Five years ago, I launched The Speaking Club and it’s been an interesting journey. From me talking to myself in a little cubby hole, wondering if anyone would listen, to the show being downloaded in over 190 countries and it becoming a top 1% podcast, regularly in the charts. To recognise this milestone, I decided that I wanted to share my biggest learnings over the past five years, some of which I’ve already covered with you in podcast episodes and some which haven’t.  I hope that some of the aha moments I’ve had and share with you here, will help you too. Maybe as a new concept that gives you insight and shifts something that might be holding you back, or as a reminder for something you know but has bobbed below the surface. Where there is a companion episode, I’ll point you to it in case you want to dig deeper.  Enjoy!   What you’ll discover: The counter intuitive positioning for growing your audience Why letting go of what you want is the best way to get it. The critical distinction between intention and attention. The concepts of hot and cold cognition. When being competitive can lead to less not more.   Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club (Take a photo of your review and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!)   Companion Episodes: How to Avoid Drowning Your Future in the Well of Intention - 170 Getting Results with the Law of Attraction… Whether You Believe it or Not! With Andrew Kap - 166 The Biggest Mistake in Pitching and Presenting and How to Avoid it! - 093 Build Your Niche, Not Your Brand - 094   Books: Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speaker Play Bigger by Christopher Lockhead et al Niche Down by Christopher Lockead Pitch Anything by Oren Klaff    Resources: Nail Your Signature Talk Programme Take the Snackable Story Challenge The Speaking Club ‘Live’ Membership https://www.saraharcher.co.uk UNICEF UKRAINE AID RED CROSS UKRAINE AID https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org Thanks for listening!   To share your thoughts:   Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out:   Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc. Your ratings and reviews 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)

A lot of the heavy lifting for your brand is done by the image you present to your target audience offstage.  People not only look at your credentials and experience, but also your photo to gauge how you come across and whether you’ll be a right fit for them or their audience.  That profile picture of you is often the start of the ‘know, like, trust’ journey and it’s important that you don’t fall at the first hurdle. So, as well as investing in developing your content and speaking skills, you also need to pay attention to your photo as another marketing asset.  That’s why I’ve bought Marcus Ahmad onto the show. He started his career in fashion photography leading shoots across the globe, including Paris, New York and London. From there he became a professor of photography, teaching today’s hot shots how to capture the ‘hot shot’!  More recently, he has switched into working with speakers, coaches and businesses, specialising in commercial branding shoots. He is here to help you nail your brand photos and more! Enjoy!   What you’ll discover: How Marcus ended up doing what he does today. Why he believes that the single image is more powerful than the moving image. How your marketing plan should influence the way your branding shots are taken. Why you should pay attention to the background in your headshot. What storytelling photography is. How Marcus approaches photographing speakers, and why it’s a bit different to normal brand photography. Tips for making sure your branding photos and linkedIn profile give you the best chance of standing out visually. How Marcus has used speaking and storytelling to grow his business.   All things Marcus: www.marcusahmad.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusahmadphotography/    Book*: Ikigai - The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Moralles   Resources: Want to get better at finding and sharing your stories then check out our FREE Five Day Snackable Story Challenge Practice your speaking & test your content in a safe space in The Speaking Club ‘Live’ Membership Want to create a signature talk that sells, then check out our Nail Your Signature Talk in 60 Days programme.  Want to find out about working with me 121 then book a call here. https://www.saraharcher.co.uk 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 at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc Your ratings and reviews 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)

As Brené Brown pointed out, there is power in being vulnerable. I believe there is even more power in showing that vulnerability through a story about a personal experience. BUT … if that story is emotionally charged then there are some additional things you need to consider before you share it.  That’s because it can be done badly, and when that happens you can make your audience feel uncomfortable, distract them from your core message and undermine your impact.  So, in this show, I’m going to be giving you the lowdown on what you should consider before you use an emotionally charged personal story in your talk and some tips for managing your own emotions when you share it. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: The big mistakes people make when sharing emotionally charged stories. How to decide whether to use a painful personal story. What factors to consider when choosing how much to share.  Managing your audience’s emotional journey through your talk. How to manage your own emotions when you’re speaking. And more!! Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club (Take a photo of your review and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!) Books: Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speaker   Resources: Nail Your Signature Talk Programme Take the Snackable Story Challenge The Speaking Club ‘Live’ Membership https://www.saraharcher.co.uk UNICEF UKRAINE AID RED CROSS UKRAINE AID Thanks for listening!   To share your thoughts:   Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.   To help the show out:   Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc. Your ratings and reviews 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)

