John Dawson, public speaking coach & trainer
I’ve been helping people develop public speaking confidence since 2000, nearly 25 years! I’ve worked with over 8000 people who had public speaking anxiety and worried about being the centre of attention. I work through leading public speaking courses in Bristol, London and Manchester running three courses a month, and as a one to one coach over zoom. It’s a wonderful job that I have and it’s deeply satisfying.
30 years ago, I struggled as a speaker so when I first came across this approach I loved the freedom it gave me personally as a public speaker and how the work helped build my confidence.
I trained in relational presence work in 2000 and I have co-lead the European Facilitators Group for over ten years.
I’ve been adding to my training by studying Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help with my coaching and my course training. It’s given me a clarity and framework to help me and others to become more psychologically flexible and to build a public speaking confidence practice.
If public speaking becomes more possible and natural - what would you do with your life? That might seem a strange question but building public speaking confidence also builds confidence for life. Of course the main focus of all the courses is to help you with public speaking/presenting/speaking up in meetings.
Why I do what I do
My life was changed when my mother took her own life four days after my 21st birthday. She never really found her mission or her place in life. And it made me see how fundamental self confidence is in leading a fulfilled life.
My previous work as the founding editor and publisher of The Spark Magazine in Bristol for 15 years and now in public speaking both have their foundation in helping people find ways to change their lives. So my mother's death, although incredibly painful for me at the time, has brought forth a huge positive transformative energy through my work. It's now over 40 years since she died.
So my work isn’t about death or bereavement, it’s not about sadness at all, it's about the incredible gift of life and what we can do with it.
For these reasons, helping people become confident as public speakers and take their place in the world is at the very heart of my work. It’s immensely rewarding to hear about what happens to people after they come on my course
Personal
I am married to Clare who is wonderful and has supported me like no other person. We were both born in the same hospital in Huddersfield but only met in Bristol many years later!
I've been a photographer since I was 12. In July 2018 I put my first photography website together and it's had some lovely reviews. My photography is all about trying to see the beauty in the everyday and sometimes a cheeky way of looking at things!
I’m also interested in design and illustration from my 15 years as a magazine publisher. On this website, I’ve tried to stay away from the standard stockshots of business people presenting. So I hope you like the illustrations and images.
Training and background
Attended DNA- V course in Bath 2023, studying Values in ACT online and social anxiety.
Studying Attention and Mindfulness as it relates to Anxiety and confidence
Speaking coach for Bath TedX 2021
Studying ACC = Acceptance and Commitment Coaching during the 2020 lockdown to deepen my work. 6 ACT courses online over lockdown
ACT two day training 2019
Leadership of annual European Speaking Circle conferences 2011- present
Warriors for the Human Spirit Training with Meg Wheatley 2015
Appreciative Inquiry Coaching Course in Lincoln 2011
The Fundamentals of Appreciative Inquiry Course in Lincoln 2010
Spirituality and Leadership course at Woodbrooke Quaker College 2010
Leadership in times of Chaos with Margaret Wheatley at Schumacher college, 2010Transformational Learning Workshop with Michael Carroll 2010
Common Purpose Leadership Course 2008-9
The founding editor/publisher of The Spark Magazine from 1993 to August 2008. One of the most important jobs of my life.
Two year Diploma in Group Facilitation IDHP, learning how to run powerful groups safely
Diploma in Health Education from Bristol Polytechnic and devised training for HEA drugs course
Trained as a counsellor at BADAS
Honours Degree from Keele University, a long time ago!
A proud holder of a Bus Conductors Certificate, my first job in Bristol and I didn't have a clue where I was going on those buses!
