Do you hand out follow up notes after delivering your talk? Or do you assume your audience will take their own notes if they want to?

While some people will indeed be furiously taking notes while you’re speaking, and others will be focusing on your every word embedding your message in their mind as you speak, there are those who won’t be doing either.

What if that group are neurodivergent and taking notes while listening doesn’t sit well together for them. Neither does retaining what they’ve just heard.

Offering some brief notes of your key points will make a real difference to them so to be more inclusive in your speaking, offering some notes will mean that your message lands more fully.

Always offer the notes after your talk to avoid audience distraction but why not be inclusive and make your content accessible to as many as possible?

Want to uplevel your public speaking skills? I can help you.

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How many different ways can you think of to describe rain?

Here are just a few:

• Drizzling;
• spitting;
• raining steadily;
• pouring;
• tipping it down;
• chucking it down;
• p***ing it down;
• bucketing down;
• raining cats and dogs

The English language is a wonderful thing and most of the above give a clear idea of how heavily it’s raining – but if you use them to set the scene in your story, will your audience know what they mean?

If they’re not native English speakers, possibly not.

While I’m not suggesting you stop using descriptive language to bring your stories to life, you do need to think about using language that can be understood.

If you really want to use a colloquial phrase, think about using body language and vocal expression to convey the message.

Think about your audience and find out if there will be non-native speakers among them.

(PS French speakers use ‘…comme une vache qui pisse.’ How...

‘Sorry – can’t make it this morning. Am locked in my bedroom, waiting for the gardener to arrive.’

What image comes to mind for you?

It was the gist of a recent message in a WhatsApp group. You can imagine the comments that followed.

I’m sharing it because it’s a great example of how our brain naturally fills any gaps in information.

This will apply to your audience too when you share your story.

If you’re anxious about sharing too much of a vulnerability story, a lot of detail isn’t necessary. Give a few pointers of what happened and your listeners will fill the gaps for themselves, based on their own experience. Anyone who experienced something similar will know straight away and the others will have enough of an idea.

Do however make sure you give enough information so the gaps are filled appropriately and your message is conveyed clearly.

Too big a gap gives space for wild...

I have a confession.

I’ve loved cycling since childhood but I’ve never mended a puncture.

There was always someone to do it for me – even if I paid them to do it.

I knew in theory what to do, the one time I tried I couldn’t even achieve step 1, getting the tyre off the wheel.

It was just too hard so I didn’t try again.

Until last week - when I went to a Puncture Repair Workshop. Step by guided step, I removed the tyre, removed the inner tube, replaced it and replaced the tyre. Yay!

It gave me a ridiculous boost and I felt ready for almost anything.

Why am I telling you this?

Because facing a challenge with step-by-step guidance can make it achievable.

What’s your challenge that step-by-step expert guidance could help you meet?

If it's public speaking or storytelling, I can help you. Get in touch to find out how.

https://calendly.com/storycoach/30min

If it's puncture...

‘Do people really want to hear these ordinary stories?’

This is one of the most common questions I get asked and the answer is a resounding ‘YES’.

Then comes the challenge of remembering any.

Think back to your younger years. What are some of your stories that show an aptitude for or interest in what you do now? Or for the opposite, showing how you’ve had to develop the necessary skills and are well-placed to show others how to do the same?

What about the stories that show your sense of humour, a bit of vulnerability, that show your values and the person you really are?

I know it can feel uncomfortable or embarrassing, but honestly people love them. Your stories warm people to you.

Need help to rediscover some of your stories? Let's arrange a chat.

https://calendly.com/storycoach/30min

Rachel Maunder is a communication skills and speaker coach and professional speaker.

She has been in the world...

Imagine this. You’ve practised your piece and got it near time perfect, and then someone interrupts you with a comment about you or your content.

They might think they’re being funny or even supportive but really they’re not.

Known as heckling, these unwanted interruptions from someone in the audience can be one of the biggest challenges when you’re presenting.

My advice is to anticipate a heckle. You might have a good idea of who’s likely to make it, so be prepared for them.

Having a few responses up your sleeve that allow you to ride the heckle and stay in control of your stage will help hugely. Here are a couple of suggestions:

• ‘Thank you! I thought someone would have something to say on that and there you are!’
• ‘Audience interaction already! I must be hitting the spot.’

Keep it light-hearted. Your audience will love it and your heckler saves face.

Need help with preparing your...

My interest was fading fast. I was at a prestigious business event, focusing on successful women and their journey to that success. The speakers were all – you guessed it – successful women.

They were not, however, successful at engaging their audience. It seemed that their brief had been to share their stories of how they came to where they are now and they did just that.

They started at the beginning, telling us what they studied at school, at college/university followed by what happened next, and then…, and then….

Please don’t ever do that!

Find a time in your story when the outcome was uncertain. Maybe waiting for the outcome of an interview, a moment of indecision, of when a different action could have changed the whole course of your life.

Take your audience to that moment of tension and then go back from there. Let them imagine the moment.

I can help you craft those stories. To find out how I work,...

What’s your preferred style for giving a presentation?

Do you prepare and practice or do you wing it? Or maybe you’re somewhere in between.

While I’m a great advocate of being practised and prepared, of knowing what you want to say and how you want to say it, there’s also a case for veering a little towards winging it.

The trick is be so well practised and prepared that instead of concentrating on your planned presentation it flows so well that you can really be in the moment too.

You can adapt or add to what’s going on that day in the wider world, make reference to something that’s come up at the event and most importantly you can read and react to your audience.

If you’re too busy recalling content, you won’t manage any of those and your audience won’t feel so engaged.

Aim to deliver in the moment.

Need help with preparing your presentation? Let's have a chat.

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‘I loved how you told that story. I felt like a child at nursery school being read to, feeling all warm and cosy. It was wonderful!’

That’s what stories do. They make the listener feel warm and cosy and much more drawn to you than when you just share information. Stories transport listeners to a much more comfortable place.

To emphasise the point, this was feedback a client had after adding a story to a business presentation at her networking group. They already knew what she did and had heard her speak about it before – but this time it was different. She had added a personal story. Nothing earth shattering – but a personal story about how she helped a client.

You too can achieve that difference in response from your audience – and if you need any help with finding or crafting those stories then please get in touch.

https://calendly.com/storycoach/30min

Rachel Maunder is a communication skills and speaker coach...

My history teacher at school used to repeat key words 3 times and Persepolis is one that stuck – from all those years ago!! So repetition clearly works.

It’s a really effective way of reinforcing your key points and also of making your content hang together.

Repeating key points gives them gravitas and additional meaning. You can either repeat a word or phrase 3 times one after the other, as with ‘Persepolis, or seed them at key points throughout the presentation, perhaps after another piece of supportive information.

It also works well to repeat a less key phrase for continuity. For example, ‘I’d like to see (this change); I’d like to see (that change); I’d like to see (the other change). That kind of repetition adds to your credibility as a speaker.

So how can you use repetition?

(And if you know anything about Persepolis do let me know!!)

Want help with creating your signature talk? I can...