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Panic-Free Public Speaking
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Laurie Smale Inspirational Speaker and Coaching Guru Certificate 1V in Assessment & Workplace Training
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Success Stories on Public Speaking and Communicating Success
Public SpeakingMany thanks Laurie for curing my crippling fear of speaking to an audience. Since completing your half-day coaching course I have had to present many times and although initially nervous, I speak comfortably and confidently. I am no longer afraid. I can walk to the front of an audience without feeling weak with fear, which is extremely liberating. My husband has noticed the difference; he has said to me on numerous occasions that he can see that I now enjoy public speaking. And my university marks have reflected my new ability to express myself well - thanks to you.
Laurie, your job is a noble one. You have helped me enormously and I
love your work. It's been three months since I took your half-day, one-on-one course and I would like to report that IT WORKS! Before making your acquaintance I found it very difficult to prepare for and execute a talk to a large audience. It seemed that no matter how detailed my speech I always felt that I was boring them to death. Knocking knees, dry throat and losing the place in my carefully prepared text exacerbated this.
Since you showed me the light, I've had a number of opportunities to talk with large, medium and small gatherings and I just love having them in the palm of my hand. The easy conversational communication, which you showed me, attracts listeners and holds them.
Once again many thanks for your contribution; it's certainly made my life
easier and more rewarding. Recently I was nominated as a finalist in the Telstra Business Woman awards. Amelia and I have proof that your coaching skills deliver what you promise: Towards the end of last year Amelia and I were approached to act as guest speakers at a business breakfast with a half hour on the topic of “The Challenges of Employing Generation Y Staff”. We both followed your principles (in particular linking key points in a narrative, conversational style) and were both amazed to discover we felt relaxed and presented in an informative and entertaining style. After the first breakfast (which had its moments!) the organizer invited us to present at a further three breakfasts throughout South West Victoria. Accomodation was provided at each engagement and we were even well paid for our insights!! Thanks again for your help. Laurie, you did not let us down. Not only were you inspirational as our keynote speaker at our end-of-conference dinner, all our presenters, including those presenting for the first time, were highly appraised by delegates as a direct result of your personal coaching sessions in public speaking. The amazing thing is they only had to experience you once!
What you helped me achieve in one three-hour session is quite remarkable. I am now comfortable speaking publicly and presenting to a room full of strangers.
As a direct result of your remarkable coaching in public speaking, my tutorials for graduate anaesthesia students on the topic of local anaesthetic techniques for eye surgery will never be quite the same!
Thanks for a fantastic coaching session. It was quite inspiring. Next time I have to stand before groups and public speak I know I can do it!
Not long back I had to give the most important presentation of my life - my wedding speech. I had absolutely no idea of where to begin or what to say and would lie awake at night dreading this looming public speaking ordeal. I still find it hard to believe that in one 3-hour session you turned all that completely around. My speech was fantastic and people actually came up and congratulated me on how wonderful it was and how confident I appeared! Now that I've made one successful speech, I know that I can do it again.
Laurie, just a short note to let you know how happy I am with the astonishing results of your inspirational session for my 15-year-old son Robert (after being somewhat sceptical that anything dramatic could be done in such a short space of time). For years he had suffered from a terrible public speaking fear, which affected all facets of his life. Thanks to you and your insightful teaching, this is no longer the case. He now walks tall, freely talks with people and can look them in the eye, and, most remarkable of all, he is actually looking forward to a talk he has to do in school next week! Hard to believe as it is, your 3-hour session transformed Robert into the confident person I always knew he could be. I couldn’t recommend your work highly enough.
Effective ConversationLaurie, I'd like to thank you for showing me how easy it is to not only strike up a conversation with people I don't know, but to have something to say after I've broken the ice. Your simple strategies work like magic and have enriched my life. They've given me the confidence to get to know people, make friends easily, and discover just how interesting others can be.
Job InterviewsLaurie, I write to share my recent success for entry to the MFB training program to become a firefighter. Prior to your incredible session I was worried about all sorts of things that would stand in the way of me being accepted during the interview. At the end of our session you had me feeling in control and no longer at the mercy of others. At the interview I confidently said what I had to say and radiated that I could keep my head in time of crisis. I couldn't recommend your work highly enough.
I’d like to thank you for your valuable expertise as a speaking coach as the session I spent with you paid off. Yes Laurie, I made it through the panel interview with a great result. Furthermore I have been offered a place at the police academy, starting in Feb. I can’t thank you enough for the short time we spent together, and you were right, it was one of the best investments I’d ever make in myself! My Credibility as a SpeakerWhat do you do when you have to schedule a workshop on public speaking for professional speakers and, in your heart of hearts, know they think they've probably heard it all before, done it and discarded it? Well, you call on somebody like you with special talents, skills and abilities. I marvelled as you went to work presenting exciting and inspirational material to an audience of your peers that literally brained them!
Laurie, a personal note of thanks for your wonderful effort as keynote speaker at our 63rd Annual General Meeting and dinner. With Olympic Gold Medallist Kieran Perkins as keynote speaker at another function we held last year you had a hard act to follow! But you more than met the challenge with your inspirational presentation on effective networking and relating to others. The feedback I’ve received is that you’re one of the best speakers we’ve ever had. Not only were you entertaining, your practical insights will be of real value because they’re so easy to use. You left a room full of people with the firm knowledge that they can now network with confidence to successfully promote their business and the region as a whole. The committee of the Association of Civil Marriage Celebrants of Victoria has asked me to express our appreciation for your inspiring presentation at our recent development seminar on effective public speaking. Your words were thought provoking and your presentation style was a model that will enhance the celebrancy role of all those present.
Your superb contribution as MC added significantly to our conference. Anyone who can bring together two hundred and fifty people and organize them to sit at twenty-five tables is a genius. But to have them change tables five times, enjoy themselves and learn, is a consummate professional.
After your visit our members have very high expectations of the group and this is testimony to your world class training skills and knowledge of business presentations and public speaking. On behalf of the committee and our members, thank you very much.
I found it truly remarkable to experience the fun way you tactfully lead people from the debilitating mindset of uncontrollable panic, to the firm belief that public speaking can indeed be enjoyable and attract success!
Laurie Smale is a unique and original communicator who emotionally empowers his audience through the use of superbly presented true-life stories. The result is that those who listen to Laurie learn from his life. I for one love to listen to him.
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'The following testimonials are genuine stories from real people who now speak with confidence as a direct result of my exciting sessions. They are grouped under the headings ‘Public Speaking’, ‘Effective Conversation’, ‘Job Interviews’ and ‘My Credibility as a Speaker’.