You’re about to give a big presentation, and suddenly that little voice in your head pipes up, "Who do you think you are?" 🤔 "I'm not good enough" 😟 "Everyone else knows more than me" 😰 You start feeling like a total imposter, as if at any moment, someone’s going to jump out and yell… "Gotcha! We know you don’t belong here!" 😱 Now, imagine instead you FLIP the script. (And really try to picture this, because your brain has already created a 3D High Res image of your NEGATIVE thoughts, so you need to UPGRADE and OVERWRITE these images...) You walk up to the mic with a smile, and REPLACE those thoughts polluting your confidence. 😏🎤 "I'm capable right now, and I am getting better every time I speak" 💪 or "I don't need others to validate me—I know I am putting in the work" 🛠️ Bottom line: Focus on delivering your message. You’re not there to win an award for perfection—you’re there to share what you know. 🎤😎

Master Your Voice with These 3 Public Speaking Power Moves 😎🎤 1. 🎯 Eye Contact: Build Connection, Not a Staring Contest 👀 ✓ Do: Make intentional eye contact for 3-5 seconds with different people in the room. This makes them feel seen (not in a creepy way, I promise 😅) and builds trust! You’ll come across as confident and credible. ✗ Don’t: Stare down one poor soul like you’ve just seen a unicorn. 🤠Shift your gaze naturally and show EVERYONE some attention. 🏹 Pro tip: Pair that eye contact with a friendly smile—don’t go full Terminator mode! 😄 2. 🚶‍♂️Use Your Space: Don’t Be a Statue 🗿 ✓ Do: Move with purpose! When you walk around the room (or stage), do it like you own the place—because you do! 👑 Use movement to highlight important points, like taking a dramatic step forward when making a key point. ✗ Don’t: Pace like you’re trying to win an Olympic gold in speed walking 🏃‍♂️. Fidgeting or random movements can make people dizzy (and not in a good way). 🏹Pro tip: Try pausing dramatically before moving—let ‘em feel the suspense, like a plot twist in a Netflix show. 😏🎬 3. 👐 Gestures & Body Language: Talk with Your Hands—But Don’t Overdo It! ✋👐 ✓ Do: Use big, open gestures to reinforce your points. Talking about something huge? Stretch those arms wide like you’re telling a fish story! 🐟 T his adds a visual punch to your words and helps people stay engaged. ✗ Don’t: Keep your hands locked in your pockets or cross your arms like you’re at a high school dance. 😬 Open up! 🏹 Pro tip: Time your gestures with your words—so you look like a confident speaker, not someone directing traffic. 🚦 With these tips, you’ll not just own the room—you’ll have your audience eating out of the palm of your hand (not literally, though, unless you’re giving out snacks 🍕😜). So go out there, master these power moves, and speak like the rockstar you are! 🌟🎤 #OwnTheRoom #PublicSpeakingPower #CommandWithConfidence #SpeakWithSwagger

It is wonderful to have you here in the community Kate! Please check your chat messages for a special gift!

Its great to have @Kimberley Anderson in our community, you are so welcome!

About 15 years ago I was watching a recording of my live presentation to the Australian Institute of Management. I was in the audience watching this up on the big screen… feeling pretty confident, and thinking I had done a decent job. A few minutes in, I was totally mortified to realise I said “um” and “ah” so much it was like I had Tourette’s! 😳🙈 It totally distracted everyone from what I was saying, and my message was lost. 😵‍💫 The only thing anyone remembered was all those fillers… 😬 Have YOU ever feel like you’re saying "um" so much in your speech that it could become a drinking game? 🍻 Let’s fix that! Over the next few posts, I am going to share tips on how to ditch fillers and sound more confident and professional INSTANTLY! First up…. The Power of the PAUSE! Instead of filling the silence with "um," take a moment to pause. ⏸️ Think of it like a dramatic cliffhanger in your favourite TV show. 📺 Your audience will be on the edge of their seats! 🪑 Pausing gives you a moment to collect your thoughts and adds emphasis to your points. It also makes you appear more confident and in control. 💪 Tips for PRACTICE: - DELIBERATELY insert Pauses: Practise your speech and deliberately add pauses at key points, like before introducing a new idea or after a big statement. ✍️ - Breathe: Use pauses as a reminder to take a deep breath. This helps you stay relaxed and maintain a steady pace. 🌬️ - Count in Your Head: When you pause, count to two or three in your head before continuing. This keeps your pauses just right—not too short, not too long. ⏳ Pausing is your secret weapon in public speaking - use it well and you’ll keep your audience engaged and hanging on your every word. 🎯 So, embrace the silence! Try this and comment below to let me know how you go!