Public Speaking Courses
with a real difference
Build confidence you can trust
Public Speaking & Presenting Courses in three UK cities
With John Dawson in Bristol • London • Manchester • Since 2000
"Anxious Me", a self-portrait of how she felt before the course, by a BAFTA award-winning artist.
Building confidence from the inside out
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
“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
“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
“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
“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
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. It begins with learning the fundamentals of being you in front of other people. I call that public being, my own phrase for the stage that usually gets skipped. After that, speaking publicly is far easier. So it's a good course for beginners, and for people who have been scared of this for years. I've been teaching people about public speaking through this course since 2000. Authentic confidence turns out to be a handy offshoot. Twenty-six years on, it's still a job that gives me deep satisfaction
You can talk to me for ten minutes, for free.
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 all eyes being on you, 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
In some ways I run a course nobody really wants to come on! A course going towards public speaking anxiety. As a business idea it wouldn't work on Dragons' Den, but over 8,500 people have come on the course.
The two-day public speaking course "Taking your place in the world" has been constantly refined over 26 years. Anxious presenters and public speakers reframe being the centre of attention, and become authentic, more relaxed, and conversational. Speakers who as a result connect more easily with audiences..
My classes 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.
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 being and public speaking, and the confidence you learn is effective beyond presentations and into normal life. 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 my course. Thank you, Gill.
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 £50 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).
“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
Since 2000
26 years
Over 8500
people helped
6-10 people
small group size
No quibble
guarantee
Just one
trainer
Two-day course. Day one 9am to 5pm, day two 9am to 4pm. In Bristol, London and Manchester. From £475 in Bristol and Manchester, £525 in London. See ALL course dates
Supportive ground rules developed over the years, such as every exercise is optional. Questions? Here are my FAQs.
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. Some have not gone for better jobs because the interview has a presentation component. 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! But also touches on taking part in social life and competitions. Several golfers have dropped shots on the 18th so they didn’t win the tournament and have to make a speech. One woman didn’t enter a church cake competition because what happens if she won!
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 and public being 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?
If you are anxious about public speaking, you might be surprised how much you share with other people. Take a look here. I promise it's not just you.
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 over 8500 people who have come on my course, only eleven people
have asked for their money back.
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
If public speaking makes you anxious, see how much you share with the people who come, and why they come. And why some of them nearly didn't come at all...
“ 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
"I booked onto John's course in a last minute panic a couple of weeks before my wedding. The thought of doing the wedding speech had been giving me sleepless nights and a tonne of anxiety for months before. Taking John's course was one of the best decisions I made and the wedding speech was a breeze."
Oliver Smith, Manchester:
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. I believe everyone can learn the skills of confidence, and the way to do that is to break them down into tiny stages.
Because we massively over-think all the issues, and we share a lot in common about our public speaking anxiety. You may find it hard to believe, but two days is enough for anyone to re-think public speaking, even if you have been anxious about being the centre of attention for many years.
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
What the two days work on
✔︎ Understanding audiences, being the centre of attention, and anxiety in a very different way
✔︎ Learning public being, the fundamentals of being you in front of other people
✔︎ Putting all that learning into practice so you learn to handle problematic feelings and thoughts
✔︎ Learning to speak publicly more like a conversation than a performance
✔︎ Being more comfortable about taking your space and connecting authentically
✔︎ Start building the practice of inner and outer confidence for speaking and beyond
“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
"After struggling for years with my public speaking fear I had no faith that in 2 days I could change my point of view about public speaking. It has been a really useful experience, John did a great job from the most human side you can imagine. I strongly recommend people this course."
Sylvi R.M.
"This is much more than a public speaking course, John brings a whole new perspective to life and our thoughts, whilst also giving us tools/processes to navigate and manage them. Two key takeaways for me was understanding how to 'unhook' from my thoughts, and also practising to be comfortable talking to blank faces. Martin, Manchester
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 so 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.
“I have found the coaching sessions with John very supportive and understanding so far. He takes a compassionate approach and stimulates me to think about the core issues and active ways to accept and move forward towards the person i want to be”
Mike
Thank you for reading all the way down here. Just one more thing.
It’s personal…
I've been working in this field for a long time and I've seen too many people's lives affected by the fear of public speaking. I want to help people change how they feel about public speaking, so they can live their lives to the full. Not quiet lives. A vital life. Or just do the presentation you have been dreading. Both are reasons to come.
The deeper reason I do this work is that I don't want anyone to do what my mum did. To live an unconfident life.
So I trained in groupwork, relational presence and ACT, and I'm still learning. (There's more on the about page.)
I've had the privilege of seeing people change. I couldn't imagine a better job (admin aside). I started off trying to change the world. Changing ten people at a time turns out to be my work. No career counsellor would have got that!
You may have noticed that I don't do in-house courses. That's personal too. On my courses we talk about anxiety, fear and problematic thoughts. Would you like to do that in front of your work colleagues? So I gave that up, because in-house courses can't go to the depth that's needed to change people in a safe way. It comes up on courses, and people agree. What I encourage instead is organisations sending one or two people at a time onto my open courses, and plenty do.
I will do my very best to help you re-think public speaking and build your confidence. I really hope to see you on a course. If you'd like to talk to me first, you can book ten free minutes with me.
John Dawson
ps Here are my course dates.
I'm John Dawson, the hairy one in the room