• Facilitation Skills for Leaders: Transform Your Meetings and Presentations
    May 28 2025

    Mastering the Art of Facilitation with Therese Miclot

    Summary

    In this episode of Present Influence, host John Ball welcomes expert facilitator and author Therese Miclot to discuss the crucial role of facilitation in meetings and presentations. Therese compares facilitation to the leavening agent in baking, emphasising its often overlooked but essential impact. They explore key elements such as mindset, content, and process, as well as practical skills like active listening and storytelling. Therese shares insights on managing disruptive participants, creating psychological safety, and crafting effective group agreements, offering valuable tips for anyone looking to enhance their facilitation skills.

    Check out Therese's website for more information about leadership facilitation: https://www.thefacilitationadvantage.com/

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Effective Facilitation

    01:18 Welcoming Therese Miclot

    01:49 Defining Facilitation

    04:14 Common Facilitation Challenges

    06:43 The Importance of Mindset

    11:28 Creating Psychological Safety

    18:15 The Power of Storytelling

    23:00 Adding Color to Your Stories

    24:27 The Importance of Preparation in Storytelling

    26:19 Handling Disruptors in Facilitation

    31:38 Creating Effective Group Agreements

    34:02 Dealing with Resistant Participants

    36:19 The Power of Restating and Peer Feedback

    39:30 Memorable Facilitation Experiences

    41:06 The Facilitation Advantage Book

    43:48 Upcoming Episodes and Series

    Go to presentinfluence.com to take the Speaker StrengthsFinder Quiz and discover your greatest strengths as a speaker as well as where to focus for growth. For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedIn

    You can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluence

    Thanks for listening, and please give the show a 5* review if you enjoyed it.

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    46 mins
  • Scarcity: The Speaker’s Secret to Urgency & Bookings
    May 26 2025

    Mastering Scarcity: Unlocking Cialdini's Principles for Speakers

    This episode dives into the psychology behind the principle of scarcity from Cialdini's persuasion techniques and its impact on audience behavior. The speaker highlights how scarcity can create urgency and increase value perception, sharing personal anecdotes and practical tips for speakers, coaches, and consultants to use this principle ethically. Emphasizing integrity, the episode provides strategies to encourage audience action without compromising trust. Subscribe to follow the series and learn about the next principle, authority.

    00:00 Introduction to Persuasion for Speakers

    00:11 Overview of Cialdini's Principles

    00:45 Deep Dive into Scarcity

    04:01 Applying Scarcity Ethically

    05:39 Conclusion and Next Steps

    Go to presentinfluence.com to take the Speaker StrengthsFinder Quiz and discover your greatest strengths as a speaker as well as where to focus for growth. For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedIn

    Thanks for listening, and please give the show a 5* review if you enjoyed it.

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    6 mins
  • How To Unlock Confidence Through Your Voice with Jimmy Cannon
    May 21 2025

    Unlocking Confidence Through Vocal Power with Voice Coach Jimmy Cannon

    Summary

    In this insightful episode of the Present Influence Podcast, John Ball interviews speaking coach and voice expert Jimmy Cannon. The discussion centres around how improving your voice and vocal style can significantly boost your confidence, enhancing your effectiveness as a professional communicator. Jimmy shares his journey from being a jazz singer to becoming a vocal coach specialising in helping people overcome anxiety and vocal blocks. The conversation delves into the importance of breath control, the physiological and psychological aspects of vocal performance, and practical tips for achieving vocal variety and presence. In addition, the episode touches on techniques to project confidence and authenticity through voice, making it an essential listen for anyone looking to improve their public speaking and presentation skills.

    Find out more about Jimmy at https://www.jimmycannon.com/ and take his Voice Mastery Quiz

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Voice Confidence

    00:31 Meet Voice Coach Jimmy Cannon

    02:10 The Importance of Voice in Professional Settings

    02:54 Understanding Vocal Challenges

    09:27 The Role of Values in Building Confidence

    20:25 Breathing Techniques for Better Voice Control

    29:38 Mastering Patrick Stewart's Voice

    30:14 Voice Resonance and Placement

    31:19 Old School Voice Training

    33:24 Understanding Vocal Presence

    34:02 Exploring Vocal Circles

    36:32 Voice and Social Perception

    40:41 Voice Exercises for Range and Volume

    44:23 The Importance of Vocal Variety

    47:38 Jimmy Cannon's Singing Journey

    50:05 Conclusion and Future Episodes

    Go to presentinfluence.com to take the Speaker StrengthsFinder Quiz and discover your greatest strengths as a speaker as well as where to focus for growth. For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedIn

    Thanks for listening, and please give the show a 5* review if you enjoyed it.

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    55 mins
  • What Happens When Professionalism Holds You Back? Explained inside and how to fix it.
    May 16 2025

    The Hidden Cost of Professionalism: Embracing Authenticity as a Professional Speaker

    Summary

    In this episode of Present Influence, John Ball explores how some concepts of professionalism can hinder the effectiveness of professional speakers. He delves into the importance of authenticity and individuality, explaining how holding back personal stories and characteristics can limit one's impact. Drawing on recent experiences, including a storytelling event and interviews with guests like Judy Carter and Danny Brassell, John shares a personal revelation about embracing his identity and the importance of being unapologetic for who you are. He encourages listeners to step away from commonly accepted professional archetypes and engage more deeply and authentically with their audiences.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction: The Hidden Pitfalls of Professionalism

    00:56 Breaking the Mould: Embracing Individuality in Corporate Settings

    02:48 Personal Revelations: The Power of Vulnerability

    08:07 Owning Your Story: The Importance of Authenticity

    18:17 Conclusion: Embrace Your Full Self

    Go to presentinfluence.com to take the Speaker Strengths Finder and discover your greatest strengths as a speaker, plus where to focus for growth. For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedIn

    Thanks for listening, and please give the show a 5* review if you enjoyed it.

