I speak at a lot of conferences and often get to watch other presenters. I also train people in how to give good presentations and speeches in public. I’ve advised people ranging from managers wanting to be more impactful at work to individuals giving eulogies at funerals. Whether you are speaking in person or speaking online, here are 7 ways people inadvertently end up giving bad presentations or speeches.

1. … Read more

I often hear people saying that they feel frustrated that they haven’t been promoted yet. But people rarely get promoted simply for having worked in a role for a long time. In fact, some people get promoted despite having been in their roles for hardly any time at all.

Here are some observations on how to get promoted.

1. Recognise that doing your job is not enough
You should not … Read more

There’s an old English proverb that “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”.

For me, I think of the saying as a warning that working long, long hours but not taking the time out for leisure activities can make people feel bored – and perhaps even less able to achieve their goals. And a recent research study suggests that this may indeed be true. However, the researchers … Read more

Want to be seen as more credible and impactful?

A lot of my one-to-one coaching clients want to make a stronger impact. Many of them come to me (either in person or via telephone/video chat) wanting to make a stronger impression during job interviews or when giving speeches and presentations. Others want to be more credible during client or business meetings – or even when dating.

If you want to … Read more

Do you want to get promoted?

If the answer is yes, then you need to read this piece and act on the advice. Doing your current job well is not enough to get promoted. People who get promoted tend to do more – they pursue promotions – they don’t just sit around waiting for promotions to be offered to them.

Click the image below to enlarge the article and read … Read more

Is confidence something that you are born with – or can you develop it? The research (as well as my experience) suggests that it’s both. It seems that many personality characteristics and qualities have a genetic basis; however, our upbringing as well as what we choose to do as adults do affect how we continue to develop.

If you ever struggle with confidence in public settings, consider some of my … Read more

When you fail at something, how long should you keep going? I often hear famous people saying that you should “never” give up on your dreams. But is that really realistic for most of us?

Say you want to be an artist or a TV presenter. Sure, you can keep applying for jobs. But if you’re not earning much money at all – how long can you keep going?

Some … Read more

Do you ever worry that the people around you are judging you silently? Or do you sometimes receive comments or criticism from people that make you feel you’re being attacked?

If you ever feel judged or attacked, you’re definitely not alone. Here are five tips on coping in such situations:

1. Defuse the thought
Identify the specific thought that’s worrying you. Are you telling yourself something like “I’m going to … Read more