Personal Presence: How speakers authentically engage

Become your most confident, natural self when speaking in public

Personal presence gives you the power to inspire, to influence, to excite, to question and to connect. We all have it within us. Yet many of us freeze or falter when speaking in public.

As an actor on national TV and as a coach to high-performing professionals, Sarah Thurstan knows there are no set answers for how to give your best when you take the stage. It’s a highly personal story for each of us.

In this book, she guides you through how you can bring your natural self and your authentic voice to when you are speaking in public. In 15 chapters, she discusses how to master your fears, craft your message, share your stories, express your values and act when the spotlight is on you.

These are skills which we can all learn and improve, whether as polished performers or as nervous beginners. We can always become a better version of ourselves when speaking in public and engaging our audiences.

CONTENTS

1. What is personal presence?

2. Playing to our strengths

3. Fighting the fear

4. Physical communication

5. Storytelling

6. Engaging your audience

7. Lessons from the Greeks: rule of three

8. Structure

9. Self-awareness, self-disclosure and self-confidence

10. Elevator pitches and talking to camera

11. Diction, delivery and jargon

12. Directions and props

13. Performing as a leader

14. Business theatre

15. Cornerstones and competence