Have you ever wondered how you can improve your speaking skills and truly connect with your audience?

I’m joined by Wendy McManus and Tara Lassiter, who recently attended our 1-day in-person speaking workshop in Orlando, Florida.

They share their stories, lessons learned, and the transformations they experienced, all within a single day.

We talk about:

• Why in-person workshops provide a unique opportunity to grow as a speaker.

• The power of immediate feedback and how it helps you identify habits you didn’t realize you had.

• How improv exercises can help you loosen up, step out of your comfort zone, and have fun while learning.

• Why storytelling is the heart of impactful presentations—and how to use “active storytelling” with your voice and body.

• The surprising stories we’re most reluctant to share—and why they often resonate the most with audiences.

• Personal anecdotes from Wendy and Tara about the challenges and breakthroughs they had during the workshop.

 

Key Takeaways:

1. Practice Makes Progress: Speaking more frequently and getting feedback in the moment accelerates your growth.

2. Own Your Story: The stories you might hesitate to share can create the deepest connections.

3. Be Intentional: From movement on stage to vocal variety, deliberate choices make your delivery more impactful.

4. Play and Learn: Don’t underestimate the value of play, from improv to dancing—because growth can be fun too!

 

About My Guests:

• Wendy McManus is a leadership coach specializing in helping newer people managers build their confidence and skills as leaders. She’s passionate about storytelling as a tool for connection and growth.

• Tara Lassiter is a brand strategist and ghostwriter with a background in on-air modeling at QVC. Her mission is to help others break through barriers and create representation in the business world.

Our next 1-day Speaking Workshop is on February 27, 2025, in Downtown Orlando, Florida! If you’re ready to accelerate your growth as a speaker, gain hands-on feedback, and have a lot of fun, this is your chance. Learn more and grab your spot at https://www.SpeakingYourBrand.com/workshop. 

 

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/421/ 

Video from the live show: https://youtube.com/live/HMhIr041IOg

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Attend our 1-day speaking workshop in Orlando: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/workshop/ 

Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/ 

Join us in London for our B.O.L.D. Brand Intensive Retreat in Summer 2025: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/london/ 

 

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox

• Tara Lassiter (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/taralassiter/ 

• Wendy McManus (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-mcmanus/