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    23 mins
  • How To Tell Stories That Connect With Audiences | with guest Danny Brassell
    May 14 2025

    Unlock the Power of Storytelling with Danny Brassell

    Summary

    In this episode of Present Influence, host John Ball welcomes storytelling expert and professional speaker Danny Brassell. Danny shares insights into the significance of storytelling as a tool for connecting with audiences and increasing sales. He discusses his journey from journalism to teaching and eventually becoming a highly successful speaker and coach. The episode explores how to craft compelling stories, integrating personal failures for deeper audience connection, and the importance of persistence and motivation. Danny also offers practical advice on developing engaging presentations, crafting a powerful call to action, and building strong rapport with diverse audiences. Tune in to learn actionable strategies to enhance your storytelling and communication skills.

    Get Danny's free storytelling guide here: http://freeSTORYguide.com

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to the Episode

    01:23 Meet Danny Brassell: A Journey of Pivots

    02:04 Building a Speaking Career

    03:33 Coaching and Measuring Success

    04:43 The Power of Storytelling

    09:57 Motivation and Persistence

    18:09 Crafting Effective Presentations

    20:12 Using Reminders for Personal Growth

    21:13 The Importance of Clarity in Presentations

    21:58 Connecting with Your Audience

    22:17 The RAP Framework: Relatability, Authority, Purpose

    23:33 Crafting a Memorable Presentation

    26:38 The Power of Positive Storytelling

    28:49 The Art of Storytelling

    29:05 Practical Tips for Storytelling

    34:19 Avoiding Overused Stories

    35:22 Creating Relatable Stories

    37:48 Free Storytelling Blueprint

    38:39 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    Go to presentinfluence.com to take the Speaker Strengths Finder and discover your greatest strengths as a speaker as well as where to focus for growth. For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedIn

    Thanks for listening, and please give the show a 5* review if you enjoyed it.

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    40 mins
  • En Route Storytelling Event - John's Story & a breakdown of how it was created
    May 9 2025

    John's storytelling contest entry: "No happy endings"

    Summary

    This episode offers a unique twist as host John Ball shares a personal and vulnerable story he delivered in a storytelling competition.

    John discusses the challenges of storytelling, including balancing humour with emotion and ensuring the story's core message shines through.

    The episode concludes with John's triumph in the storytelling competition and an invitation for listeners to engage with future episodes and offer feedback.

    You can watch all the stories from that evening here: https://youtu.be/LXVlgEbR0B0?si=CNY8bmxUEa6jCtB9 and please Subscribe to the En Route Storytelling channel whilst you're there

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Upcoming Content

    00:30 Storytelling Competition Announcement

    02:05 Personal Story: Coming Out Journey

    11:50 Reflecting on Storytelling Techniques

    17:30 The Story Behind the Story

    21:15 Feeling Rejected and Scared

    22:02 Deciding the Story's Purpose

    23:36 Journey to Acceptance and Happiness

    25:52 Coming Out to My Parents

    27:16 Facing Homophobia and Family Support

    29:02 Meeting Someone Special

    33:48 Confronting the Villain

    37:34 Reflecting on the Storytelling Process

    39:46 Conclusion and Future Plans

    Go to presentinfluence.com to take the Speaker Strengths Finder and discover your greatest strengths as a speaker as well as where to focus for growth. For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedIn

    Thanks for listening, and please give the show a 5* review if you enjoyed it.

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    43 mins
  • Mind Magic: Mentalism Secrets For Influence & Engagement with Keith Kong
    May 7 2025

    Mastering Influence From The Stage: Insights from Professional Mentalist Keith Kong

    Summary

    In this episode of Present Influence, host John Ball interviews professional mentalist Keith Kong about the psychology of influence and mentalism. Keith shares insights on how to engage audiences, the planning process for his shows, and the subtle techniques he uses to gauge and influence his audience. He also discusses the similarities between mentalism and speaking, emphasises the importance of preparation, and explores the role of hypnosis and NLP in his work. Listeners are treated to practical tips on tonality, body language, and audience interaction to elevate their communication and presentation skills.

    Visit https://www.kongmentalist.com/ to learn more about Keith and his shows.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Influence and Hypnosis

    00:24 Meet Keith Kong: The Professional Mentalist

    01:46 The Art of Mentalism and Performance

    03:27 Planning and Structuring a Show

    08:34 Engaging the Audience

    15:45 Psychology and Mentalism Insights

    25:49 Understanding Everyday Hypnosis

    26:25 The Reality of Hypnotherapy

    27:04 Negative Responses to Hypnosis

    29:53 Techniques and Applications of Hypnosis

    32:19 The Importance of Tonality in Communication

    34:24 Body Language and Stage Presence

    38:59 Upcoming Projects and Events

    41:44 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

    Go to presentinfluence.com to take the Speaker Strengths Quiz and discover your greatest strengths as a speaker as well as where to focus for growth. For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedIn

    Thanks for listening, and please give the show a 5* review if you enjoyed it.

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    50 mins