...Now Let's Go Round The Room!
2nd May 2025
Led by John Joseph Bradley, The Oratory Studio is a new public speaking club, based in the heart of Sheffield, and focused on helping you introduce yourself - without running for the hills!
Here we go. An activity guaranteed to induce a rising panic in some, as the dark shadow of introduction seeps through the room, inching its way towards you. Christ Debbie’s up next, then Carlos, then me.
F***ing hell I better not balls this up.
Now all jokes aside, for many people, myself included, this slow creep of death was ALWAYS a factor, and felt EXACTLY like that.
Why?
Because you know it’s not difficult to say your name and what you do. You are an adult, a skilled professional, you have every right to be there.
Yet this fear happens. A seemingly trivial moment gets acutely magnified. It is a symptom of an underlying issue. Anxiety around public speaking. and it leads to a dark secret harboured by many.
It results in an avoidance of the activity.
And this avoidance absolutely holds people back:
You don’t speak up in meetings. You don’t go for job promotions. You lose out of closing deals. You don’t develop as a leader. You get overlooked. You get typecast. You get stuck.
Or when called upon to speak, you take it on and try to practice in your own time:
Using the mirror, the dog, the cat, your partner, extortionate online courses, one-off workshops…but always as a reactive measure, inconsistent, with very limited feedback. (Woof?)
And even with the second example, you may tell everyone you are well up for leading the pitch, managing the team, or delivering the speech, but internally it’s a totally different story. Feels like yet another mountain to overcome, another obstacle. The last thing you need, with everything else going on. The anxiety steadily builds. As the big day approaches, it looms. LOOMS!
Does this sound familiar?
If so, the answer, for most, is thankfully simple.
You just need a space to practice, have fun with it, with productive practical help shared between peers, to raise your communication game.
This is The Oratory Studio. And it is for people just like you. And me.
Basically, everyone then. Unless you’re a psychopath.
Regular twice-monthly workshops, impromptu and prepared speaking practice, structured feedback, with one-to-one goal setting and follow ups. Simple, enjoyable, and devastatingly effective.
And, by getting that practice in, working on different aspects of the craft, you will cultivate a powerfully unique voice. Life gets better. You overcome those nerves, you win the new business, you nail that speech. You conceptualise, organise and express your thoughts clearly and with gravitas. You become that authority in your chosen field, the go-to person to lead the team or the business forward.
Sounds great doesn't it?
Well then, let's get this sorted. No more running to the hills! I look forward to seeing you soon - at The OS.
JJB.
John is running an introductory in-person session, The Presentation Power UP, with Sheffield Chamber of Commerce on 10th June. Its £25 for members, and includes a 30 min one-to-one coaching session follow-up for every attendee, for tailored goal setting and actionable next steps.
Link here:
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