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I have been speaking for over a decade, so there are some things I did in the beginning of my speaker journey that I do not do now AND do not recommend new speakers do either. That’s part of my job as a coach; to shorten your learning curve. I show you what to do […]

Preparation, Speaking Tips, Writing

November 20, 2023

3 Things I Stopped Doing as a Public Speaker

You’ve probably heard (or even said) this oft-repeated “fact”: All communication is 7% what we say and 93% how we say it. WELL…THIS IS ACTUALLY NOT ACCURATE. Psychology professor Dr. Albert Mehrabian came up with this rule while working at the University of California, Los Angeles. Over the years, it has been misinterpreted and the […]

Content, Engagement, Speaking Tips

June 5, 2023

No, Delivery is NOT more Important than Words

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 […]

Preparation, Q & A, Speaking Tips

April 24, 2023

3 Panelist Mistakes to Avoid

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 […]

Preparation, Speaking Tips, Speech Competitions

March 6, 2023

A Transparency Post

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 […]

Speaking Tips, Speech Competitions

February 1, 2023

5 Speech Contest Tips for ANY Speech

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 […]

Confidence, Speaking Tips

December 25, 2022

10 Inspiring Toasts for a Memorable Holiday Celebration

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 […]

Preparation, Speaking Tips

October 14, 2022

3 Tips for Recording a PSA

  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 […]

Confidence, Engagement, Nervousness, Speaking Tips, Virtual Meetings, Zoom

September 23, 2022

5 Virtual Engagement Tips

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 […]

Engagement, Preparation, Speaking Tips

September 14, 2022

They won’t get off their phone! 7 Tips for Handling the Audience

“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 […]

Preparation, Speaking Tips, Stage Presence

August 13, 2022

If you want to use notes, there are 5 things you must do

Using notes