Kate Cocker

Think of each speaking opportunity as a form of rehearsal. Each time you step up, you’re expanding your comfort zone and building confidence. When was the last time that you took the opportunity to speak, over sitting back and keeping quiet?

I love getting emails like this! My favourite part of training others on presentation skills is getting feedback like this. Have you got something important you’re trying to pitch to a client, or discuss with your colleagues, and need to have maximum impact?

Everyone gets nervous when they present – even people who do it all the time! The trick is to work with your nerves, rather than fight them. Here are four of many techniques for dealing with nerves. Do you get nervous when you present? What tips would you add to these?

Are you ready to change the way you feel about public speaking? My Speaker Fit: Communicating with Impact course is now open to you to sign up so you can access it at a time that really benefits you. Sign up here: thepresentercoach.co.uk/spea…

I have just launched a journal prompt series on Self Compassion via my podcast Everyday Positivity. It’s designed to help you cultivate compassion for yourself in times of stress and anxiety. If you think this will help you head to patreon.com/everydaypositivi… to find out more.

You can practise a talk until you’re blue in the face, but without self belief you may find it difficult to communicate with impact. Today’s tip on being a better communicator is simple; get into the habit of repeating the words ‘I love myself, I love myself…” in your head.

Everyone has an inner critic. Before every talk I do, it tells me that "this is going to be awful, so what’s the point?". But I fight through it and defend myself against the thoughts. I say “I can do this” and then I get a thrill from reading the feedback forms at the end.