Your coaching session will give you the confidence and tricks to deliver your speech brilliantly – but the real magic happens with continued practice afterwards. This section is your reference library; dip into it whenever you need a refresher.

Mindset – Make Friends with Your Nerves

I believe we shouldn’t be trying to rid ourselves of nerves because, quite frankly, that would be impossible. Nerves mean you’re excited and that you care – and that’s a good thing.

Everyone feels nerves, even seasoned TV presenters (they’re just very good at hiding it). The trick is not to fear nerves but to reframe them. See them as energy you can harness, rather than a problem to eliminate.

Before you stand up, remind yourself: this isn’t about you, it’s about the audience. You’re there to make them laugh, move them, or help them celebrate. Once you shift the focus outward, nerves lose their sting and you start to enjoy the moment.

“Don’t fight nerves – turn them into fuel.”

Speed & Pauses

• The number one rule: don’t rush. Nerves make people speed up, but slowing down makes you sound instantly more confident and gives your words weight.
• Comedy and heartfelt moments need space. When you expect a laugh, wait for it. When you say something touching, let it land. Silence isn’t awkward – it’s powerful.
• Never talk over laughter. Even if only one person is still chuckling, hold back. A smile and a pause make you look relaxed and in control.

“DON’T bulldoze the laughter. Lap it up.”

Body & Posture

• Smile when you stand up – it immediately relaxes both you and the audience.
• Think tall and open. Shoulders back, chin up, palms visible. This posture signals confidence and makes your audience more inclined to listen.
• Use your face. A raised eyebrow, a cheeky grin, or even a well-timed pause with a look can sometimes get a bigger laugh than the punchline itself.
• Keep eye contact moving around the room. Imagine you’re having mini one-on-one conversations with different people.

“An eyebrow raise can be as funny as the punchline itself.”

Prosody – The Music of Your Speech

Words are only half the story. How you say them is what makes people lean in, laugh, or wipe away a tear. That’s where prosody comes in – the rhythm, tone, and emphasis of your delivery.

• Vary your pitch – a monotone voice will send even your mum to sleep. Let your voice rise with excitement and drop for sincerity.

• Play with pace – speed up slightly when you’re telling a funny anecdote, slow down when you’re making a heartfelt point.

• Emphasise key words – “I really didn’t expect him to show up with a karaoke machine” is far funnier than delivering it flat.

• Use pauses like punctuation – silence before a punchline or after a moving line is often more powerful than the words themselves.

Practise saying your speech aloud with different emphasis. Notice how shifting the stress from one word to another can completely change the meaning or impact. This is where your speech goes from sounding “nice” to being genuinely memorable.

“Prosody is the secret sauce – it’s how you turn words into theatre.”

Breathing 

It sounds obvious, but getting your breath right is crucial. Breathing fuels your voice, projects your words, and stops you running out of steam halfway through a sentence.

• Aim for deep, diaphragmatic breaths – belly expanding, shoulders relaxed.

• Nervous speakers tend to breathe shallowly, which makes voices weak and rushed. Counter this with a deliberate, steady inhale before you begin.

• Use pauses as opportunities to breathe and reset. A controlled pause looks intentional to your audience and gives you a calm, confident edge.

Keep the Momentum Going

• Rehearse at least five more times before the big day. Vary your environment: try it standing at the kitchen counter, then again in the living room, then again in front of a friend. Different settings keep your memory flexible.
• Record one final rehearsal on your phone and watch it back. Painful, yes, but invaluable. Notice your speed, gestures, and whether you’re looking at your notes too much.
• Treat your speech like a performance – eat beforehand, drink water, and warm up your voice with tongue twisters or silly vocal exercises. You’ll feel much more polished.