Have You Been Speaking a Foreign Body Language?

man in suit

Can You picture this scenario? You have decided to give a little speech to your team. You are not looking forward to this. Actually, you hate speaking. But, you have decided it’s time to take on your fears. You have rehearsed your words, but not your body. So when you get up to speak, your […]

Authenticity is Easy: The Passion Ploy

Last week at my networking meeting, I asked my fellow team mates if they could make a list of 10 things that they are passionate about. Most of them raised their hands. “Really,” I said, “you are all that in touch with your passions?” “Ok,” I said, “I’m going to give you all a minute […]

Is Your Communication Stuck in a Low Gear?

“Life is like a ten-speed bike; most of us have gears we never use.” ~Charles Schulz I have mentioned before that I am a member of a networking group that meets from 8:00-9:30 every Friday morning. There are more than 30 people in the group, which includes lawyers, financial advisors, insurance specialists, a nutritionist, plumber, […]

How to Claim Speaking Fame

Throughout history, public speaking has been a common cause of anxiety for all ages, across all levels of society. Even with all the rewards of fame, many performers still claim to suffer panic attacks when faced with public speaking. If you’ve ever found yourself suffering the effects of stage fright – or any other form […]

The Number One Thing Public Speakers Should Fear

Public Speakers have fears. Believe it or not, the number one fear cited by most people is ‘speaking in front of a group’. The thing about speaking in public is that it’s risky to put yourself front and center knowing that while you should be exposing who you truly are, you could be judged to […]

How to Communicate Who You Are

I am a member of several business networking groups. During our meetings, everyone gets the chance to introduce him or herself and tell us what they do — a chance to communicate about themselves, their work and the company they work for. At my last meeting I experienced two people, a man and a woman, […]

AUTHENTICITY—IT’S REAL

I recently received an email from a very close friend after sharing dinner together the night before. She said, “Laurie, after seeing you and even through today one word kept popping up whenever I thought of you: AUTHENTIC! Yes, that’s what you are and I wonder if you know how rare that is?” I offer […]

Embrace an Emotional Point of View for Better Public Speaking

“As none can see the wind but in its effects on the trees, neither can we see the emotions but in their effects on the face and body.”~ Nathaniel LeTonnerre. Isn’t this a wonderful thought, put to words so eloquently? The quote speaks to the very heart of our work at Laurie Burton Training. Helping […]

How a Colorful Approach Improves Public Speaking

How many times have you heard someone say, “Oh, I don’t speak in front of people, because it’s too much pressure.” Or how about, “I get sick just thinking about it.” For many, the approach to public speaking is far from positive. But I have found that a colorful approach can be just the ticket […]