Public Speaking
Courses with a real difference
Building Confidence You Can Trust • Public Speaking & Presenting Courses
With John Dawson in Bristol • London • Manchester • Since 2000
Building confidence you can trust…
Would you like to speak in front of an audience with confidence
and ease? And if that was possible, what would you do with your life?
I offer public speaking courses for people who want a different approach
to help you change how you feel about public speaking
“It's like no other presentation course I've ever been on
and it's the only one that's actually helped me.”
Ella Tyler
“The difference that I feel towards presenting is astounding and I’m amazed that this was possible in just two days. I struggle to remember any course that I’ve been on, and there has been many, that I’ve enjoyed more”
Kelvin Jones
“Brilliant - a completely different approach, unlike any other public speaking course I've seen. The content helps to reframe fears around public speaking”
Rachel Turner
This is the best possible course for anyone who is terrified of public speaking. John’s methods are incredibly powerful and have made a dramatic change in my perception of public speaking, the methods he uses are not just effective in public speaking, they are an incredible tool for overall social confidence. I only wish I did this earlier in my life!!
Damian Harte
Public speaking courses with John Dawson
I’m John Dawson and my two day public speaking training courses in Bristol, London and Manchester are for people who want more confidence to present and to speak publicly. Often that’s the bit missed out of other presentation courses — so my work is aimed at people who struggle with public speaking and want to feel far more at ease. My courses are NOT about how to do powerpoint or how to structure a presentation (although these can be a happy by-product of the work we do around confidence!)
The focus of my work is to help anxious people who are scared to be fully seen, they are perhaps ashamed of their fear and definitely nervous about speaking up in public. You need to begin with learning the basic skills of confidence to be in front of people, and then it’s far easier to speak publicly. I teach over 30 two-day courses a year in Bristol, London and Manchester. I’ve been teaching people about authentic confidence and public speaking through this course since 2000. It’s a job that gives me deep satisfaction. You can read more about my background here
It’s not just weddings, formal speeches or presentations…
My definition of public speaking is very, very wide. It’s not just weddings or formal speeches. It includes presenting, speaking up at meetings, and where you feel any pressure about being the centre of attention. So this might include all sorts of situations that don’t fit into a formal definition of public speaking. It’s about when you get flustered, overwhelmed, or want to avoid being seen or speaking up. It might be connected to a feeling that you have to “perform”, somehow you have to be better than you normally are when you are under pressure. It also includes issues around being the centre of attention which is a key part of the discomfort for a great many people who come on the course.
Taking your place in the world course is tried and tested
The two-day public speaking course “Taking your place in the world” has been constantly refined over 24 years. And so far I’ve helped over 8000 anxious presenters and public speakers reframe being the centre of attention, understand audiences better and become authentic, more relaxed, conversational speakers who can connect more easily with audiences.
My courses are small (6-10 people) and full of little steps to help you learn the skills of confidence and being in front of people. You get lots of support, attention and you can ask me any question throughout the course. I make the courses as safe as possible and that comes across strongly in many of my course reviews. All my public speaking training comes with a no quibble money back guarantee.
More information on my background and why I’m so passionate about my work is here.
Talk to me?
To find out more, ask me questions and to get help with your confidence or your presentation problem, there are a number of options
1. I offer a free ten minute chat with me to ask me some questions and check me out. You can book a “Talk to me for free!” 10 minute slot at your convenience. Book here
2. an initial coaching session with me for £45 for the first hour (Save £45 on my normal hourly rate).
3. You can also contact me, John Dawson by e-mail on john@speaking-infront.co.uk or ring or WhatsApp me on 07730 550842 ( I can’t always reply quickly if I’m running courses or coaching etc).
Where the name comes from…
In 2009, Gill, a course participant, wrote this bit of feedback about my course “John offers more than public speaking training. This course is about taking your place in the world and to not apologise for doing so". It seemed to sum up my work.
Too many of us are not taking our space because we are scared to be seen, scared of what others might think. We massively get in our own way. And we are often saying sorry for taking up people’s time but generous to everyone else. On the course we concentrate on public speaking but the confidence and communication skills you will learn are effective not just for presentations but for wider confidence too. So the success stories I get are not just about formal public speaking but also about getting married, getting new jobs, leaving old jobs, speaking up in meetings, the confidence to travel, changing careers etc. So that piece of feedback moved me and I changed the name of the my course. Thank you, Gill.