Phil Coley started off his business journey as a sports psychologist working with olympians, world and european champions in a variety of sports and disciplines. Phil’s ability to influence team performance in the sports arena was spotted by a business leader, who wanted to achieve the same success with his sales team. This led Phil to train 100 sales managers and initiated his switch from sports to business performance.  He started his own consultancy in 2007 and after initial success ended up losing everything, and having to start again… teaching him some of the most critical business lessons of all.  Today, Phil has a number of successful business interests including a sales & marketing agency, accountancy firm, recruitment company, digital publishing and wellbeing business. He and his business partner Phil and Mark have also developed their ‘SIMPLE’ programme which helps business owners have their own 'playbook' based on 6 key pillars. He is on the show to share his sales, business and speaking tips to help you grow your brand, audience and success. Enjoy!   What you’ll discover: The difference between sports psychology and sales psychology The work Phil did with high performing sports teams and athletes Why Phil switched from sports psychology to sales The biggest mistakes Phil has made on his business journey and why. The constants for sales success despite the ever changing landscape The levers that business owners should focus on to generate the biggest sales results. How Phil uses speaking to grow his business. How stories fit into the sales equation.   All things Phil: https://www.phil-coley.com  https://www.businessplusgroup.co.uk    Book*:Tackling Life: Striving for My Type of Perfection by Jonny Wilkinson   Resources: Want to get better at finding and sharing your stories then check out our FREE Five Day Snackable Story Challenge Practice your speaking & test your content in a safe space in The Speaking Club ‘Live’ Membership Want to create a signature talk that sells, then check out our Nail Your Signature Talk in 60 Days programme.  Want to find out about working with me 121 then book a call here. https://www.saraharcher.co.uk 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 at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc Your ratings and reviews 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)

Over my career, I’ve worked with lots of scientists, IT specialists and engineers, and I know that sometimes it can be challenging to communicate complicated concepts and ideas in a way that’s simple enough for your audience to understand. However, those people who can do this successfully stand out from the crowd and are sought after as speakers and leaders.  That’s why in this insights episode, I’ve reached into the archives and picked extracts from my episodes tackling this issue, alongside those from other experts spanning the disciplines of science, engineering and law who have developed a reputation, or had success in making the complex compelling to the layperson. You’re going to get ideas, tools and techniques for making your presentations scintillating and accessible for audiences, even if the information you’re sharing is highly technical. Enjoy!   What you’ll discover:  Karin Layton: How facts and technical details can get in the way of the message. What Karin did differently to prepare for her presentation. How stories and metaphors can work in a technical presentation. Why you’ve got to  kill your darlings.    Sarah Archer (Technically Speaking!): Tools that you can use to present your data in a way that engages your audience. Malcolm Gregory: Why stories are vital to make difficult content engaging. Why keeping detailed notes in a separate handout can help audiences to engage with your content in the moment. Why you should aim to be able to summarise your content in a sentence. What makes a great speaker. Katherine Brooke-Mackenzie: The importance of having a structure, frameworks and stories How humour can help with taboo topics. Why you need the loo before a big talk.   Sarah Archer (Can You Make Boring Subjects Sexy?): Why there are no boring subjects How you can make ordinary extraordinary The three laws involved in making a message go viral and how they apply to your speaking The three tools you can use to make any topic sexy   Guest Links: All things Karin: https://www.mimicid.com https://www.facebook.com/karinklayton Books*: Life of Pi by Jann Martel   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)   All things Katherine: https://www.thehealthygutclinic.co.uk https://www.talkingaboutthebrownstuff.com https://www.facebook.com/talkingaboutthebrownstuff/ LinkedIN   Books and resources*: The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton https://www.standoutpitch.com https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.thespeakingclub.com/speakingcourse   Sarah’s Books and Resources: Framing Your Talks for Bigger Impact - 050 My Snackable Story Challenge The Speaking Club ‘Live’ Membership Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speaker Canva - online graphic design tool The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell Framing Your Talks for Bigger Impact by Sarah Archer - Episode 50   Full Episode Links Episode 011 - Technically Speaking! By Sarah Archer Episode 030 - The Natural Law of Good Public Speaking with Malcolm Gregory Episode 074 - How a Self-Proclaimed Geek Ditched the Facts and Turned Public Speaking from a Waking Nightmare into a Golden Opportunity with Karin Layton Episode 079 - Tips for Good Health and Tackling Taboo Subjects in Your Talks with Katherine Brooke-MacKenzie Episode 160 - Can You Make Boring Subjects Sexy? By Sarah Archer 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 at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc Your ratings and reviews 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)

