BUSINESS CAPABILITY WORKSHOP – 8 APRIL 2021
David Nottage,
from TORQUE Business
When David Nottage was in his early twenties, he was unable to speak to his four team members without a huge anxiety attack. Fast forward to 1996, David wins the World Championship of Public Speaking for Toastmasters and CSP (Certified Speaking Professional for National Speakers Association).
During an action-packed 80 minutes, David shared numerous tips about how to appear more confident when presenting. These practical pearls of wisdom were delivered with extremely good humour, encouraging greater participation from everyone in the room. David’s advice included:
- What to do with your hands to avoid inadvertently alienating your audience
- Being aware of the physiological effects of the “flight and fight response”
- The appropriate speed at which to talk when presenting
- How to minimise the “ums”, “errs” and “y’know”
- Incorporating gamification into team meetings to help everyone improve their presentation skills (in-person and remote)
- How to “own” the table during a seated presentation
He also highlighted the importance of affirmations, citing the example of a young boxing hopeful named Cassius Clay who, at age 15, started saying to himself: “I am the greatest.” Three years later, he won a gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics – and, of course, Muhammad Ali’s legacy is truly legendary. “Nothing’s going to happen out there, until it happens in here first,” he said, gently tapping the side of his head. Affirmations should be personal, in the present tense, and positive. Since we can talk to ourselves seven times faster than speaking out loud, a good time to run through them would be just as our head hits the pillow.
The time flew by. Participants were clearly left energised and inspired by this dynamic workshop.
Click here to see the event’s photos.