“It seemed to offer something that other public speaking courses often totally overlook - that is, a focus on addressing and tackling the underlying anxiety linked with public speaking, rather than the usual regimented nuances of how to do it 'properly’.”
Jen Cage
“I think you've absolutely captured the essence of fear of public speaking. You've looked below the surface and pinpointed the wonky thinking behind the fear…”
Laura
“John made me think differently about how I talk to not only a group, but people as a whole. For years I’ve struggled with talking to people and keeping concentration while talking. His workshop massively helped improve my confidence and communication issues. Now I feel much more confident to talk to people one to one but moreover - groups. I fully recommend John and can’t wait to work with him again.”
Robert Hufton
John's course is the most valuable course (including my degree) that I have ever been on, in regard to the positive impact it will continue to have on my well being and ability to progress in my career. Of course it was a big challenge in some ways, yet I've felt so uplifted and free during and after the course. The thought put into its design is considerate to the feelings of the fearful; the order of play makes total sense. I felt safe, supported and could trust the group and John. I actually had great fun both being in the audience and being in front of the audience, and was a little sad when it came to the end of a wonderful, life changing and memorable workshop. The result is that I can now be confidently and visibly me, fully taking my place in the world of family, friends, work, and daily life. I wholeheartedly recommend this course. Thank you John!
Emma Kane
It's not just YOU that is scared of public speaking
People have left jobs, not got married, dropped out of university, got themselves demoted because of public speaking anxiety. One guy I worked with changed countries NINE times so he had the excuse that he couldn't speak the language in order to get out of public speaking.
A participant who was a senior army officer said “I'd rather fight the Taliban than do public speaking”. Those are big stories but sometimes it can just be that you feel really grim when you do a presentation. You are not alone with this fear. Otherwise I would be out of business!
Has the fear of public speaking impacted on your career or personal life?
Does your brain seem to disappear when you present?
Or does it seem to be full of self-criticism and a belief that the audience is judging you and is bored already and you are only five minutes into your speech?
That’s why I run my courses. I want to help you to change your relationship to public speaking so that it becomes easier and, dare I say, it more enjoyable.
“I loved the safe environment that John created on this course, it enables you to gently but quickly build a positive experience around public speaking and see both the practice of speaking and yourself in a new light. I can't recommend this course highly enough.”
Rachel H
Is this you?
Find out what other anxious people are thinking about public speaking and presenting and the way out of it
Simple No Quibble Money-Back Guarantee for every course
Just in case you don’t get what you are looking for, I offer a money-back guarantee.
Change how you feel about public speaking OR get your money back!
It's a simple no quibble guarantee
Out of 8000 people who have come on my course, only six people
have asked for their money back and that was in the early years.
That’s a success rate of over 99%.
I’m not teaching you to be Barack Obama…
Why people come on my course
What do people want from the course, is a question I ask everyone. Here are some answers
I want to be able to stand up and speak in front of a larger audience without completely feeling like it’s the end of the world!
I want to be more confident being me, to not be afraid to speak up and tell people about my business and myself.
I want to be able to speak to a room full of people confidently, without being full of fear and self doubt!
I would like to become more of a natural and confident public speaker as I tend to get very nervous and don't enjoy speaking in front of a room and feel this will hold me back in my career progression
The training did not look like a typical training for corporate (how to transact) run by training companies. I wanted a training that was very different with deeper focus on what it takes to have confidence and handle problematic thoughts and feelings
See how much you share with the people who come on my course and the reasons they come by clicking the link.
“I was struggling to stand up and speak publicly and with confidence in my new role. John doesn't give you 'techniques' but digs deep into the why you lack the confidence to stand up in front of people while others don't. The 'not seeking validation from the audience ' was a big shift for me. John is a caring inclusive facilitator and is hugely supportive. He understands the human psyche. I've ended up realising that I got so much more out of the course than just the ability to be able to stand up and speak publicly at work.”
Nicola Kirby
Do my courses work?
I can't guarantee changes (it depends on you as well) but my aim is to serve you as well as I can. Luckily, the route to confidence is far simpler than the problem.
