https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/michelle-bowden-enterprises--7325798enSelf-ImprovementCopyright Michelle Bowdenhttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/d1b382acec4c6fae7eb899e9aba65635.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/michelle-bowden-enterprises--7325798Tue, 08 Sep 2026 07:32:40 +0000Michelle BowdenMichelle Bowdenfeeds@spreaker.com27 years Michelle has worked with hundreds of organisations across countless industries. She has run her Persuasive Presentation Skills Masterclasses 1060 times for more than 13,500 people. Michelle is renowned for achieving results through learning...falsed64cb1e3-c082-52db-a8fb-012c21f715dcepisodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-to-do-with-your-hands-when-speaking-from-a-public-speaking-coach--74994613Option one: talk with your hands naturally. This is called informal gesturing,and it's completely fine, as long as you give your audience a rest every nowand then. Let your hands drop back down by your sides between points, ratherthan gesturing non-stop.
Option two is formal, rehearsed gesturing, built around two simple rules.First, air under your armpits: make sure there's genuine space under your arm,so the gesture sits somewhere your audience can actually see it, not tucked inclose to your body. Second, strong fingers. Weak, floppy fingers make a gesturelook accidental, like you didn't quite mean to do it. Strong fingers make theexact same gesture look deliberate and confident.
That's really it. Talk with your hands, or use formal gestures, just rememberto rest, and keep it visible and intentional.
This is exactly the kind of detail we work on in my corporate presentationskills training.
I'm Michelle Bowden. Corporate Presentation Skills in under 60 seconds.]]>46ca53fd-f48d-4ca9-98f2-ec6ae0cdabdbTue, 08 Sep 2026 07:12:47 +0000Michelle BowdenThis is genuinely the most commonly asked question I get as a public speakingcoach: what am I supposed to do with my hands? Good news: it's not ascomplicated as you think! Option one: talk with your hands naturally. This is called informal...Option one: talk with your hands naturally. This is called informal gesturing,and it's completely fine, as long as you give your audience a rest every nowand then. Let your hands drop back down by your sides between points, ratherthan gesturing non-stop.
Option two is formal, rehearsed gesturing, built around two simple rules.First, air under your armpits: make sure there's genuine space under your arm,so the gesture sits somewhere your audience can actually see it, not tucked inclose to your body. Second, strong fingers. Weak, floppy fingers make a gesturelook accidental, like you didn't quite mean to do it. Strong fingers make theexact same gesture look deliberate and confident.
That's really it. Talk with your hands, or use formal gestures, just rememberto rest, and keep it visible and intentional.
This is exactly the kind of detail we work on in my corporate presentationskills training.
I'm Michelle Bowden. Corporate Presentation Skills in under 60 seconds.]]>76falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-to-choose-the-best-public-speaking-course-or-coach--749946151. How much practice will you actually get? A great course lets you workon your own real, relevant content, not a generic exercise that has nothing todo with what you'll actually present next week.
2. What's the group size, and how much personal attention will you get fromthe coach? A room of 40 people means you're lucky to get five minutes ofindividual feedback. Small groups mean real, specific coaching, not just theorydelivered at you.
3. What happens after the course ends? Does the trainer just say"see you later," or do they actually stay in touch? This is the onemost people forget to ask, and it's often the difference between skills thatfade and skills that stick.
When I run my corporate presentation skills training, I stay in touchwith every single participant, at no extra cost, forever. That follow-up iswhat actually creates lasting change, not just a good day in the room.
I'm Michelle Bowden. Corporate Presentation Skills in under 60 seconds.]]>9d7921d4-9380-4e63-ae8a-fdcccb6994b7Tue, 08 Sep 2026 07:11:36 +0000Michelle BowdenAs a public speaking coach, I get asked all the time: How do you actuallychoose the right course? Here are the three things worth checking before youbook anything. 1. How much practice will you actually get? A great course lets you workon your own...1. How much practice will you actually get? A great course lets you workon your own real, relevant content, not a generic exercise that has nothing todo with what you'll actually present next week.
2. What's the group size, and how much personal attention will you get fromthe coach? A room of 40 people means you're lucky to get five minutes ofindividual feedback. Small groups mean real, specific coaching, not just theorydelivered at you.
3. What happens after the course ends? Does the trainer just say"see you later," or do they actually stay in touch? This is the onemost people forget to ask, and it's often the difference between skills thatfade and skills that stick.
When I run my corporate presentation skills training, I stay in touchwith every single participant, at no extra cost, forever. That follow-up iswhat actually creates lasting change, not just a good day in the room.
I'm Michelle Bowden. Corporate Presentation Skills in under 60 seconds.]]>107falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-to-stand-when-public-speaking-from-a-public-speaking-coach--74994616If you want to come across as relaxed and approachable, try an asymmetricalposture, leaning your weight into one hip. It softens your presence and feelsmore conversational, great for informal talks, team briefings, or when you wantthe room to feel at ease with you.
If you want to be seen as solid, credible and impressive, use what I call thenatural stand. This is a symmetrical stance: feet under your hips, core braced,hands either resting by your sides or moving up to support your point as youspeak. This is the stance I teach most often in corporate presentationskills training, because it signals authority without ever tipping intostiffness.
Neither stance is "correct" on its own, the right one dependsentirely on what you want your audience to think and feel about you beforeyou've said a word.
Try both in the mirror this week and notice the difference for yourself.
I'm Michelle Bowden. Corporate Presentation Skills in under 60 seconds.]]>29de886a-f8c0-4dc2-a9c0-9d452e61b910Tue, 08 Sep 2026 07:09:35 +0000Michelle BowdenAs a public speaking coach, one question I get asked constantly is: howshould I actually stand when I'm presenting? The answer depends on theimpression you want to create. If you want to come across as relaxed and approachable, try an...If you want to come across as relaxed and approachable, try an asymmetricalposture, leaning your weight into one hip. It softens your presence and feelsmore conversational, great for informal talks, team briefings, or when you wantthe room to feel at ease with you.
If you want to be seen as solid, credible and impressive, use what I call thenatural stand. This is a symmetrical stance: feet under your hips, core braced,hands either resting by your sides or moving up to support your point as youspeak. This is the stance I teach most often in corporate presentationskills training, because it signals authority without ever tipping intostiffness.
Neither stance is "correct" on its own, the right one dependsentirely on what you want your audience to think and feel about you beforeyou've said a word.
Try both in the mirror this week and notice the difference for yourself.
I'm Michelle Bowden. Corporate Presentation Skills in under 60 seconds.]]>59falsefull