The Speaking Club: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking

Malcolm Gregory hasn’t always been a confident speaker, and in his early days he was keen to avoid doing presentations because he didn’t feel that he fitted the mould. Eventually, he discovered the secret to unlocking his confidence as a speaker and has used speaking to stand out and win business ever since.   Malcolm has developed a reputation known for his ability to “dispel complexity and reduce challenging scenarios to simple and ordered next steps”. Within the legal profession he is recognised as a leader in his field of employment law, and he can often be found in court arguing cases for his clients. As a Speaker he is sought-after because he is able to make employment law engaging and is in demand as much for his presentations and training, as he is for advising on difficult cases. In this show he is sharing the secret he discovered to make him a successful speaker, alongside some great tips for making mundane content memorable.   What you’ll learn Why the more you understand your subject, the simpler you can make it. How important it is to bring your personality to speaking. The link between preparation and anxiety. What you should do if your mind goes blank. What to say to encourage questions. Why stories are vital to make difficult content engaging. How stories can help you memorise your content. Why keeping detailed notes in a separate handout can help audiences to engage with your content in the moment. How using humour and stories in your speaking can help you to win new business. Why you should aim to be able to summarise your content in a sentence. What makes a great speaker.   All things Malcolm: http://www.roydswithyking.com email: Malcolm.gregory@roydswithyking.com   Resources* Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill (Original)   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

Accountants can sometimes have a bit of a reputation, and Mark Lee has certainly got one! After 30 years in the industry, sprinkled with some magic, he switched from advising businesses on accountancy, to speaking to accountants about business. Today, he is one of the biggest influencers in the profession, he is also Treasurer of the Magic Circle, a coach, mentor and writer, all of which he does alongside his speaking.   He specialises in advising professionals how to make themselves stand out as a business and as an individual, using a combination of stories, magic tricks, and great tools to help people move forward. He can be controversial, and challenging, but always with the right balance of fun and positivity to make sure his message lands. In this show he is sharing some of his secrets to making your talks more engaging, based on his time as a professional speaker, and many years performing magic.   What you’ll learn Why you should always ensure there is a customer for your talk. How you can use the stage to support your message. Why it’s important to have valuable takeaways for your audience. The value of having a model to talk around. How you can use a structure for your talk that can be flexed for length. Why personal stories are so important for making your message memorable. Why creating the title of your talk is the first bit of marketing you do. What tools you can use to gather content for your talk. Why topical messages can help your message become more engaging. The four suits method for increasing your networking success. Why analogies are such a powerful tool. Why you should watch performers from other disciplines to develop your craft. How your passions can be used to frame your talk.   All things Mark: http://bookmarklee.co.uk/speaking/ All social platforms - @bookmarklee   Resources* Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill (Original) Win the Crowd – Steve Cohen   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)

In episode 019, I gave you what I believe are the essentials for humour, and in this show, I’ve got some more of the good stuff for you.   Most people are worried that using humour is risky, that it will sound forced, and that if they do a ‘joke’ and the audience doesn’t laugh, it will undermine their credibility. That’s why in this show I’m sharing tools and techniques that you can use in a very low risk way, in other words, it won’t matter if the audience doesn’t ‘get it’. Even if you don’t think you’re funny, I believe you will be able to use these tips to make your content funnier and more engaging, which will help you grow your brand, career or business.   What you’ll learn: How to recognise and use your creator and critic modes effectively. The Rule of Three and how you can use it to make people laugh without forcing the gag. Why it’s important to keep things brief. How getting specific will crack people up. Why you should use characters and get personal. How using dialogue will bring your characters to life and make them funnier. How you can get more comedy mileage by using topical and local references.   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:   Episode 019 – Humour for Speakers 101   Jon Acuff Speech   Jon Acuff Website   Sensational Speaker Rehearsal Blueprint   Cracking Speech Mate – How to use humour to make you an amazing speaker    

