Professional and Public
Speaker Training
Are you a business executive, entrepreneur, or expert in your field and need to talk, present, or promote yourself, your product or your company?
Do you feel nervous, unsure or even intimidated by the audience, the stage, the podium or the microphone?
Are your nerves and uncertainty affecting your ability to convince, influence and promote your message the way you want to?
Do you believe that if you could speak and present more confidently, clearly, and concisely you could promote your business more easily, efficiently and effectively, make more sales and find more opportunities for growth and expansion?
Whether you need help with:
Writing a crucial Keynote address,
Public Speaking coaching,
Professional Presenting or
Conference talks
Renowned UK 'Master Speaker Academy' Coach
Mr. Tom Breeze - Highly recommends Paul Bellard.
We can help you because we know that
the greatest speakers were not born great;
they got started and became great.
Every great speaker, at some point, for some reason,
learned how to present and speak more
effectively with more impact!
...So Can You!
Let me tell you a story to illustrate the truth of the statement above.
Had you been alongside me one early winters evening in December 1980, when I was 17 years old, you would have witnessed a pivotal moment in my life that changed EVERYTHING!
It was typical weather for the time of year in the UK; it was dark by 4 pm, heavy rain, bleak and miserably cold. I had just finished another long day at the factory where I worked as a car washer; I washed company executive cars using only the most basic tools; a hose pipe, bucket and sponge and cold water, all day, every day. After another day of it, I was tired, bitterly cold and miserable. I just wanted to get home and get warm.
As the factory 'siren' sounded to signal our release from what felt like a prison, I clocked out and walked the short distance from the heavy iron factory gates to the bus stop nearby. I waited alone, huddled against a high red brick wall in a vain attempt to avoid some of the driving rain. I hoped another worker I knew, leaving in a car, would see me and stop to offer me a lift, but that only happens on rare occasions.
Eventually, in the distance, I saw the welcome sight of bus headlights appear that signalled the imminent relief from the cold and rain. With relief, I stepped slowly towards the curbside, ready to raise my arm and signal the driver to stop.
But, as the bus came closer and closer still, I saw something I knew would make it impossible for me to get on the bus! It wasn't the first time this had happened, but on this particular day, the feeling was intense, and I was acutely conscious of it.
Anxiously, I stepped back and apologetically waved both arms at the driver, indicating that I did not want him to stop after all. He got the message and passed by. I can still hear the "whoosh" sound as the vast wheels pass through the running water on the road as the bus continues without me.
What was it that made me change my mind? What made me prefer to walk four and a half miles in the freezing rain to get home?
The Problem? - Shyness!
People that know me today don't believe me when I tell them that as a child, teen and even young adult, I was painfully introverted and shy.
On this particular December evening, because I noticed that the bus was more than a third full of people that, in my mind, would stare at me, judge me, and make assessments about me - I couldn't bear it! I'd rather walk an hour and a half in the freezing rain than face the discomfort of people staring at me for thirty seconds.
As I walked the long, dark rainy journey home, soaked to my skin and feeling so cold, I can remember the moment I heard a quiet voice inside my head that said, "This is a big problem; I have to do something to change this".
Soon after, the change process began. I'll tell you how when we meet.
Change your thoughts and you change your world.
-Norman Vincent Peale
Nowadays, things are very different.
When 'Master Speaker Academy' trainers such as Tom Breeze in the video above want vital transformative skills and mindset training for their students, they call upon us to help.
We tailor our PB Professional Public Speaking & Presentation Skills training to your individual needs and requirements; in fact, I insist upon it and here is why...
...Unless you intend to become a 'professional' level speaker, appearing on international stages as a profession as I do, you probably do not need professional speaker training. You may only need public speaking coaching and training. I will be able to assess your training needs better once we discuss your current level and your objectives.
Either way, we now live in a time in which passion and authenticity trump slick, polished skills used in the past to hide a lack of substance or depth of knowledge. Today we are more accustomed to shaky mobile phone videos over well-edited corporate-type videos.
However, a short presentation to investors or a large scale keynote on the Conference stage can be unforgiving and magnify even the smallest mistakes before the most important or largest of audiences! When recorded, those mistakes become a perpetual reminder that we could have done more to become better.
"You don't have to be great to get started
but you have to get started to be great!"
-Les Brown
So to begin, focus on your 'WHY' and your raw passion for your message; go and grow from there! You will improve organically over time; the critical step is to start. As Mr Les Brown said, "You don't have to be great to get started, but you need to start to become great"!
Once under way, you may only need one or two coaching sessions to remove a few bad habits and replace them with winning habits, strategies and techniques that will elevate both you and your message.
Whatever your message and objectives for presenting and speaking, it is vital that the content is well crafted and structured, tells a story, is experiential and "emotive" for the listener and has an impactive conclusion.
For example, as you read my "bus story' above, did you imagine yourself standing at the bus stop with me? Did you see, feel or hear the rain? Did you feel what it felt like for me, or do you remember being in a similar position yourself?
If you did, just from reading words, imagine how much more vivid it is when I tell this story live on stage with added body language, voice inflexion, stage anchoring, analogue marking, using silences, pauses and facial expressions! It truly transports audiences to another place and time, making the message that comes with it an emotional experience that is understood and memorable.
Here are a few common mistakes and errors to look out for in your presentations:
- Inappropriate use of PowerPoint slides or notes
- Monotone voice
- Not Knowing Your Material
- Lack of Rapport with the Audience
- Lack of or Inappropriate Humor
- Poor or Ineffective Eye Contact or scan
- Incorrect use of Physiology / Stance
- Talking too fast
- Pointing at the audience, and
- Using 'Verbal Irritators' including "Err" -ing!
Just one of these habits can be enough to minimise your message and damage delivery. Many new presenters have way more than just one!
'PB' Professional and Public Speaking Coaching and Training.
No matter how proficient, even the most eloquent and charismatic speakers can improve their speaking skills, and I'd love to share my strategies and techniques with you to help bring your presentations and conference keynotes to life, giving you more confidence, impact and influence to help achieve the results you want and deserve.
I can offer you a range of services, from just one or two coaching sessions to an entire coaching programme to a twelve-month retainer package, so I can be there whenever you need to make an impact.
When you are committed to being the best, you become aware of even the smallest mistakes that can minimise your message.
With our training, you'll learn to maximise your message and project your voice with confidence, gravitas and poise.
Book a Discovery Call Now!
The best way to discover and understand the difference we can make to you is by having a real conversation.
Go ahead and book a no obligation discovery call with Paul using the online calendar link below:
Or if you prefer, contact my PA, Sarah to request more information or request a call back.
sarah@paulbellard.com