We massively over-think all the issues and we share a lot in common about our public speaking anxiety. So two days is enough for everyone to re-think public speaking. But don’t just take my word for it. Here are some participants talking about the course…
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that I thought the course was life-changing.
Paul
I feel able to take my place in the world in a way I never thought possible. The possibilities do now feel endless to me, it's an amazing and liberating feeling.
Hamada
The results far exceeded what I had expected ... it was one of the best courses I have ever been on.
Richard
I entered believing public speaking was a pressured, perfectionist, fearful thing and leave realising it’s just a chat and it's ok to be myself in front of others.
Nat Harrison
Pound for pound undoubtably the most effective self awareness and improvement course I have attended.
Will Mangar GP
Talk to me before a course
Quick Chat: Want a 10 minute chat with me to ask some questions? You can book a “Talk to me for free!” 10 minute slot at your convenience. My availability is limited because Im teaching most weeks but slots are offered when I can including up to 19:30. Book here
Longer chat with coaching: My one-to-one coaching hour sessions are via Zoom with an introductory session for £45 for an hour’s session instead of my normal £95. The Zoom sessions are to help you as much I as can to re-frame public speaking and whatever you want to explore. For some people it’s just about checking me out before they sign up!
If you wanted to message me, you can Whatsapp’s me on 07730 550842
Use this link https://wa.me/message/PMWJLAVSAZCWI1
Please note, I can’t always answer quickly as I’m coaching or running a course
As a result of my two day course you’ll be able to:
✔︎ Overcome the fear of presenting and public speaking anxiety
✔︎ Learn to be the centre of attention with ease
✔︎ Feel confident in front of any audience
✔︎ Understand audiences very differently
✔︎ Be yourself and connect authentically
✔︎ Build the confidence to lead the life you want to live (without apologising for doing so)
“ I had a presentation a few weeks after the course and what I learnt and practiced really helped and was the best presentation I had ever done. I would defo recommend.”
Rianna Yafai
Start your journey to confidence today….
Do you want to transform your public speaking, discover your own voice, and feel at ease in any setting, whether in front of an audience, in work meetings, or even in everyday conversations?
My courses will help change how you feel about public speaking and by focusing on the foundations of confidence, you’ll learn to connect authentically and powerfully with any audience, all in a supportive, small-group setting. All courses are backed by the NO QUIBBLE money back guarantee , thousands of testimonials, and my 24 years of experience with working with people who don’t like public speaking .
I know all too well that the fear might be holding you back from promotion, stopping you present at work or speaking up at meetings, keeping you in the same job for years because you don’t want to do a job interview or from asking the one you love to marry you. Sign up for a two-day course now and learn to speak, be yourself in front of others, and authentically connect.
I will do my very best to help you re-think public speaking and build your confidence. I want you to live the life you want to lead.
John Dawson
Start the journey… Click here
I’m John Dawson and I promise that I will do my very best to help you
What happens after….
As well as re-thinking public speaking, one of the fundamental aims of the course is to help people build an everyday confidence practice. Practising trusting yourself more in service of what you want to do in life. It can be a small practice or a big effort. This link will take you to the stories of some of the people who have been on the course
“Just a note, John, to say I did your course in 2015. Your course was a pivotal moment, life changing even. 8 years on I’m a senior leader in a school, speaking to large (bored looking!) audiences all the time. You have given me the confidence to go for promotion and not hide anymore.
Thanks, again, so much.”
Jen
Coaching for public speaking and confidence
When I’m not teaching, I run one-to-one coaching sessions for people around public speaking, presenting, preparation for coming on a course and confidence etc.
I also offer a ten minute chat for free if you want to ask me a question or find out whether my courses are right for you (see column on the right).
Coaching offer
My one-to-one coaching sessions are via Zoom with an introductory session for £45 for an hour’s session instead of my normal £95. Talk to me before you come on a course, see if I’m the right person for you. I don’t hold my expertise back on any coaching session so some people have got enough from one session and didn’t need to come on my course.
If you are anxious about coming, you are NOT the only one. I’ve had one guy who didn’t come for 10 years because he was to worried so that’s one of the reasons why I started offering coaching sessions. It can be very helpful to have a session with me before you come. We can work out some useful confidence building strategies before you come and you will get a lot more out of the course that way.