I was part of a panel today that spoke to high school students on the topic of “Preparing for Adulthood.” I’ve coached clients who’ve had upcoming panel speaking opportunities, and this situation sometimes feels scary to them unlike a prepared speech they had to give. Avoid these 3 mistakes to handle the panel successfully: 1️⃣ […]

Recently, I competed in the area level (the second level) of the speech competition I’m in. I lost and came in second place. Let me tell you something… I HATE to not win a speech contest! However, this time was different. Even though I’m still disappointed I lost, I can tell I have grown in […]

Last night I competed in a Toastmasters International speech contest, and am excited to share with you that I placed FIRST!! I had taken a three-year break from competing, so it felt especially GREAT to take home the top honor at the club contest! I will move on to compete at the area level in […]

I can’t believe we are winding down the last month of 2022 already! It seems like we just started the year. I pray you are taking time to enjoy yourself and not getting overwhelmed with all the hustle and bustle that often comes in December. Below is a great article from Black Speakers Network that […]

Yesterday I had the opportunity to record a PSA (public service announcement) at WLRH radio station. It’s located on the beautiful campus of the University of Alabama in Huntsville. I’ve done radio interviews before, but never did a PSA – til now! I love being able to cross off “firsts”! 😉 Here are a few […]

  Even though in-person events have returned (thank God!), virtual events are here to stay. Virtual events are a different animal from in-person events, and that includes audience engagement. You have to be intentional about HOW you engage them, WHEN to engage them, and the WHY behind your engagement tactic. Yes it’s that deep. After […]

A situation many speakers find frustrating is looking out into the audience and seeing faces glued to cell phones. You’ve taken the time to prepare this talk, and their attention is on a device instead of you. Like it or not, mobile phones are everywhere now and you can pretty much expect at least one person to look […]

“Is it ok to use notes?” “What’s the right way to use notes when speaking?” These are the two most common questions I hear when it comes to speech notes. First, let me make it clear that it IS OK to bring your trusty notes with you. I have been to conferences where I was […]

If you’ve ever looked out into your audience and noticed confusing looks on their faces – it can feel unsettling to you as a speaker! You’re wondering why they look that way. There are a host of reasons, but here are three major ones:  Your speech has no real structure and is going all over […]

You were feeling confident before your speech. But after speaking for a few minutes, those butterflies start flying out of control in your stomach. 😳 So what can you do to calm yourself and finish your speech on a high note? 1. Focus on why the audience needs to hear your message. Always keep their […]