Shrenik Shah has been described as the ‘Yoda’ and ‘Mr Myagi’ of cancer.  At the age of 44 he was working in marketing to support his family, when he started to get unwell, he lost weight, began to lose his voice and after about six months of deterioration he decided to go to the Doctor.  The diagnosis was stage four vocal cord cancer, and he was given an ultimatum by a cancer surgeon … lose your voice or lose your life.  When he heard this he felt like his world was crashing down around him, but he trusted the surgeon and clung to hope. It was 26 years ago this week that Shrenik beat stage four vocal cord cancer, and although he lost the physical ability to speak, he was determined not to lose his voice. He felt compelled to share his story, so that others with and without cancer around the world could be inspired to find the courage to keep fighting for what they want. His work has benefited so many people in the field of laryngeal cancer and has motivated all the laryngectomees across the globe to never give up. Cancer has destroyed Shrenik's body. The treatment had a profound effect on his health. But it couldn't touch his will to win. I hope you enjoy his story.  What you’ll discover: How Shrenik remains so cheerful The story of his cancer journey and how he found his voice.  How he made the mindset shift to beat the odds.  What happened after he got the all clear 26 years ago. Why he felt compelled to share his story. How he felt before his first speaking gig after the surgery. How he keeps the audience engaged even though he can’t use pitch and tone.  What he plans to do next.  All things Shrenik: https://shrenik-shah.com http://www.shrenikshah2110.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrenik-shah-influencer  https://facebook.com/shrenik.shah.355  http://facebook.com/cancerwinnershrenik  https://twitter.com/shrenikshah2110    Resources: Want to get better at finding and sharing your stories then check out our FREE Five Day Snackable Story Challenge Practice your speaking & test your content in a safe space in The Speaking Club ‘Live’ Membership Want to create a signature talk that sells, then check out our Nail Your Signature Talk in 60 Days programme.  Want to find out about working with me 121 then book a call here. https://www.saraharcher.co.uk Thanks for listening!   To share your thoughts: Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.   To help the show out: Leave an honest review at www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc. Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes.

In the last episode of the show I shared 12 podcasts that could help to level up your speaking skills. I also told you that my intention is that anyone I work with, through my programmes and this podcast has compelling content AND charisma as a speaker.  Speaking skills and delivering your message confidently are a big part of that, but there is one thing that separates the speakers you remember from those you forget. The speakers whose message lands with your heart as well as your head, and that thing is what I want to talk to you about today.  Enjoy!   What you’ll learn: What made the difference between a four star and five star show review and why it’s relevant to your speaking. The missing ‘thing’ that will make audiences remember you and your message. What might be stopping you from achieving this.  How Jackie discovered the ‘thing’ and the difference it made. The route to access your power. And more!!   TED Talk Link: Why My Identity is a Superpower Not an Obstacle - America Ferrera TED Talk   Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club (Take a photo of your review and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!)   Books: Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speaker   Resources: Nail Your Signature Talk Programme Take the Snackable Story Challenge The Speaking Club ‘Live’ Membership https://www.saraharcher.co.uk UNICEF UKRAINE AID RED CROSS UKRAINE AID Episode 224 - The Confidence ‘Catch 22’ for Using Stories and Humour in Speaking Thanks for listening!   To share your thoughts:                                                       Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out:     Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc. Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.     Subscribe on iTunes.

