Nuke those nerves!
To paraphrase Jerry Seinfeld, ‘if it’s true that more people fear public speaking than dying, then most of the people at a funeral would...
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Speaking & Writing about writing & speaking | Author |Speaker | Teacher
Ms Claire Duffy
Speak for yourself!
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2 min read
Choose your gestures
Speakers need to be authentic. Poorly chosen gestures are a sure way to undermine that. As the researchers say: ‘While a hand gesture can...
6 min read
Voice matters: How your voice works
Making best use of your voice is important. Let’s look now at how it actually works. Your voice is part of your anatomy, so we’re going...
3 min read
How to read aloud in public
First let’s dispel the idea that the existence of a script means most of the work is done. It isn’t. If you have to read aloud in...
2 min read
Developing the speech
Notice I avoid saying ‘write the script’. The spoken word and the written word are different, and this presents a trap for speakers. The...
3 min read
Resolving conflict
A reluctance to deal with conflict constructively hurts our world. Good ideas remain unspoken, people create silos, and leaders don’t...
2 min read
Microphones: a beginner’s guide
Mics come in several types. The first clips to your lapel or collar. It has a battery pack, which you wear at your waistband, A lapel...
3 min read
Presentations: lessons from a Dog and a Frisbee
I am limited in my experience of financial institutions, and Mr Banks in Mary Poppins is the only person I know of from the Bank of...
3 min read
Shape and Structure | Arrange your stuff
The way you assemble your material is crucial for making the right impact. There are some basic components which any essay or ...
5 min read
Managing panel discussions.
As moderator your job is to get things to sparkle. You set the agenda, the questions, and the pace. You are the manager, the referee,...
2 min read
Three pillars of speaking success
About 2300 years ago, Aristotle wrote down the secrets to being a powerful speaker. These same secrets have formed the basis for nearly...
2 min read
Getting mad in public
When do public speakers and presenters need to get mad? Well…. If you are involved in a cause, or you’re an activist, a politician, or...
3 min read
Oral Presentations: Finish with oomph
How do you close in a way that makes them feel galvanised, reinforces your message and makes you memorable? Not by shuffling and...
2 min read
Teachers - your voice!
Teachers treat their main tool of trade to huge stress every single day. Whenever you talk loudly, over background noise, across large...
2 min read
How to write an ANZAC day speech
If you are saying something official on Anzac Day, you should start by reading the information kit which the APL has compiled. It is...
3 min read
Special Occasion Speaking
First time speakers are often squaring up to taking the mike at a special occasion. Maybe it’s your mate’s 21st or wedding, someone...
4 min read
Voice Care for Speakers
Look after your voice! All public speakers need to know how to maintain their most important asset. If you’re a professional talker, you...
2 min read
The fine art of race calling
Race Calling began here in Australia in 1922 at Port Adelaide. Arnold Trelor was the first man to call the action. Melbourne followed...
4 min read
How to stay in charge of your panel.
It’s a familiar scene: you’re supposed to be in charge of the discussion but you find yourself at the mercy of a long-winded speaker; or...
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