How do you find the fortitude, determination and resilience to keep going in the face of adversity? How do you show your vulnerability in a way that inspires others and builds your credibility? Harriet Waley-Cohen has transitioned from addict to entrepreneur, from unhappily married wife to successful single mum…overcoming even more struggles along the way. Today, she speaks to young people in order for them to avoid some of the bear traps we can fall into, and also to adults who haven’t been able to do so.   On this show Harriet shares how she uses vulnerability in her speaking and coaching, to help others beat their own demons, and grow her business.   What you’ll learn How you can use speaking to get coaching clients Why your story can help you stand out from the crowd How you can use vulnerability as a tool for connecting with your audience Why using the same language your audience would use to describe their problem is key to making you and your content relatable Why it’s important to take risks as a speaker and stay on the edge of your comfort zone in order to grow and develop your craft How you can position audience interaction to build on stories and embed tools Why humour and playfulness can help your audience connect with your message How we should question the negative thoughts we have about ourselves Why it’s important to solicit feedback, develop and evolve your message to stay confident and relevant as a speaker The things speakers should put in place around them to stay resilient Why it’s important to use social media, strategically, intentionally, and for the right reasons How sharing your view and opinions, even if they’re polarising, is better than being boring Why you must acknowledge if something unexpected happens when you’re speaking so that the audience can move on Why really understanding what your audience wants and needs is the key to becoming a great speaker   All things Harriet: www.harrietwaleycohen.com @harriet_WC (Twitter and Instagram) FB Group Harriet’s Inner Circle   Resources* Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill (Original)   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)

What does it take to make your dream come true? How do you cope with being in the ocean alone for nearly four months? What happens when you get a lung infection at the top of Mount Everest? These are just some of the things that my guest James Ketchell shares on this show.   From nearly losing a foot in a motorbike racing accident, to completing the ultimate triathlon, whilst being “crap at running’, James is a man who let’s nothing stand in his way when he’s pursuing his dreams. As a professional speaker, and now author, James now shares the stories and lessons learned from his amazing journeys. He talks about the grit and persistence needed just to get to the start line of his adventures, never mind the mental resilience and determination he had to find to complete them I’m chuffed to bits that he joined me to tell some of those stories and to share some of his speaking tips with us on The Speaking Club.   What you’ll learn How a sense of humour and a dream to aim for can get you through the dark moments Why you should listen to the people who’ve done what you want to do, rather than the people who just have an opinion on what you want to do. The key project pillars for an expedition or adventure. How to structure a fundraising proposal. Why you should always focus on the process not the outcome. Why your mental strength is the key to your success. The three things that can stop you pursuing your dreams and why they shouldn’t get in your way. Why setting mini goals will increase your chances of achieving your dream. Why you should make focus, fear and persistence your best friends. The three ingredients to great speaking.   All things James: http://jamesketchell.net Twitter @CaptainKetch Instagram James Ketchell YouTube   Resources* Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill (Original)   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)

With a successful business, national awards raining down, and her very own billboard, anyone would have thought that Louise Ladbrooke was living the life so many people dream of. However, despite the invitations to speak in Europe and alongside the likes of Gordon Brown, she was feeling anxious 24/7, in fear of being discovered for the fraud she felt she was. Addicted to the drugs of praise and recognition, and driven by impossible standards she continued to maintain the façade of success, until her body caved in.   After sacrificing her wellbeing and happiness at the altar of perfectionism, Louise had to begin a new journey to discover herself, how to manage the destructive thoughts that had made her ill, and to learn what actually made her happy. In this episode she holds nothing back, she’s painfully honest, and shares the lessons she’s learned so that you can navigate today’s world of social media, the hard world of speaking, and achieve business success without losing your health or happiness.   What you’ll learn What’s critical in creating a successful business. How questions help you manage your negative thoughts. Why it’s important to identify what drives you. Why you should stay true to your own vision and plan. Why you should be first on your list of who matters. The power of finding time for your passions. How you can practice mental awareness to recognise and short circuit negative thinking, and the physical problems that follow. How to stay resilient as a speaker. Why being authentic as a speaker is critical to your success and audience engagement. Why stories are an essential part of your speaking toolkit.   Resources:   All things Louise: http://www.louiseladbrooke.com   Twitter @LouiseLadbrooke LinkedIn Louise Ladbrooke Facebook LouiseLadbrookeSpeaker   A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled – Ruby Wax Same New World – Taming the Mind – Ruby Wax How to be Human – Ruby Wax   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.

