Speak First Blog
A trainer, coach, speaker and author, Steve is passionate about helping individuals, teams and companies to maximise their potential - to become extraordinary. A Director of Speak First, Steve brings warmth, energy and conviction to everything he does.
Gravitas: What it is and how it can help you be more successful, influential and charismatic
Some people have an authority, a presence, that’s often called gravitas. It is defined as “Seriousness and importance of manner, causing feelings of respect and trust in others.”
Read moreDon’t Know What To Do With Your Hands When Presenting? Follow These 10 Powerful Rules To Maximise Your Impact
The biggest problem many presenters have – experienced as well as newcomers – is knowing what to do with their hands. They worry endlessly about whether they’re gesturing too much or too little, and ...
Pitching to the C-Level – Do You Know the Secret to Selling to Executives?
Pitching to CEOs, CFOs and COOs can be daunting, because senior executives take no prisoners. Here are five powerful tips, tactics and techniques to help you maximise your success.
10 Assertive Tips to Standing Your Ground and Speaking Your Mind
Assertiveness is essential if you’re to get what you want – but you don’t want to come across as pushy or aggressive. Here are 10 practical tips from Speak First for how to be effective in a range of ...
‘Dead Fish’ or ‘Bone Crusher’ – What Does Your Handshake Say About You?
Everybody’s talking about Donald Trump’s handshake. Because it’s often the only time in business we touch another person, the handshake is a crucial element in making a positive impression. Here are ...
10 Powerful ways to open a presentation with impact
The first 30 seconds of a presentation is crucial – so don’t waste it. You need to grab the attention of your audience and engage their interest from the start. Many speakers begin by giving their ...
Get Some Work Done! – 10 Killer Tips for Taming your Procrastination
Do you suffer from procrastination? Do you put things off? Do you start but then get stuck? Is procrastination holding you back from achieving what you want? Try these tried and tested ...
10 Ways to Make Yourself More Likeable
Likeability is at the heart of impact and influence. The more someone likes you, the more likely they are to say ‘yes’ to you – in virtually any situation.
10 Essential Steps to Writing Compelling Business Documents
You need to be able to write high-quality emails, reports and other documents. Here’s the secret to producing clear, concise and compelling documents to the highest possible standard.
3 ways of assertively managing your time
You’re sitting at your desk and you’re trying to get something done. Maybe it’s a report. Maybe it’s a budget. Maybe it’s a presentation and Simon, or Sarah, or someone comes and perches on the ...