Coaching

The most important thing a media coach can tell you is: it’s your confidence that matters. Make sure you stand firm on whatever stage you take. The first thing people notice is not what you say, but how you look, how you stand, how you move.

The next thing they notice is the sound of your voice and the quality of your delivery. Then and only then does your content register with your audience, so make sure you have your key messages ready and get them out quickly. You never know when you will lose your audience. Whatever you get across before that is an asset, everything else is a liability. Remember what makes key messages effective.

They need to be positive, clear, consistent and convincing. And finally, acknowledge your audience and view them as helpful. Or perhaps Martin Luther could help you. He was a most effective speaker, and what he had to say about the subject in the 16th century could still be the shortest advice for a speaker today: take a firm stand, open your mouth, and stop talking soon.