Public Speaking, Presentation & Leadership Skills

  Let’s be honest giving a talk or presentation can be nerve-wracking. For ages, I believed that if I packed in loads of facts and spoke with enthusiasm, my listeners would remember everything. Fast forward a few years and, with a bit of bumped ego, I discovered the hard way: people forget most of what we say. Maybe you’ve felt the same sting—wondering afterwards, “Did anyone take anything away from that?” Well, let me share some stories (yes, the ones where I went wrong!), what I learnt, and how you can make your sessions stick in people’s minds.   Why Do Audiences Forget So Much?   Before we dive in, here’s a bit of science (but don’t worry, no jargon—lesson learnt, as you’ll see). A German psychologist, Hermann Ebbinghaus, discovered over a century ago that people forget almost “ 70% of new information within 24 hours ”. That’s right: most of your precious presentation will just float away by tomorrow!   Why? Because our brains can only take in so mu...

Have you ever felt your heart beat really fast, your hands shake, or your stomach twist into knots before you have to speak in front of others? Maybe you worry you’ll forget your words, or that people will laugh at you. If you feel this way, you are not alone! Even well-known speakers and actors get nervous before talking to a crowd. The good news is, there are some very simple things you can do to help yourself feel brave and calm. Let’s learn these easy tricks together, so the next time you need to give a talk or presentation, you can shine! 1. Take Deep Breaths When we get nervous, our bodies react by breathing quickly and feeling tense. An easy way to stop this is to take deep breaths. Close your eyes if you want. Breathe in slowly through your nose, counting to four. Hold your breath for two seconds. Breathe out gently through your mouth while counting to four. Doing this a few times tells your body to relax, and your mind starts to feel calm too. 2. Prepare and Practise, Practise...

Hey there! Have you ever found yourself sitting through a technical presentation, struggling to stay focused? Maybe the slides were packed with tiny text, or the speaker rattled off jargon that left you scratching your head. We’ve all been there. But what if you could be the presenter who makes everyone lean in rather than zone out? Today, let’s talk about how you—yes, you—can use audio-visual (AV) tools to breathe life into your technical presentations. Whether your audience is full of industry pros, new learners, or an international crowd, the right AV choices can make your message clear, memorable, and even fun. Why Should You Care About Audio-Visuals? Let’s be honest: technical subjects can be intimidating—or even boring—if presented badly. But you have a secret weapon at your disposal! Audio-visuals are more than just eye candy. They help break down tough ideas, keep everyone on track, and appeal to different learning styles in the room. Some of us are visual thinkers,...