Another aspect of speaking that I’ve learnt in Toastmasters is evaluation. This is a crucial part of improving as a speaker. And the skill of evaluating itself is useful far beyond a speaking context. In a Toastmasters meeting, once a member has given a speech, another member delivers a short speech evaluating the speaker – […]
Debating (Speaking skills beyond the public 2)
One of the public speaking clubs that I am a member of focusses on debate. You need to be an effective public speaker to be a good debater, but there are additional skills in debating. Topics vary from political to scientific to values and many more. The ability to construct and defend an argument is […]
Timing (Speaking skills beyond the public 1)
Are you afraid of public speaking? You are not alone! Public speaking is still quoted as being one of the most common fears. It takes determination, practice and support to put yourself on stage and overcome that fear. But the benefits of becoming a better public speaker go way beyond the ability to speak in […]
Ethos Logos Pathos – The Three Appeals of Persuasive Speaking
Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote that in order to persuade an audience, you need three appeals: Ethos, Logos and Pathos. Now often referred to as the Rhetorical Triangle, here’s what that means and how to use them when writing a presentation. Ethos = Credibility Ethos is your authority as a speaker. Why are you the right […]
Speaking Diversity
Diversity is a huge topic being tackled in many ways throughout business and society. Given its history, the property industry in no exception. How does diversity in speaking relate? I recently attended a public speaking competition. All of the participants were brilliant. Was the winner the best public speaker? Probably. Were they the person I […]
The Technicalities of Feedback
Recently I watched a friend practice a technical speech at our public speaking club. This was in anticipation of him delivering the presentation at an industry conference. I didn’t understand the presentation. He’d written it for an audience which would. As he should have. But this made giving feedback challenging. Thinking about your audience is […]
The Basics of Body Language
Body language is a huge subject. There are numerous books written about it. Some people are naturally great (or have practiced hard to become great) at using the many nuances of body language when speaking. I’m not one of them (and that’s OK as I’ve mentioned in other blogs). But I appreciate the importance of […]
Closing with Conviction
Just like you only get one chance to make a first impression, the same is true about leaving a lasting impression with your closing. How you open determines whether the audience is likely to listen to the rest of your speech. How you close determines what they are likely to remember (and do) after it. […]
Opening Effectively
Where to begin? It’s an important aspect of every communication. I’m referring to the start of a speech, presentation or any situation where you need to talk for more than a couple of sentences. I’m purposefully calling it the “opening” here, to differentiate from your “introduction” – a related, but different aspect of speaking where […]
Learn from the Best
If you want to learn from some of the best public speakers in the world, go to the Tower of London and take a tour with the Yeoman Warders (colloquially known as Beefeaters). Between 2022 and 2023, I worked at Historic Royal Palaces, the charity that looks after six of the UK’s unoccupied royal palaces, […]
