The world is full of well-meaning people doling out well-meaning advice. Unfortunately, just because advice is given with good intentions, that doesn't mean it's helpful.

This is especially true in the world of public speaking. Nuggets of truth tend to get distorted as they pass from person, like a game of Broken Telephone, until they're nothing but boring and unhelpful clichés. Then, when you try to do what you've been told and the results are less than stellar, you start to think, "Maybe I'm the problem."

You're (probably) not the problem. Here are three common public speaking tips to ignore - and what to do instead.

Communication isn't just about what we say. It's also about how listeners interpret it through the lens of culture, experience, and bias. This article explores what happens when women speak, and why understanding those dynamics matters for all of us.

Millions of people are terrified of public speaking, even though it’s objectively very safe. To get over that fear, you need to understand how fear works and how to outsmart it.

There’s a piece of public-speaking wisdom that’s been circulating for a very long time: use humour in your speeches, but be careful. It’s good advice, but not exactly useful on its own. What are good ways to use humour, and what does “be careful”mean in the real world? There are few absolute answers to these questions, but it’s easier to make sense of them when you understand how humour works - and, importantly, how your sense of humour works.

Speaking online can feel awkward, frustrating, and oddly exhausting. But it can also create powerful opportunities to connect with people in ways that weren't possible before. Here are a few things I wish every virtual speaker understood.

There’s a tried-and-true method of marketing that’s stuck around through many changes in the way businesses communicate with their customers: recruiting public figures and respected authorities to get the public’s attention and endorse your product or service.

So, you’ve decided to start a podcast! Now it’s time to make sure that your hosting skills will keep people tuning in week after week. Keep reading to learn the five habits that captivating podcast hosts have in common (and you can, too)!

We often treat TED Talks as the gold standard of public speaking. But what if they're only one tool in a much larger communication toolkit? Before you model your next presentation after your favourite speaker, consider what success actually looks like for your audience.

We often look for the perfect communication strategy, the right script, or the ideal way to present ourselves. But communication is less like following a map and more like choosing your own adventure. The best path depends on where you're trying to go, who's coming with you, and what feels authentic along the way.

Finding your voice is about more than becoming a better speaker. It's about expressing yourself authentically, building meaningful connections, and creating the kind of life you want to live. Public speaking is just one part of that journey.

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.

Introversion and public speaking are not the odd couple that you might imagine. In fact, introverts have qualities that make for great speakers, and public speaking can solve an introvert’s pressing problems. Here’s how.

Words shape the world we live in. They can inspire connect and create. They can speak truth to power. But those same tools can be used to destroy. There’s a fine line between persuasion and manipulation, and the same skills can be used for either one.

During times of uncertainty, it's tempting to put communication on hold and wait for things to return to normal. But when people are looking for information, connection, and leadership, your voice matters more than ever. The question isn't whether you should communicate, it's how to do it thoughtfully and effectively.

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.

Many people make speech preparation harder than it needs to be. They try to remember too much information, cover too many points, or perfect every word. But one simple shift can make the process feel clearer, easier, and far more effective for both you and your audience.

The elevator pitch gets a bad reputation. Many people picture a stiff, rehearsed script that sounds anything but natural. In reality, a good elevator pitch isn't about memorizing the perfect words. It's about helping people quickly understand who you are, what you do, and why it matters.

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

Remote work has a way of exposing assumptions that once went unnoticed. What does productivity look like? How should teams communicate? What expectations are reasonable? Building a strong work-from-home culture starts by making those conversations visible.