As we embrace the spirit of giving this festive season, consider the invaluable gift you can give to someone looking to develop their public speaking and presentation skills. Here are a few of our favourite gifts that will enhance your speaking skills and help you connect with your audience all year long
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The Storytelling Toolkit
“Unleash the Power of Storytelling: Win Hearts, Change Minds, Get Results” by Rob Biesenbach
This book is a gift which delivers a practical, step-by-step guide to crafting and telling persuasive stories that help you influence decisions, accelerate your career, and create the life you want.
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The Authentic Voice Manual
“Speak So Your Audience Will Listen – 7 Steps to Confident and Authentic Public Speaking” by Robin Kermode
This book is a gift for anyone who needs to communicate clearly—tell a story, share an idea, or speak to an audience. With friends, we’re natural and relaxed. But when we step into the spotlight, we often put on a public mask and lose our authentic voice. This book breaks down spoken communication from structure to delivery, helping you communicate with confidence, clarity, and authenticity.
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The Body Language Guide
“Your body language may shape who you are.” Amy Cuddy
The powerful TED Talk is a gift that examines the profound influence of nonverbal communication on both self-perception and how others perceive us. Drawing on compelling research, social psychologist Amy Cuddy demonstrates how adopting confident physical postures, so-called “power poses”, can shape our sense of self and meaningfully affect our outcomes.
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The Presence Practice Journal
“Presence: How to Use Positive Energy for Success in Every Situation” by Patsy Rodenburg
This book is a gift about the invisible advantage of great speakers ‘presence. We glimpse it in early childhood and admire it in exceptional performers, athletes, and teachers. Every memorable communicator learns to access this state, because it is only when we are fully present that our words carry weight and our impact endures.
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The Visual Aids Design Kit
“Slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations” by Nancy Duarte
This book is a gift which provides insights into creating impactful slides that enhance your message. It’s for those who use presentation tools that demand visual thinking. Few of us are ever taught how to communicate visually with clarity and impact. slide:ology steps in where traditional training falls short.
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The Communication Style Assessment
The Mindful Presenter’s Style Review’
https://mindfulpresenter.com/style-review-quiz/
A key element of being a Mindful Presenter is a high level of self-awareness. There are many presentation styles, and this quiz will help you understand your personal style and preferences. With that insight and clarity, you can begin to understand the impact you are likely to have on your audience and learn skills to adapt and modify your style where needed, whilst retaining your authenticity.
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The Influence Engine
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini
This book is a gift that shares the Universal Principles of Influence to enhance your persuasion skills. You might think you know these principles, but their nuances hold the real power.
They include:
Reciprocation
Commitment and Consistency
Social Proof
Liking
Authority
Scarcity
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The Fear Formula
“Speak With No Fear: Go From a Nervous, Nauseated, and Sweaty Speaker to an Excited, Energized, and Passionate Presenter” by Mike Acker
This book is a gift for you if, public speaking makes you anxious or sweaty, or if you’d rather avoid presentations altogether. Gain confidence in your communication and break free from anxiety that’s holding you back.
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The Confidence Creator
“How to Develop Self-Confidence and Influence People by Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie
This classic book is a gift packed with practical tips to boost your self-confidence and enhance your people skills. Learn how to overcome shyness, build strong relationships, and understand human behaviour. With timeless principles, it provides a solid foundation for your self-improvement journey.
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The Art of Presenting
If you’re looking for a short, online course as a gift, whether you’re presenting on a stage, in a meeting, at a wedding, or simply to a group of friends, you can join Simon Sinek to discover how to present your ideas in a way that captivates others and makes them truly curious to hear what you have to say.
The Art Of Presenting With Simon – Simon Sinek
These public speaking skills will empower anyone looking to enhance their presentation skills, enabling them to speak with confidence and impact to any audience. By integrating these powerful ideas and resources into your routine, you can continue to develop as a communicator well beyond the festive season!
If you need you or anyone else, who you know needs help in the New Year, you can:
– Book yourself onto a powerful public speaking course.
– Invest in some excellent one-to-one public speaking coaching.
– Get yourself some excellent presentation training
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