Public Speaking Courses for Directors built on a unique mix of experience. I am a successful Director and a national award-winning Public Speaker and Storyteller.
With 41 years’ experience in industry – 34 years in senior management, and 24 years as a Company Director – and 27 years as a Public Speaker and Storyteller, I can help you become a powerful and effective speaker. I know what it is to be a Director and to lead people, and I know what it is to be a Public Speaker and have to speak in public.
The Speaking Director
My industry experience, which includes many years in Senior Management, as a Commercial Director and Manager Director, means that I know what it takes to be a leader. I understand the challenges you face as a Director, aspiring Director or Senior Manager.
Public Speaking is a must-do for business leaders. Whether you are addressing a boardroom, talking to staff or giving a presentation to potential clients, it’s crucial that you get your message across. Many people have a fear of speaking in public or wish they were better at it. The great news is that it’s a skill that can be learned.
Do you want more confidence when speaking in public? The best way to learn is by doing. On my Public Speaking Courses you will get tips and techniques to help you become a proficient and confident Public Speaker. You will learn in a supportive environment over 4, 8 or 12 weeks. There are no shortcuts to being good at public speaking. As The Speaking Director, I will help you develop over time and achieve your goal.
Public Speaking Courses“Andrew is one of the best speakers I’ve ever seen. What makes him amazing is that he is also an exceptional teacher. Having been on a number of public speaking courses in the past, I’ve never been taught by someone who has achieved so much, and has the skills to help me do so as well.”
Marcus Hemsley, Founder, Fountain Partnership
Public Speaker
The route to becoming a Public Speaking Trainer and Coach is different for each person. My journey is deeply rooted in my experience as a Director in business. I believe this gives me a great insight into what you need as a Director when it comes to learning public speaking.
In my role as a Director, I’ve been called upon hundreds of times to talk and present. This is when I honed my public speaking skills in business environments. Over the years I’ve delivered speeches, presentations and seminars, and led numerous meetings when gaining and holding the attention of the room was essential. Outside work and as a formally trained Public Speaker, as well as having delivered hundreds of speeches and presentations, I also hold training sessions, workshops and masterclasses. I bring the adaptability to speak in any situation and to all sorts of audiences. Members of the audience I have spoken in front of have included senior business leaders, MPs and TV personalities, as well as people from literally all walks of life, and I have spoken and presented to a huge and diverse range of audiences.
My public speaking experience as a Director includes full workforce addresses, major customer presentations, presentations at business and trade events, crisis presentations, change announcements, team briefings, awards receiving and giving, small group meetings, Q&A sessions, board meetings, management meetings, employee training sessions, pitching to investors, radio interviews, press statements, retirement presentations, special events and more.
As well as actually speaking, the key to being a great Public Speaker is also to listen. I have listened to and been in the audience for well over 3,000 live speeches and presentations. These include some World Champions of Public Speaking and world class leaders and speakers. Over many years, I have trained, coached and helped many people from all backgrounds in the art of public speaking and delivering presentations – I can help you too.
Public Speaking CoursesPublic Speaking Awards
I have had to talk and present as a Company Director hundreds of times, delivering speeches and presentations to a wide range of audiences from internal teams to industry conferences.
For 18 years, I was a member of Toastmasters International, the world’s largest organisation dedicated to teaching people speaking, communication and leadership skills (not to be confused with the red-coated toastmasters!), where I honed my public speaking craft. I hold the highest Toastmasters International qualification of Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM), which I attained in 2003. Of the hundreds of thousands of worldwide members who have belonged to Toastmasters International, less than 1% achieve DTM.
In 2000 I won the UK and Ireland Humorous Speech Championship, and in 2004 again reached the UK and Ireland final for Humorous Speech, finishing third. In both 2005 and 2007 I reached the final for International Speech. I am an undefeated nine times East Anglian public speaking champion, four times for Humorous Speech and five times for International Speech.
I’m a former president of Norwich Speakers Club and North Norfolk Speakers Club (which I co-founded). In 2003 I was UK and Ireland Area Governor of the Year for Toastmasters International when I oversaw all the public speaking clubs in East Anglia. I have been Contest Chair at national, regional and area public speaking contests, as well as judging at the same levels. I have also delivered four major educational workshops at Toastmasters International UK and Ireland Conferences.
I have been a contest chair and a judge at regional public speaking contests for the English Speaking Union,
As The Speaking Director, I use my experience to help Directors and leaders become skilled in public speaking. Book a 15-minute Discovery Call to find out how my Public Speaking Courses can work for you.
Book Discovery CallStoryteller
Some public speaking coaches have an acting background. I can also bring a performance dimension to my Public Speaking Training and Coaching. I give storytelling performances to a huge variety of audiences, and often to very large ones. The ability to tell your business story with confidence is crucial today and will help you to engage your audience.
As a humorous storyteller, I write and tell my own stories about growing up in the 1970s. Between 2009 and 2014 I performed these around the UK and Ireland, including in a highly successful series of one-man storytelling shows, selling out many venues and theatres. Delivering my stories again at live events in 2021 and 2022, I then returned to the stage for performances of brand new storytelling shows in 2023. I am also a performing singer / songwriter.
In 2021 and 2022 I brought my humorous storytelling about growing up in the 1970s out in the form of podcasts, releasing 22 episodes of Stumpy Sanderson’s 1970s Stories, as well as recording 44 accompanying humorous songs. Although very much a niche and cult subject, the podcasts reached Number 30 in the Apple Great Britain Comedy Fiction chart and Number 22 in the Apple Australian Comedy Fiction Chart.
This 70s influence is also felt in my adoption of a punk rock DIY philosophy. When I did the podcasts I learned how to do them myself and release them into the world. Many punk rock bands formed their own record labels and put their music out there. With a similar mindset I encourage participants on my Public Speaking Courses to just go for it and start speaking in public. With my support, perfection can come later. The key to becoming good at public speaking is to learn by doing.
I have featured on many occasions on BBC Radio, talking about public speaking and presentation skills, and performing my stories live. I also have my own Stumpy Sanderson’s ‘70s Stories weekly radio show on Poppyland Radio, a national award shortlisted community radio station. I have written many business articles on presentation skills and storytelling for business, and I released four educational public speaking and storytelling CDs, as well having three books published on public speaking and storytelling. My book Talking the Talk (2013) is available in my Resources and Events page.
Public Speaking CoursesBut I haven’t always been this confident and comfortable when Public Speaking…
Public speaking though didn’t always come easily to me. There was a time when I dreaded being asked to speak in public, particularly in a business setting. I can’t emphasise enough that you learn by doing. On my Public Speaking Courses you will learn tried and tested techniques that I have developed and that have made me a proficient Public Speaker.
If you want to be a more powerful Public Speaker, sound and appear more credible and authoritative, or overcome a lack of confidence, I can help.
I provide Public Speaking Coaching and Training for companies in-house and individual Directors in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and beyond. Arrange a 15-minute Discovery Call with me to find out more.
