Having sat on both sides of the decision-making table, I’ve stood in rooms where budgets, contracts, or careers hung in the balance, and later found myself among those making the decisions, watching others stand up and do the same. One thing I observed in those moments has stayed with me. The best idea in the[…]
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Leadership category
The Best Idea Doesn’t Always Win. Often, the Best-Presented One Does.
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Oct 06, 2026
Andy Burnham Made Me Feel Something: What Every Leader Can Learn From His Conference Speech
Leadership, Public Speaking Oct 02, 2026
Before I created Mindful Presenter, I didn’t pay too much attention to British Prime Ministers’ conference speeches. They all sounded much the same to me, and I would drift off after a few minutes. Since then, I have made a conscious effort to be more patient and to study them closely, purely for what they[…]
What To Say Instead Of An Elevator Pitch
Advice, Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Oct 01, 2026
I enjoy networking far more than most people expect, and I have never once enjoyed an elevator pitch, my own included. You’ve heard this one, or something close enough that the difference doesn’t matter. “Good morning, my name is John, and I’m a partner at ABC; solicitors, accountants, marketing, training, whatever it happens to be.[…]
Four Ways To Keep An Audience Interested
Communication Skills, Leadership, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills Sep 30, 2026
Sit through somebody else’s presentation this week and spend a few minutes watching the audience instead of the speaker. It is the best training available to anybody who presents; it is free, and almost nobody does it. You will notice one of two rooms: either faces looking up and appearing interested, or the gentle, slow[…]
Donald Trump’s second inaugural address – where tone matters
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jan 21, 2025
Yesterday, President Donald Trump delivered his second inaugural address, after his swearing-in as the 47th president of the United States. It was a very measured, sombre and predictable speech. Despite references to a ‘’golden age’ and a ‘new era of national success’, I couldn’t help feeling that it had almost a funereal tone. After listening[…]
“Kamala Harris, for the People” – “Never let anyone tell you who you are”
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Aug 25, 2024
When Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic presidential nomination she demonstrated her ability to invigorate and unify an audience in front of 29 million television viewers. Whether you like her or her political views, Kamala Harris showed us how the world really does open up to us when we speak with confidence, humility and passion. I’m not[…]
