It is said that people are more afraid of public speaking than they are of death. If you’re one of those ‘give me death but not a podium’ people, imagine for a moment never again having to be afraid of taking centre stage…never again being afraid of getting up or speaking in front of a group of people, never again delivering a weak message or muddied points, but instead having the confidence to say just the right thing at just the right time. Sound too good to be true? It is…unless someone shows you exactly how to do it. That’s right; there’s a method; there’s training and coaching, and there ..read more

Your public speaking ability affects so many areas of your life. It impacts how well people understand and commit to your ideas, it allows you to persuade, encourage and motivate people, it helps you to build relationships, both in your career and personal life. But it’s also one of the most terrifying things you might do in your life. Is that how you feel? You’re not alone. But don’t worry. Here are just a few things to help: 1. Identify your own strengths Everyone has a different speaking style. And we all have our own strengths. Being a great public speaker isn’t about finding out what you ..read more

Are you unconsciously casting yourself in a disadvantaged role? I’m intrigued by this phenomenon; if it doesn’t apply to you, you almost certainly know someone who could benefit from the insight. Are you the Younger Sister? In two decades of personal communications and executive coaching, I've noticed that many of my clients assume a specific kind of "family" relationship with individuals in their business communications. The most common example is the young female professional who unconsciously casts herself in the role of either "younger sister" or "daughter" when interacting with more seni ..read more

This article is not only for people who still have a long way to go reaching their career goals. It is also for those of you who are already high achievers. You have battled and won the war (well, sort of). You have gained esteem in your callings. And perhaps you have reached the proverbial glass ceiling, of which a breakthrough is unlikely, though very much desirable. So far, you have been doing fairly well. You have had a career plan and you are on the right path. Furthermore, you have gained expertise. Your specialized knowledge is of value in our society, and you are in an enviable positi ..read more

Personal communication skills and confidence go hand in hand for almost all professionals. Your academic education, your professional training, combined with your intelligence and positive attitudes, have made you a highly competent professional. Yet, only when you are able to communicate, especially verbally, and with confidence, your strengths can be manifested and appreciated. This is what we mean by personal communication skills. If you aspire to any type of management, mentoring or leadership role in your work, no matter what your area of expertise, your personal communication skills wil ..read more

Are you unconsciously casting yourself in a disadvantaged role? I’m intrigued by this phenomenon; if it doesn’t apply to you, you almost certainly know someone who could benefit from the insight. Are you the Younger Sister? In two decades of personal communications and executive coaching, I've noticed that many of my clients assume a specific kind of "family" relationship with individuals in their business communications. The most common example is the young female professional who unconsciously casts herself in the role of either "younger sister" or "daughter" when interacting with more seni ..read more

This article is not only for people who still have a long way to go reaching their career goals. It is also for those of you who are already high achievers. You have battled and won the war (well, sort of). You have gained esteem in your callings. And perhaps you have reached the proverbial glass ceiling, of which a breakthrough is unlikely, though very much desirable. So far, you have been doing fairly well. You have had a career plan and you are on the right path. Furthermore, you have gained expertise. Your specialized knowledge is of value in our society, and you are in an enviable positi ..read more

In part one of the article, I covered the importance of developing personal communications skills, the consequences of not possessing those skills, and the fundamental approach I take in helping professionals become master speakers. In this second part of the article, I deal with the four most common obstacles that have frustrated many professionals in their efforts to elevate their verbal skills and to achieve a high level of confidence in their public speaking performance. The four obstacles are: 1. Fear of Speaking 2. Not sounding credible 3. Not being able to think "in-the-moment" 4. "Bla ..read more

Personal communication skills and confidence go hand in hand for almost all professionals. Your academic education, your professional training, combined with your intelligence and positive attitudes, have made you a highly competent professional. Yet, only when you are able to communicate, especially verbally, and with confidence, your strengths can be manifested and appreciated. This is what we mean by personal communication skills. If you aspire to any type of management, mentoring or leadership role in your work, no matter what your area of expertise, your personal communication skills wil ..read more

It is said that people are more afraid of public speaking than they are of death. If you’re one of those ‘give me death but not a podium’ people, imagine for a moment never again having to be afraid of taking centre stage…never again being afraid of getting up or speaking in front of a group of people, never again delivering a weak message or muddied points, but instead having the confidence to say just the right thing at just the right time. Sound too good to be true? It is…unless someone shows you exactly how to do it. That’s right; there’s a method; there’s training and coaching, and there ..read more