To be a great public speaker you need substance and style. I’ve seen many speakers who are very showy, but their content completely misses the mark, and I’ve seen speakers with a great message to share, but who fail to communicate it in a way that engages their audience. I want anyone I work with, through my programmes and this podcast to have compelling content AND charisma as a speaker. I want you to have a talk that you’re excited to share and the confidence in your own speaking skills that means you step ‘on stage’ with power.  In this show, I want to focus on the second half of the speaking equation, supporting you with the delivery of your message. In my opinion there are four core speaking skills, mindset, storytelling, performance and humour, and that’s why I’m sharing a dozen episodes that really zero in on helping you develop these, so that you can get ready to rock after the summer break. Enjoy! What you’ll learn: The four core speaking skills you need to develop Tips to help you with managing your mindset Ways to develop your storytelling Insight around using your voice. How to power up your performance Tips for using humour in your talks. And more!! Links to Episodes: Mindset Mastery: Episode 24 - My Eight Hacks for Mental Resilience & Getting What You Want Episode 164 - Unblock the Dam and Set Your Stories Free! Episode 177 – Taking Back Control of Your Future with Tim Box   Storytelling Mastery: Episode 155 - The Seven Sins of Storytelling Episode 9 - The Secrets to Storytelling Part 3 Episode 036 – The Keys to Compelling Storytelling with Margot Leitman  Performance Tools: Episode 85 - How to find the Big Moments of Your Talk Episode 116 – Setting Your Authentic Voice Free for Great Public Speaking with Kristin Linklater Episode 039 – Body Language Secrets for Speaking and Sales Success with Shelly O’Donovan   Humour Episode 019 - Humour 101 for Public Speaking Episode 084 – Five Insider Tips for Adding Humour to Your Stories Episode 049 – How to Make Clever Funny with Dr. Steve Cross   Service Dog For Orion https://www.gofundme.com/f/service-dog-for-orion    Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club (Take a photo of your review and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!) Books: Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speaker   Resources: UNICEF UKRAINE AID RED CROSS UKRAINE AID Nail Your Signature Talk Programme Take the Snackable Story Challenge The Speaking Club ‘Live’ Membership https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc   Thanks for listening!   To share your thoughts:   Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out:   Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc. Your ratings and reviews 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)

I can’t think of one person I’ve worked with, whom I haven’t had to coach on using more pauses in their talks. That’s because most of us are uncomfortable with silence even in 121 conversations, so throw an audience into the mix, plus nerves, and passion, and you have a recipe for speedy speaking. The trouble is that the pause is a powerful speaking tool that you want to be able to wield to make your public speaking more impactful and keep your audience with you. That’s why in this show I want to persuade you to be bold, commit and give it a try. Enjoy! What you’ll learn: Why the pause is so powerful. Why finding the big moments and pivot points in your talk is a vital part of the preparation process. The four reasons silence is your friend as a speaker How using a pause can build your confidence Why the pause is so critical for building connection with your audience How to use the pause to build emotion and grab attention  Why silence tells your audience to laugh And more!! Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club (Take a photo of your review and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!)   Books: Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speaker   Resources: Nail Your Signature Talk Programme Take the Snackable Story Challenge The Speaking Club ‘Live’ Membership https://www.saraharcher.co.uk UNICEF UKRAINE AID RED CROSS UKRAINE AID 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 at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc. Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.     Subscribe on iTunes.   

Many people suffer from performance anxiety and it can get in your way if you want to speak to grow your business - but stage fright can have a whole other level of impact if your business is performing. That is the situation that singer-songwriter Elisa De Napoli found herself in. She spent a number of years trying a number of different remedies to overcome her fears, but none of them worked. In the end, she found the answer right in front of her nose!  Now, Elisa is a best-selling author of the book, online course, and podcast ‘Dare to Be Seen’, which helps artists command the stage, magnify their presence, and defeat stage nerves so they can share their gifts with their audience and shine their light on the world. She is an artist coach, hypnotherapist, and multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter. Under the stage name Elyssa Vulpes she has produced 12 albums, with a focus on inner transformation through sometimes dark and atmospheric sometimes comedic storytelling. She has been featured on radio, podcasts, blogs, and online magazines and today she is a guest on The Speaking Club. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: Elisa’s journey as a singer song-writer. How her stage fright manifested itself and the impact it had on her music and performing. What it was that finally made her do something about it. How she overcame her stage fright and how she knew she’d beaten it. Why she has a different stage name. Elisa’s three big tips for managing stage fright. Her biggest tip for how to show up authentically when you perform. How Elisa uses storytelling in her songs and business. Why it’s important for musicians and artists to be confident communicators.   All things Elisa: https://elisadinapoli.com/speakingclub https://elisadinapoli.com/stage-fright-3/ https://elisadinapoli.com/how-to-overcome-stage-fright/ https://www.facebook.com/MindsetCoachWellington https://www.instagram.com/elyssavulpes/ Music: http://www.elyssavulpes.com  Book: A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle   Resources: Want to get better at finding and sharing your stories then check out our FREE Five Day Snackable Story Challenge Practice your speaking & test your content in a safe space in The Speaking Club ‘Live’ Membership Want to create a signature talk that sells, then check out our Nail Your Signature Talk in 60 Days programme.  Want to find out about working with me 121 then book a call here. https://www.saraharcher.co.uk   Thanks for listening!   To share your thoughts: Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: Leave an honest review at www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc. Your ratings and reviews 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)