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Laura Penn, PhD is an experienced and well-rounded public speaking coach. As a Toastmasters European champion of public speaking, author of the book How to Enhance the Performance of Public Speaking: A Pocket Coach and a trained performer in theater and dance, she helps individuals become effective public speakers. Based in Switzerland, she provides custom-tailored, interactive training in public speaking for clients and organizations in the academic, not-for-profit and private sectors. She also serves as a speaker coach for a wide variety of TEDx events.
How to Enhance the Performance of Public Speaking: A Pocket Coach
Laura noticed that people don’t consider public speaking as a performance. Published in 2013, this book describes the elements of performance of speaking. The book also serves as a public speaking journal.
What is stage presence?
Laura’s definition of stage presence is: the ability to wow your audience with your charisma and energy.
Main elements of stage presence
Stage presence is a combination of:
- How you use your eyes.
- How you smile.
- How you stand, your posture.
Related: Being an authentic speaker
Three great examples of stage presence
Jane Goodall, a conservationist. Small woman, but she exudes inner power.
Bill Clinton. Stage presence in a conversational way, approachable.
Martin Luther King. A leader who made you feel safe, who guided you.
Her favorite quotation
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, it’s not going to get better.” — Dr. Seuss (from his book “The Lorax”)
Recommended book
Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment by George Leonard
Routine to Shine
You can do this daily: turn on a reality TV show, and turn the volume off. Sit down and watch it for 10 minutes, and study the gestures, micro-movements, expressions to learn the skills for yourself. Be a student of body language.
Links
the Professional Speaker Coach
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