Don't let anyone fool you into thinking some people just have that it factor. Most of the time, that unidentified quality in a great speaker, a phenomenal singer, or a captivating actor, is really just a reflection of one thing.

As a public speaking coach, I help people let go of filler words. And I show them unexpected ways to actually start enjoying public speaking.

What does your body language say about you? When your colleagues, clients, or students tune into hear what you have to say, how do they feel?

Have you ever met someone who sounds unsure of even the most basic facts? “Hi, I’m Ben? I’m from Chicago? I’m in cancer research?” There’s a word for this kind of speech pattern – it’s called upspeak. Upspeak is very common, so if you find yourself relating to Ben, you are not alone!

On an average day, you could use about twenty more hands. There is no shortage of things to balance, fix, or pick up, while you text or have your phone lodged between your ear and shoulder. So, why, when it comes to public speaking does it feel like you have never used your hands before?It's like suddenly your hands are superfluous extremities that you've never noticed or thought about.

Pausing gets a bad rap because people often want to speed through their presentations. But, pausing is actually an incredibly powerful tool - one that can enhance passionate moments, create suspense, and give space for an insight or hard truth to land.

What if slides in the office could feel more like….slides on the playground? What if you could create a slide deck that generates anticipation, momentum, and delight? Here are 5 tips to help you!

Public speaking isn't just appearing on stage in front of hundreds of people. In my years as a public speaking coach, I've helped my clients prepare for every type of scenario you can think of -and some that you may not event consider. To prevent you from being caught of guard in one of these situations, here are five public speaking scenarios that might surprise you.