One of the nicknames I’ve acquired at work over the years is Chatty Cathy, which is hard to argue with when I frequently run late for meetings because I get distracted catching up with a colleague while making a coffee. My desire to connect via conversation has been with me since school, when ‘needs to talk less and concentrate more’ became a regular on my report.

But what was once seen as detrimental has been a real benefit to my career. Being able to explain myself clearly, make small talk with strangers, manage up or down, or bond with colleagues comes down to being able to talk well. Perhaps the most extreme version of this comes when you need to converse with a bigger group; whether that’s at a pitch or even in an auditorium while giving a speech. Thinking about public speaking as having a really interesting chat has really helped build my confidence when I have to give a speech. I’ve turned those learnings into my PRAISE guide to help you become a truly memorable and engaging conversationalist when you next have to speak in public.

“The PRAISE guide helps me feel confident speaking in public – here’s how to use it”