Hi Reader You’ve seen this, right? A speaker gets up — in a meeting room or on Zoom — and just starts. (I saw someone doing this and couldn't resist highlighting the problem and some simple ways to fix it. So you know where the inspiration for this newsletter came from!) No “hello,” no warm-up — just: “Alright, when you’re giving feedback, the first thing you need to do is…” Meanwhile, the audience is still shifting in their seats, wrapping up an email, or trying to figure out if this is...
19 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader You’ve seen this, right? A speaker gets up — in a meeting room or on Zoom — and just starts. (I saw someone doing this and couldn't resist highlighting the problem and some simple ways to fix it. So you know where the inspiration for this newsletter came from!) No “hello,” no warm-up — just: “Alright, when you’re giving feedback, the first thing you need to do is…” Meanwhile, the audience is still shifting in their seats, wrapping up an email, or trying to figure out if this is...
19 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader There’s one technique that instantly makes any speaker sound more confident. It’s not voice. Not body language. Not vocabulary.It’s… the pause! Most people rush. Out of nerves. Out of habit. Out of fear. But the best speakers?They pause intentionally—right before an idea lands. Here’s a simple trick I teach: Before you say your key message... pause for 2 seconds. Not only does it give you time to breathe, but it makes your words feel intentional. Even powerful if that makes sense....
24 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader The other day, my wife played me the final round of Miss World 2025 and asked me to rank the top 3.It’s like a game we play.She already knows the winners—but every now and then, she uses it to test my public speaking instincts (good for me, right?). And guess what?I nailed it. Ranked them exactly right. (Okay, she told me the winner. I only told 2 and 3 right!) Now pause for a second and imagine their situation: No notes. No prep. Just a mic, a stage, and what felt like a billion...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader Hope you are having a great weekend. I want to share a quick bite that you can use in your next meeting at work or at home (If you are creative enough, you can use it anywhere). If I had only 5 seconds to give you one piece of advice before a big presentation... what would I say? "Be confident." Nope, I won't say that. I really don't know if "be confident" is a tangible thing to do, even though people use it all the time! I have 3 words. And that is. Drum rolls, please.. "Just be...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
How are you doing? Yes, I’ve been a bit quiet lately. That’s because I’ve been knee-deep in rewriting a few of my public speaking books. It’s fascinating how your perspective shifts with time. (Note to self: Past You was ambitious. Present You is just better at editing.) Now, here’s something I have to share. Two of my coaching clients made it to the finals of an impromptu speech contest. Now, if you’ve ever tried impromptu speaking, you know—it’s tough.(It’s tougher than coming up with a...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader Pop Quiz: Have you ever wondered if public speaking is about (a) putting on a performance or b) being conversational? If you tried to answer the question with one option, then DON'T. It's not an either/or. It's both. We had this conversation during a coaching call yesterday, and I felt this is an important point to share with the larger audience. Let me explain. I believe we understand that there are going to be scenes in your speech. Then, there is narration where you narrate to...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader Happy Friday, and a quick insight for you! One of my coaching clients recently asked me something. He had a meeting coming up with his CEO.And he told me, “That thought stays in my mind for days before the meeting.” I said, “That’s okay. It shows that you care.” Then I added:“As long as it doesn’t stop you from doing what you want to do… it’s okay.” He found that simple idea surprisingly helpful.Maybe you will, too. Because that’s how it is with public speaking too. Do you feel...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader Yesterday, I sat in on a practice session—and let me tell you, it wasn’t just another rehearsal. It was a reminder. You see, the voice was firm. Gestures? On point. Structure? Tight. But what really struck me was:Let’s not compromise empathy and sincerity for perfection. That line hit me and I had to share that feedback as a next step. And trust me, we all will hit this phase. Because here’s the trap we all fall into:We chase the perfect pause, the power pose, the flawless finish…...
3 months ago • 1 min read