I’ve spent years and years fascinated with the impact of how we think on how we behave. I’ve read and researched the gurus on resilience, I’ve spent time and money on training and courses, and consciously, or unconsciously, I’ve cherry picked the things that I think work best for keeping me mentally tough and on track to achieve my goals.   In this episode I’m sharing my eight hacks for staying resilient in a world where it’s harder than ever not to compare, where noise and distractions are invading our space almost 24/7, and where our minds and the way we think make the difference between whether we succeed, or we fail.   What you’ll learn Why we should think like a kid for business success. How visual cues can keep us on track Where our mind needs to be to increase productivity, creativity and the deep work that takes us forward. A framework for challenging our thoughts and beliefs so that we can be happier and get unstuck. The tactic for managing hot buttons, the comparison trap and being outside our comfort zone The hack for improving your golf score and moving forward in life Why just sharing your goals publicly is not enough to motivate you to take action. How thinking about death can supercharge our life   Resources:   The Power of Now – Eckhart Tolle   Loving What Is – Byron Katy   The Work – Byron Katy   Golf is Not a Game of Perfect - Bob Rotella   Interview with Aron Ralston   Tikker Watches   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.

Like many successful entrepreneurs, Warren Cass has tasted both success and failure, and he has many stories to tell. Acknowledged as a networking wizard, Warren believes his super power is bringing people together, and in his book ‘Influence’ he aims to share strategies for networking in the 21st Century. In this episode Warren talks about his journey to speaking, how he built his influence through networking, building key relationships and by being interested in people. He also shares some brilliant speaking tips…so jump right in!   What you’ll learn How to build influence in the 21st Century. Why old school selling is dead and what we should be doing today. How speakers and businesses should use social proof. Why authenticity is critical to influence. Why speakers should show vulnerability. Why it’s true that all the fortune is in the follow up and what you should be doing. Why you should always be specific about your audience and what you want. What makes a good business book. What makes the difference between a good speaker and a great speaker. The key factors of influence Why you should never second guess what your audience is thinking.   Resources:   All things Warren: http://www.warrencass.com Twitter @WarrenCass LinkedIn Warren Cass   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.

The speaking industry is growing massively, but Maria Franzoni has been booking speakers for over 20 years! An owner of her own bureau, MFL, and a founding member of the European Association of Speakers Bureaux (EASB), Maria Franzoni is a formidable influence in the space. In this show, she takes me behind the scenes of speaker bureaux, what they are looking for in speakers, how to approach a bureau, what you need to have in place to transition into paid speaking and loads more!   If you are serious about progressing your speaking career, or you’re curious to find out how the speaking industry works, then you’ll love this show.   What you’ll learn The criteria speakers need to meet to get taken on by a bureau What not to do if you want to join a speaker bureau How to increase your chances of getting taken on by a speaking bureau Why it’s counterproductive to talk about everything How becoming an expert on the right topic can accelerate your professional speaking career How a coach or mentor can fast-track your speaking career Speaker show reels…how long, what should be in it, what quality should it be? The difference between the European and American speaking market. Why you should establish yourself in the market where your audience is. Top tips for moving into paid speaking What is the typical first fee for speakers, and how high can you go! How important writing a book is to your speaking career. What makes the difference between a good speaker and a great speaker. What’s the benefit of using a speaker bureau What the speaker fee is paying for What a typical day in a speaker bureau looks like     Resources:   All things Maria:   https://mfl.global   Twitter @MariaFranzoni LinkedIn/en/MariaFranzoni FB Group   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.

Former Hip Hop dancer, Professional Speaker and Entreprenur, Warren Knight has a vision is to help 100,000 global businesses successfully sell more products and services by 2020. To achieve this, he uses speaking, and writing to show organisations how to use technology to build brand awareness and new revenue streams.   At 22, Warren got a grant from the Prince’s Trust and started a successful European music and clothing distribution company, before shifting gears to become the director of a global stationery and accessory business working with Disney and Nickelodeon, where he grew the business from a $5 million to $30 million company in a 5-year period, selling to over 30 countries, and achieving $1 million sales in one month. With industry awards behind him, he then co-founded two IT companies and got the first to £1m value within two years. Today, he alongside his other channels he teaches people how to setup and use social networks for their business through online coaching.   What you’ll learn Three tips for avoiding failure in your business How speaking can form the centrepiece of your business How you can source material for your presentations. How Warren uses ‘pillars’ to keep the audience engaged The difference between how you approach platform speaking vs keynote speaking The difference between webinars and straight public speaking Why LinkedIn is a great tool for speakers and how you should use it to get more speaking gigs. Why and how you should optimise your LinkedIn profile. Why you should have a business model on the back end of your speaking.   Resources:   All things Warren: http://warren-knight.com http://www.thinkdigitalfirst.com   Twitter @WarrenKnight LinkedIn/en/warrenknight   Titter Online Comedy Course for Public Speakers   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.