> 20yrs ago I was a Maths Nerd > 10yrs ago I was a Cyber Security Professional > Now I’m a Public Speaking Coach I credit a lot of that success to = Storytelling Here’s the exact 4 steps I used to kick-start my storytelling journey.👇 🧵THREAD 🧵

To reduce filler words, don’t wait for an important presentation to try and control it. See if you’re using these types of words in daily life: - Ums/Ahs - Just - Might - I guess/think - Maybe - Basically - Actually If yes, THIS is the place to start bringing it under control.

Lots of people incorrectly believe that speakers on stages are just born good at speaking. But that couldn't be farther from the truth. Almost everyone has done some work and most people have done A LOT of work to get where they're at. So don't count yourself out! Keep going

A cool side effect of learning the art of storytelling is that you think more strategically. It’s because storytelling helps you connect the dots and see the bigger picture.

Can you use stories with a Board? Absolutely. Here’s 3 options: 1. MICRO story - E.g. 1-3 sentence Exec Summary nutshell story 2. SPECIFIC story - E.g. A specific incident in detail 3. MACRO story - E.g. Structuring your pack chronologically like Past > Strategy > Future

Who's going to #CyberCon in Oct? I’ll be speaking on Day 2, about one of my favourite things: STORYTELLING. ⚡️ Since 2019, I've supported more than 36 people to speak at CyberCon (most of those females). This year I decided to apply myself. Just a tad excited! 💃

Want to try and clearly explain the DIFFERENCE between two things? Don’t … blather on with lots of information. Do… - Make your sentences *short* - Pick a few *key* words (i.e. sound bites) to distinguish the difference.

Want a FUN way to help your child improve their public speaking? 🦩 Use >>> An IMPROV GAME. Needs 2 people. But you can only speak 1 word at a time. It’s heaps of fun It helps kids to think on their feet + learn to relax a bit more. Win win!

Here's a proven structure for *off-the-cuff* responses: P. Point E. Explain R. Re-iterate P = State your point upfront. E = Explain what you mean. R = Wrap up by re-iterating your point. Stick to this and you'll always be easily understood! 😁

Here's a trick to quieten your inner critic. Activate... >>> Best Friend Mode If you talk to yourself the way your bestie would, you'll have far nicer things to say, you'll have a more positive outlook and give yourself more grace. It works a treat! I do this all the time 😄

Your job as a presenter is not to simply INFORM. Why...? Your audience doesn't just want information. They want a nugget they can *use* later. So, your job as a presenter becomes to GIVE A GIFT. This completely changes the game. 🤓

Here's 10 'filler words' that make you sound unsure of yourself 😬 1. Um/Ah 2. I think 3. I guess 4. Sort of 5. Kind of 6. Just 7. Maybe 8. Actually 9. Probably 10. Yeah In a lot of cases you can simply drop these words altogether + you'll come across far more confident.

Here's a cool way to *hone* your storytelling skills 😎 >>> User Reviews. Don't just share a few points (e.g. It arrived on time and it's good quality)..... Flex your storytelling skills (e.g. explain why you bought it / how you'll use it). Low risk, but great practise.👌

🤿 Heres how to avoid *diving* into the detail with people (when you communicate). Learn to LAYER your information. How? >>> I call it the ‘Menu Technique’ You explain things the way a restaurant sets out their menu. In layers. E.g. Title, ingredients, extra info.

It’s been a while. I’m back! 🤓

Want to get better outcomes at work, without having to always work harder? Learn the art of storytelling. Yes it requires work to learn it, but it will keep paying for itself - over and over and over. You’ll continue to get better outcomes (for the same work input) 🙌

Want to be taken more seriously at work? Check your use of FILLER words. Things like Um, Ah, Probably, I Guess, I Think, I Suppose, I’d Say, Just….. Eliminate them completely (Pause if you need to) and you will come across far more ➡️ Confident & Believable

A LESSON IN SPEAKER NOTES ❌ Don’t write sentences 📝 As you will be more likely to read (robotically) or loose your place (gah!) ✅ Think jar labels 🫙 Then you can glance at them if required, but still speak normally 🙌

A story is easier to remember & follow than lots of info. Kinda like the difference between beads, VS a bracelet. Picking up a bracelet is quicker (than picking up all those beads) and you can carry it around with more ease. ➡️ Share a story!