by Steven Maddocks | 14 April, 2022 | Body Language, Building Confidence, Nerves, Public speaking, Voice
To Speak Well, First Breathe Well Talking: most of us spend many waking hours (and even some sleeping hours!) pouring torrents of language out of our mouths. Have you ever stopped to wonder how your body manages this amazing feat? Unless you have some vocal training –...
by Steven Maddocks | 1 April, 2022 | Body Language, Building Confidence, Communication, Nerves, Voice
The topic of breathing arises in practically every coaching session, masterclass and workshop we run at MSB Executive. You’d be forgiven for rolling your eyes at the thought of being taught how to breathe! Surely we already know everything there is to know? After all,...
by Steven Maddocks | 26 May, 2021 | Body Language, Communication, Nerves, Performance, Presentation skills, Public speaking
Lisa’s heart is racing. Her breathing is rapid and shallow. Her armpits are sweating, her hands are clammy, and her neck and face are red. Her legs are jittery, her mouth is dry and her teeth are clenched. Her brain is alternately racing, then going blank. She has...
by Steven Maddocks | 6 May, 2021 | Communication, Nerves, Presentation skills, Public speaking
Public speaking gets a bad rap. One well-known poll places glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, at the top – making it a more terrifying prospect than spiders, enclosed spaces and even dying. (As Jerry Seinfeld wryly observed, at a funeral, most people would...
by Martyn Barmby | 31 May, 2017 | Authenticity, Difficult conversations, Nerves, Presentation skills, Public speaking, Q&As
The first question I asked when listening to Jeremy Corbyn’s uncomfortable stumbling on Woman’s Hour when he had forgotten the answer on the cost of Labour’s childcare policy was, “Does it matter?” If the policy is a good one then perhaps it does not...
by Martyn Barmby | 13 July, 2016 | Blog, Leadership, Nerves, Public speaking
One of our most popular workshops at MSB Executive is “Communicating Brilliantly Under Pressure”. We often like to look at famous public speakers and see what we can learn from the times when they have had to speak under great pressure. David Cameron’s last Prime...
