A lot of public speaking programs will tell you two things:

1) How often you say "um"; and

2) That you have to stop.

This isn’t helpful…and there’s a better way to polish your speaking.

What public speaking and pizza have in common: if you want to be adored, you’ve gotta prepare to be hated.

Taking the “ick” out pf public speaking means dealing with those pesky tricks that your brain plays on you.

Forget everything you’ve heard - your most powerful communication tool is creativity. Here’s how to discover and develop your own.

The world is noisy. There are almost 8 billion people on this planet, all of them with opinions, and many of them with devices in their pockets that let them share those opinions whenever they choose. Every day, worthy ideas get lost in the din.

If you want your voice to stand out, you need to know something that most of those 8 billion people don’t.

“I don’t know where to start.”

This is one of the biggest complaints I hear from people who are preparing for a presentation, keynote speech or panel discussion.

To get past writer’s block, try these steps in your next speech-writing session.

Trying to make a change but finding it hard to get started? If you’re struggling to follow through on your big plans (like finally getting noticed by doing more presentations, speeches or videos), let’s take a trip back in time to high school physics class.

Everybody is different, and everybody sees the world a little bit differently. We all have access to the same information, but we process the facts differently. This matters, because if you’re trying to convince somebody to think or do something, the arguments that would persuade you might have the opposite effect (or no effect) on somebody else. So how do you get through to someone?

Do you know how to breathe?

Your breathing can determine whether you come across as a confident, persuasive, skillful speaker, or a rambling bundle of nerves. With some simple changes to your breathing habits, you can become a better, happier speaker.

When I ask people what scares them about public speaking, virtually every answer comes down to vulnerability.

What if my mid goes blank? What if I sound stupid? What if I make a mistake and somebody calls me out? What if I accidentally offend someone?

Standing in front of others to speak your truth leaves you vulnerable to judgment, to criticism, to rotten vegetables pelted by an angry mob.

Millions of years of evolution have taught us to survive by seeking safety and avoiding vulnerability. Even in our sheltered modern lives, some ancient part of our brains resists any attempt to do the opposite. In that sense the fear of public speaking is normal, natural, and entirely justified.

But here’s the thing.

As a speaker, you’re not just vulnerable. You’re also powerful. In fact, your vulnerability IS your power.

In fact, the #1 cause of weak public speaking isn't that people don't know "how" to do it or haven't found the right combination of words and gestures. It's actually a vicious cycle made up of self-defeating beliefs and behaviours:

You believe you’re bad at public speaking >> you feel self-conscious >> you try to make yourself invisible by rushing, mumbling, and apologizing >> you catch yourself rushing, mumbling and apologizing >> you conclude that you’re bad at public speaking.

And so on, and so on.

Luckily, there’s a way out of Public Speaking Purgatory.

Admit it - you kind of wish you were a better speaker.

You’ve hear someone who blew you away with their poise and eloquence. You thought, “wow, I wish I could do that.” You dreamed about all the clients you could bring in by speaking to large groups, or the charity you could finally launch if you had the confidence to share your message.

But then you thought, “no. I could never do that. It’s way too scary. Too difficult. People like me don’t do things like that.”

Well, you’re right.