaking skills, we always cover their talk title and coming up with the right one can be a struggle for them. Because the talk title is linked closely to the first reason for the show, I’m going to give you some tips on how to make it sexy and explain why you should! Enjoy! What we’re going to cover: What is not important for speaking success. The most important thing to understand to become a successful speaker Why successful speaking is about changing beliefs. The three triggers for getting people to pay attention and take action The five principles of a great talk title  Enjoy! Thanks for listening! Resources: https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/thespeakingclub/062 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.

This show happened because a listener reached out to me and told me about the difference The Speaking Club had made to her life in just one month. Engineer and confirmed techie Karin Layton hated public speaking with a passion. She had massive anxiety, which resulted in shaking and sweating when she was forced to speak at all in her job. She described the thought of speaking as a waking nightmare. But Karin was forced to have a heart to heart with herself when she entered a competition to get funding for her invention and realized that without becoming a better public speaker, she was going to fail miserably. So, she decided to do something about it and looked for a podcast to help her. She discovered the Speaking Club and binge listened to all the episodes, following the processes, putting the learning into action and fighting against all her instincts in relation to the content. Listen to the show to discover the key lessons she learned, how her public speaking changed and what happened when she took a leap of faith and tried things a new way. What we talk about: What motivated Karin to face her fear about public speaking. How confidence can be cultivated. How facts and technical details can get in the way of the message. What Karin did differently to prepare for her presentation. Why episode 011 wound Karin up. How stories and metaphors can work in a technical presentation. Why you’ve got to kill your darlings. The inverted rehearsal bell curve that leads to a high impact presentation. How amazing it can feel when you know that your message has landed. The one thing that helped Karin the most. How personal stories can set you apart. Why being yourself and likeable is so valuable as a speaker. Resources* All things Karin: https://www.mimicid.com https://www.facebook.com/karinklayton Other Resources: Life of Pi by Jann Martel 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)