Public speaking training

[amaze]

Hi,

I am very interested in improving my public speaking training as I realise it is certainly not one of my strong points. I guess its just practise, as when I speak to small groups (5-15) I have no issues, however when speaking in front of 400+ I freeze and don't feel loose or my usual self.

I appreciate this is a common problem and therefore I have been looking into taking some form of "public speaking coaching".

Can anyone recommend any good courses or tutors? Preferably in the North West.

Thanks

 

[Real World Hypnotherapy]

Hi

I am able to help you with this. I do a lot of public speaking and I ama hypnotherapist. I am based in Manchester though.

Please feel free to drop me an email at info at mattkendallhypnosis.co.uk for more information and help.

Matt

 

[annethedonn]

Hi

We offer scheduled training courses in business presentations http://www.fosvatraining.co.uk/course_details/?course_id=10

I am currently offering 30% discount on all November dates and also early bird booking discount for all courses if booked at least a month before course date. This doesn't apply to November courses though.

Let me know if you require more information or you can book on line.

Anne

 

[mannakin]

Try Toasmasters. Not sure of their national or local address, sorry.

 

[gogreen]

I would recommend Toastmasters -you should have a local branch. Very American, but once you get used to it's ways, you will find it really helpful.

Anne

 

[tlewis]

Nice question, I haven't done too much public speaking myself. A few weeks ago I had to give a short talk in front of about 250 people (at the Maya Angelou Libraries launch event), I was fretting for days before!

As you say, it's probably down to practice. Do you all organise your own talks or is there somewhere you can find people looking for speakers?

Here's the toastmasters website btw.

 

[clefairy_5]

I've often though of doing a public speaking course, has anyone used toastmasters?

 

[simonr]

Hi Amaze ..... you rang? It's what we do for a living, after all. In fact we go so far as to say that if you don't think time with us has been worthwhile, just don't pay. Can't be more simple than that!

We help in two ways - either you can come on one of our public courses or we can come to you and do something in house. The public courses tend to be a bit more orientated towards people who don't have much experience so it may be that something in-house is more appropriate for you. The downside is that this is obviously more expensive - but we can train a group of you for the same price.

Mind you, don't forget that 400+ audiences are pretty scary for anyone! PM if you're interested. If you're happy to do things by phone or email etc I'm happy to do stuff for nowt (but there are limits to what can be achieved that way )

Cheers.... Simon

PS: Be careful if you go for Toastmasters - some are very, very good but others are shockingly bad and I've seen some really, truly bad advice given at their meetings... as well as brilliant stuff too, of course!

 

[simonr]

tlewis - Maya Angelou is one of my fave poets: if you like her, try a bloke called Jack Mapange!

 

[tlewis]

tlewis - Maya Angelou is one of my fave poets: if you like her, try a bloke called Jack Mapange!

Thanks! I'll check him out. Maya Angelou is definitely an icon, she was meant to be at the event the other day but sadly ill health meant she couldn't make it (she was 80 this year), there was a video message from her though which was nice.

clefairy_5, I've been to a few toastmasters meetings. Very very good, if you join you have to work your way through a series of talks which target different areas (organising your talk, using your body, vocal variety ...). They have a period in each session called the 'Table Topic' which scares the wits out of me - someone chooses the topic and volunteers give a short off-the-cuff talk on it, you really need to be able to think quickly!

 

[simonr]

Amaze - just posted something on Youtube you might find useful: it's a short video showing one technique for dealing with presentation nerves for when you do your public speaking.

HTH

Simon