Christine Rusk used to be terrified of speaking in public, but by understanding what makes a good speech, and how it is like a three-course meal, she has learnt to prepare well and overcome those nerves.
So how does comparing your speech to a meal help you become a better speaker? Christine, from Toastmasters International, explains:
Just like a good chef has respect for the diners, a good speaker has respect for their audience.
The key to a successful speech is preparation and planning. A speech should be created and delivered in a …

The exhibition for mums on a mission is coming to Brighton on Thursday 23rd February 2017.  This free to attend, child-friendly exhibition is for mums looking to start a business, grow a business or to help those who are just not-knowing right now.  With over 40 exhibitors offering opportunities, services and support, taster workshops, speed networking and a Q&A panel, there really is no reason not to start 2017 with a bang and launch your very own mission to the moon along with hundreds of other like-minded mums. Register for free …

One of the best ways to communicate information when giving a speech or presentation is by building rapport; to make a connection with our audience so that they will be more open and receptive to accepting and retaining our message. If we fail to connect with our audience and grab (and hold) their attention, they will lose interest, and our speech will not be effective. Dave Linehan is from Toastmasters International and he suggests five simple ways to connect with an audience:

Get to know them in advance

Introducing yourself to people as …

5 brilliant ways to bring your next presentation to life without using the dreaded slides.
Did you think you need slides in order to give a presentation or make a speech? You don’t! According to Steve Bustin author of The Authority Guide to Presenting and Public Speaking, the best speakers and presenters have embraced a world without slides. Speaking without slides means the audience is looking at you and listening to what you say rather than reading from the screen in front of them. But, you still need to bring your presentation …

Networking, presentations, client pitches, reports to the Board, conference presentations, even interviewing for a new job – they all require some form of public speaking. If you are feeling nervous, Simon Scriver, from Toastmasters International, has seven basic rules to help you speak  confidently:
1. Look at your audience
Don’t look at the slides behind you – have a copy in front of you so that you never turn your back. Don’t look at the floor. Don’t look at the walls. Try and take the time to make eye contact with every …

Although exhibition shows do require an investment of time and money, they provide numerous benefits for small businesses, such as increased credibility and visibility. Establishing a presence at a show provides you with a powerful platform for meeting new customers, helps you reach out to your existing customers and helps you build a more reliable, well-known brand. Here are just a few of the other ways that an exhibition show can help your business.
Helps You Generate Leads
Every exhibition show that you attend provides you with the opportunity to attract new …

Preparation and practice are crucial when it comes to delivering a speech or presentation. Successful speakers always plan and rehearse their presentations as far in advance as possible. They never leave anything to chance says experienced speaker and member of Toastmasters International, Moira Beaton. For example, Ken Robinson, whose TED Talk Do Schools Kill Creativity? is the most watched TED talk ever, at over 37 million views, said that preparation is one of the most important parts of giving a great speech.
So, what do you need to do to prepare? …

Speaking in public – even about the business you love – is a widely held fear. So how do you turn fear into confidence? Frances Cahill of Toastmasters International has twelve easy DIY tips:
1)   Speak in public whenever you get a chance
It doesn’t matter if it’s for 30 seconds or 30 minutes. Even if it’s just saying an affirmative ‘Yes’. Take that first step. Step forward and take the opportunity.  By starting, and breaking through the fear – even for a moment, you’ll find that in no time you will …

‘Why should they listen to me?’ This is the key question that every speaker should ask themselves before delivering a speech. According to Ian Hawkins, professional speaker and member of Toastmasters International there are three things you need to get straight before you go on stage. All good speeches have these three golden principles in common, and when you have a grip on these, the details follow more easily, and you, and your audience, will know exactly why they should be listening to you…
1) Authenticity
Audiences are very good at sniffing out …

Do your staff dread attending workshops? Do they believe they are going to be a waste of time and will deliver very little value? When done properly workshops can leave people feeling inspired and engaged. So what is it that can turn a workshop from awful to amazing? Jean Gamester of Semaphora believes it comes down to the dynamics, the content, and the messages shared both ways:
 The Dynamics
Part of the reason people expect workshops to be unpleasant or useless is that they expect the dynamics to be awful.   That there …