Concerned your umms and ahhs are undermining your credibility?

In this week’s episode I’m answering a listener question about training yourself OUT OF saying ‘ummmm’ and ‘ahhhh’, and also providing my thoughts on whether umms and ahhs are really as bad as we think.

Listen in to hear:

• Why you might want to ‘chill out’ when it comes to your use of umms and ahhs

• How silence, and ‘speaking to your full stops’ can be a useful way to stop using filler words

• Some alternative filler words or phrases that will engage your audience and give your mind time to ‘catch up’

• My controversial take on another key question that some speaking coaches says undermines your credibility

• Why being on message is more important than any umm or ahh you might use

Want my full lesson on how to stop umming and ahhhing? Visit -

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‘How much of yourself do you share?’ and ‘how to make a speech engaging’ are the questions I’m answering in this week’s episode.

Storytelling, particularly lived experience storytelling, is easily THE BEST way to make your speeches engaging. But how personal is too personal, how much of yourself do you share?

Listen in to hear:

• How to balance the line between misery porn or self-indulgence, and stories that inspire and empower

• Why framing your stories through the lens of the audience is incredibly important

• How to tell your stories to take your listeners on an emotional journey that leaves them ready to take desired action (rather than leaving them a broken, helpless mess)

• How to manage that doubt of ‘do people really want to hear my stories?’

• Where to find other lived experience stories

Join my IMPACT CLUB if you’re an impact-minded humble leader, looking for support on messaging, strategy and mindset as you work to make your dent in the universe, in your way.

For more on how to showcase your talents in your lived experience stories, listen to episode 140.

And for that episode on misery porn (thank goodness it exists!), check out episode 60, Authenticity, Misery Porn and Stories of Happiness.

Ever rocked up to speak at an event, expecting a lectern, or a certain kind of microphone, and the set-up was NOT as you expected?

Or you were forced to use a headset mic that just felt weird, or a lapel mic that kept slipping?

Well, in today’s episode I’m talking about how to manage just these situations!

Listen in to hear:

• The pros and cons of using a lectern

• What you want to consider if you choose NOT to use a lectern

• How to ‘show up’ if you are using a lectern, particularly if you’re ‘vertically-challenged’

• The different kind of microphones and how to prepare not just your presentation but your outfits so they work on the day

• How to prepare for your stage WELL ahead of presentation day!

Join my IMPACT CLUB if you’re an impact-minded humble leader, looking for support on messaging, strategy and mindset as you work to make your dent in the universe, in your way. Get all the details here.