Thinking about networking and the unexpected, about opportunities and opening doors, and the importance of just … taking them. Saying yes.
A few months back my partner and I co hosted a Christmas party and quiz for Sussex Playwrights.
One of the guests enjoyed it so much he offered us the chance to deliver a four week acting course for the New Venture Theatre in Brighton and a one day acting workshop for sixth formers at Reigate College.
We’ve just finished them – if we hadn’t done the event we’d never have had this amazing new opportunity.
The theatre’s name couldn’t be more appropriate 😁
Networking is so important – we’ve had work from all the networking groups we belong to, in person and online.
What networking groups do you belong to and recommend?
If it’s on your to do list – time to get out there and join the conversation?
Philippa x
Author: Philippa Hammond
Latest news – Upcoming Training And Instructional Techniques course
Delighted to say that next week I’m delivering another of the Training and Instructional Techniques courses I designed for the Civil Aviation Authority International at Gatwick Airport.
It’s a public course, for aspiring, new and developing trainers, and for brushing up the basics if it’s been a while.
Subject matter experts are a brilliant resource in your business, and with this three day in classroom course at Gatwick, your SMEs will start their journey to become an extra asset – with the new knowledge, skills and mindsets they need to pass on that expertise to your people.
It’s practical and engaging and on the last day every delegate delivers a short training presentation to the group with discussion and feedback.
If you’d like to book a place or find out about later courses, details here
If you’d like to discuss the course content, let me know.
Zoom-Confident Power Hour
Learn to feel, look and sound better online in just one hour, with practical pro tips
Learn to feel, look and sound better online with practical pro tips
Do you feel you look and sound awkward on Zoom?
Would you love to look and sound great on Zoom?
Beat nerves, feel, look and sound your best and grab those opportunities with me!
1-1 coaching for nervous Zoomers and anyone who’d like to get better at it.
Zoom? Back in March 2020, I’d never even heard of it.
Now? During lockdown I swept all my training, coaching and performance work online, and now offer face to face, 1-1 and remote training and coaching services.
And I learned so much observing how people present themselves to their audiences.
Here’s a secret – anyone can make easy little tweaks to hugely improve their personal and professional Zoom impact.
It doesn’t matter if you’re doing an online 1-1, meeting with a small group or speaking to a very big audience – the same principles apply.
Who’s it for?
Nervous Zoomers
Anyone who’d like to get better at it
Boost your Zoom impact at online meetings, coaching and training sessions, interviews and business presentations
What will we learn?
Beat nerves and build confidence
Think light / height / sight
Tips on positioning your device for best impact and making your available light work for you – without buying expensive kit
Develop your professional body language so you’ll look your best to your screen audiences
Develop your professional voice with some insider tips and techniques used by actors, trainers and professional speakers
Deliver a great message about you and what you do
If that sounds right for you – let me know.
Contact for bookings
Psst – want to know a secret?
That one great public speaking secret that everyone needs to know? It’s this …
Psst – want to know a secret? That one great public speaking secret that everyone needs to know? It’s this …
Everyone gets nervous! Literally everyone.
That person you admire and think is super cool – isn’t.
They’ve learnt, practiced, screwed up, messed up, got better, learned to hide, manage and reduce nerves til they actually look forward to it and enjoy it.
It’s a complete myth to think it’s a natural talent.
It’s a skill like any other – and anyone can learn.
Philippa x
07594 825730
philippa@speakingwellinpublic.co.uk
Confident Public Speaking skills for leadership, training and business
How can I calm down before a presentation?
‘Box breathing’ tip for serenity and calm
‘Box breathing’ tip for serenity and calm. I found an article on an NHS site, not for patients but for staff on how to cope in difficult times by using this technique.
I tried it myself, shared it with some 1-1 public speaking clients and students on my acting workshop last month, and was pleased with their response. So here it is:
Imagine a square box in the air in front of you.
Take a moment to relax and gather yourself.
Breathe out, then breathe in for four beats, tracing your finger up the side of the ‘box’ in the air.
Holding your breath, trace along the top for four.
Breathe out for four, tracing your finger down.
Hold for four, tracing your finger along.
Now you’re back where you started – go round again.
Once you’ve learned it, just imagining the finger counting bit while you’re doing the breathing bit helps you feel calmer and more collected, ready to face whatever’s happening, in business and in life.
Philippa x
Notes – or no notes?
When you’ve written it – you have to deliver it, there’s no escape! Top tips for the question ‘notes – or no notes?’
When you’ve written it – you have to deliver it, there’s no escape! Top tips for the question ‘notes – or no notes?’
You’ve several options for delivering your speech:
❓No notes at all.
Winging it and hoping for the best 🤞 – or confident you know your stuff and it’ll flow naturally 😃? Only you know the answer.
❓Learning and reciting it word for word.
Great if you know it inside out so it’s ironed into your memory 😊. But lose your place, forget what comes next in front of an audience … it’s called ‘drying’ and it’s every actor’s ghastly nightmare 😱.
❓Full script.
Well, you know you’ll deliver it all and how long it should take 🤔. But – reading aloud from the text is a very specific set of skills that actors learn and develop. If you don’t have the skill, you can become monotonous and unnatural, which will quickly put them off 😴. And when you look up (highly advised), you may find you’ve lost your place when you look back 😬.
❓Keywords and bullet points.
My favourite – little memory joggers that keep you on track, quick glance – ‘ oh yeah, that bit – and you’re in the flow 🤗.
✔️So when you’ve finished writing your presentation, and you’re super-familiar with it – put it down. Turn it into bullets and keywords. And speak from the heart.
Enjoy Confident Public Speaking!
Philippa
Humour – should speakers tell jokes?
‘Just start with a joke’ is so often given as advice to nervous speakers – but I DON’T advise it!
Why not – surely getting them laughing is a great way to relax everyone?
Sure … but are you an experienced professional stand-up comedian with years of honing your craft at open mic nights and social clubs?
If yes, fantastic! Go for it.
But if not …
Trying to tell a joke or opening with a funny remark that falls flat because you’re nervous or inexperienced will only make you feel worse.
So instead, keep it sincere, and short. And leave the jokes to the experts.
Philippa Hammond