Mastering Public Speaking & Business Soundboarding with Phil Fraser

In this episode of Present Influence, host John Ball dives into the importance of presentation skills in professional success and how being a confident speaker can give you a competitive edge in business.

John sits down with guest Phil Fraser, who shares his unique role as a business sounding board, helping small business owners combat the loneliness of leadership and provide much-needed guidance.

The conversation covers Phil’s background in presentation skills, tips for handling Q&A sessions, and essential elements that make speakers listenable.

They also discuss the impact of podcasting on professional growth and valuable lessons in hosting and guesting on podcasts.

Tune in for practical insights and strategies to enhance your public speaking and leadership capabilities.

keywords

business sounding board, business coach, business mentor, small business owners, loneliness, challenges, presentation training, communication skills, Q&A sessions, podcasting, podcasting, guesting, audience building, business sounding board, Leeds Business Podcast, entertaining, educational, motivational, inspirational, strategy

takeaways

• A business sounding board is a combination of a business coach and a business mentor, providing support and guidance to small business owners.
• Having someone to talk to and bounce ideas off of can help alleviate the loneliness and challenges of running a business.
• Effective communication skills, including presentation skills, are crucial in business and can boost professional credibility and confidence.
• Handling Q&A sessions during presentations can be done by using specific phrases like 'Who has the first question?' and 'Who has the final question?' to encourage audience participation and maintain control.
• Podcasting is a valuable tool for reaching a wider audience and sharing expertise and insights. Guesting on other people's podcasts can help build your audience and raise your profile in a specific community.
• Creating your own podcast allows you to stand out and target a niche audience.
• Podcasts should be entertaining, educational, motivational, and inspirational to keep listeners engaged.
• Being a podcast host can enhance your positioning and credibility in your industry.
• As a business sounding board, Phil helps small to medium-sized business owners create a strategy to achieve their goals.

titles

• The Power of Podcasting
• Tips for Handling Q&A Sessions The Benefits of Hosting a Podcast

Sound Bites

• "I work with small business owners to stop them being lonely at the top."
• "I help business owners to be better business owners and to not be lonely at the top."
• "My background going all the way back, my initial first half of my career, I sold advertising space."
• "I will guest on other people's podcasts... I'm piggybacking on your audience."
• "How hard can it be to run your own podcast?... It's a lot harder than it looks."
• "I launched the Leeds Business Podcast... to raise my profile in the Leeds business community."

00:00 Introduction to Presentation Skills

00:24 Meet Phil Fraser: Business Sounding Board

01:32 The Role of a Business Sounding Board

05:43 Phil's Background in Presentation Skills

09:03 The Power of Public Speaking

09:57 Transformative Journey of Public Speaking

16:17 The Importance of Presentation Skills in Education

18:53 Mastering Q&A Sessions

20:31 Effective Q&A Techniques

21:45 Podcasting in the Professional World

22:01 Phil's Podcasting Journey Begins

22:30 Guesting on Other Podcasts

23:22 Creating the Leeds...

Crafting Your Signature Keynote: A Step-by-Step Journey

In this episode of Present Influence, keynote coach and professional speaker John Ball invites listeners into his creative process as he develops his own signature keynote talk.

John shares comprehensive insights from his years of coaching, covering topics such as the importance of having a mission, the difference between mission and positioning, and the challenges of finding your niche.

This episode kicks off a series focused on the entire keynote creation process, from conceptualization to delivery, offering valuable lessons for aspiring and established speakers alike.

Follow along weekly for more tips and interviews with influence experts, starting with radio presenter Phil Fraser in the next episode.

keywords

keynote talk, public speaking, mission, positioning, presentation skills, leadership communication, emotional mastery, audience engagement, speaker journey, creative process

takeaways

• Creating a keynote talk starts with understanding your mission.
• Mission and positioning are distinct but interconnected concepts.
• A clear mission helps define your niche as a speaker.
• Emotional mastery is crucial for effective leadership communication.
• Specificity in mission statements enhances clarity and impact.
• The creative process involves personal reflection and audience consideration.
• Positioning supports the greater mission in delivering talks.
• Empowering others emotionally can lead to significant change.
• Documentation of the speaker's journey can provide valuable insights.
• Engaging with the audience is key to successful presentations.

titles

• Defining Your Niche as a Speaker
• Emotional Mastery in Public Speaking

Sound Bites

• "Where do even start when creating a professional keynote talk?"
• "I want to talk about the creative process."

00:00 Introduction: Crafting Your Signature Keynote Talk

03:21 The Importance of Mission and Positioning

05:46 Defining Your Mission and Positioning Statement

07:09 Building the Foundation of Your Keynote Talk

08:49 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes

Mastering Empathy in Business: An Interview with Michele Hansen

In this episode of Present Influence, host John Ball interviews Michele Hansen, author of 'Deploy Empathy.'

Michele discusses her journey from the technical side of business to understanding and mastering empathy.

The episode covers how empathy can be a learned skill crucial for business success, even in technical fields like software development.

Michele shares her insights on applying empathy in product management, marketing, and sales, emphasizing the importance of understanding people's contexts.

The conversation explores the unexpected benefits of empathy in building trust and deepening relationships, as well as Michele's experiences and strategies for successful podcasting.

Listeners are encouraged to consider how they can apply empathy in their own professional and personal lives.

00:00 Introduction: The Importance of Empathy in Business

00:17 Meet Michelle Hansen: From Technical Background to Empathy Advocate

02:57 The Journey to Entrepreneurship and Writing a Book

06:01 Understanding Empathy: Michelle's Insights

08:40 Applying Empathy in Business and Beyond

18:29 The Role of Podcasting in Promoting Empathy

26:56 Practical Tips for Developing Empathy

40:57 Conclusion: Embracing Empathy in Professional Life