Mobeen Tahir

What a Zombie Apocalypse Taught Me About Public Speaking

Public Speaking / /

How many presentations have you received in your life? How many do you actually remember? Something happened to me more than fifteen years ago. And I still remember every single detail. I’m on my way home from work, stepping out of the station, lost in thought. Just another ordinary day. As I turn onto the quiet street where I live, I notice flashing blue lights. Police cars. Lots of them. Right in front of my house. An officer stops me at a distance. It looks like a crime scene. But on this street? I scan for clues. There’s a library nearby — has someone stolen a book? Surely not enough to warrant a full police blockade. Then I spot an overturned car.Blood on the pavement.Bodies. This is bigger than I thought. And then… zombies.A swarm of them stumbling across the road, groaning like they do. Police trying to contain them. Shots are fired. Screams. I stand frozen, watching in horror as a zombie apocalypse unfolds right outside my house. And then I hear it:“Cut!” In an instant, the undead snap out of character. Nobody is dying. Nobody is dead. And thankfully, nobody has risen from the dead. I ask what film it is. Cockneys vs Zombies, they tell me, before letting me pass through during a break. I go inside, peer out from behind the blinds, and watch the next take — part horrified, part thrilled, hoping not to end up on camera. I lived in that house for thirteen months while doing an internship in London. I walked that route home hundreds of times. But the only walk I remember — is that one. Why?Because there was drama. And that, right there, is the lesson for public speakers. If your audience doesn’t remember you, what’s the point of presenting at all? I’m not suggesting you show up to your next business pitch dressed like a zombie (unless it’s Halloween and you’re feeling brave). But I am suggesting that you inject life — or dare I say, bring your talk back to life — by adding a bit of drama. Here’s how you can do that: Tell stories – People forget slides, but they remember stories. Use them. Use humour – Not forced jokes, but the natural humour in real situations. Bring energy – A speaker with energy immediately commands attention. Craft memorable lines – Sometimes your audience will only remember one sentence. Make it count. Make eye contact – Sounds simple. But it’s rare. And powerful. If we want to be memorable, we have to stand out.Are we doing something different?Are we making our message stick? Drama isn’t just cool — it’s effective.And a zombie apocalypse? Even better.

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How to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking

Public Speaking / /

“It’s alright to have butterflies in your stomach. Just get them to fly in formation.” — Dr Rob Gilbert The Music Moment I’m holding the guitar in my hand, basking in the warmth of applause from a group of friends, having just finished my third song. These first songs are ones I know well. The chord changes are embedded in my muscle memory. The vocal sequences, I’m confident I can deliver with precision. But now, for the fourth song, I feel the nerves creeping back in. Odd, considering they had settled after the first. This song, though, stretches me — both vocally and on the guitar. I haven’t quite committed it to memory. And that’s when it hits me: I haven’t changed. The setting hasn’t changed. The only variable is my level of preparation. Preparation Beats Fear For public speakers, preparation is the ultimate antidote to fear. But preparation has many dimensions — and how you prepare depends on how much time you have. With Five Minutes to Go If you ask me five minutes before a big presentation how to overcome stage fright, I’d say: Take three deep breaths. (Inhale through the nose, feel your diaphragm expand, exhale slowly through the mouth.) Remember your main messages. Beyond that, I might give you a pat on the back and say, you’ve got this. Just like with that tough song — take a deep breath and go for it. With a Couple of Days If you’ve got a couple of days, use them to practise with your current skill set. This is not the time to try something new. Focus on the basics: Do you know your main points? Do you know how long you have — and how long your presentation takes? Are you clear on the logistics — the where and the when? If yes, you’re in good shape. Just like I’d rehearse that tricky song repeatedly before a performance, repetition builds confidence. With Six Months Now, if you’ve got six months — that’s a different conversation. This is the time to develop new skills. You can start: Using vocal variety Incorporating purposeful gestures Crafting stories to engage the audience Experimenting with pacing and pauses As these skills develop, so does your confidence. Eventually, when you step on stage, you’ll feel ready — not just familiar with your content, but capable of delivering it with impact. The Journey to Confidence That’s the journey all accomplished public speakers go through. It’s easy to look at someone polished and assume it comes naturally. But what you’re really seeing is the result of preparation — not the absence of fear. So get started. Your fear of public speaking doesn’t reveal a flaw in your personality. It doesn’t mean you’re incapable of speaking with confidence. It simply tells you one thing: You need more preparation. And once you’ve done the work — you’ll soon see those butterflies fly in formation.

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Don’t Oversell. Deliver Value.

Public Speaking / /

I am quite excited as I join the webinar. It has been pitched to me as something that will provide a clear framework for overcoming a challenge I currently face. The presenter begins with a great deal of energy. He engages the audience and sets the scene for what to expect. He claims the webinar will reveal a clear roadmap for everyone to follow to achieve exactly what I, along with everyone else in the audience, am here to learn. He then proceeds to highlight case studies of previous clients who followed the framework and achieved phenomenal success. I think to myself – ok, that’s good to know. But everyone here already recognises that you have something useful to share. Time keeps passing, and the presenter, very enthusiastically, spends the next 45 minutes building the case for the grand reveal – the secret sauce, the holy grail everyone in the audience supposedly needs to achieve the same astronomical results. The case studies keep pouring in. At this point, I’m starting to get a bit annoyed. When will the webinar actually start? The presenter then provides a rushed 5–minute overview of something that feels somewhat useful. Stuff that was already on the presenter’s website. And just when I think he’ll go deeper, he does what I had started to fear ever since my agitation began – he makes the case for joining a 2–day programme where the ultimate secret will be shared. For the next 20 minutes, he sells the hell out of this course, highlighting how thousands of dollars’ worth of value is available for merely a few hundred. He even runs over by 10 minutes. Eventually, I drop off. I can’t stand the sales pitch any longer. I’ve barely learnt anything from the webinar in the past hour and ten minutes. Now, it is possible he even got a few subscriptions. After all, he was employing every trick in the book – creating urgency, incentivising quick signups, framing the supposedly low price of the programme against a much higher anchor. All the tricks were there. But the webinar itself was just a sales pitch. It offered nothing else. And it left a bad taste in my mouth. I thought, there is no way I’m paying for anything this company is selling. Instead, if the webinar had delivered an hour’s worth of value, and then stated at the end how much more there was to learn in the 2–day programme, I might have considered it. Also, it showed me little respect. Nobody sells something worth thousands of dollars for a few hundred. I would have been more receptive to the value of the programme if the false anchor hadn’t been deployed. The lesson for us as public speakers, therefore, is to have a mindset of service. When we have our audience’s attention, we should add value by giving them what they’ve come for – whether it’s learning about a product, a service, or an idea. If they wish to engage further with your work, it should be their choice. If you’ve delivered value, there’s a good chance they might. If you’ve oversold, they may just resent you for it.

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Don’t Make Them Feel Invisible – Why Public Speakers Need a Service Mindset

Public Speaking / /

Me, my wife, and our infant son walk into the store, a mix of nerves and excitement. It isn’t a luxury brand, but the product we’re considering is expensive enough to give us pause. This is for a special occasion, so emotions are running high. The store is empty. We figure this could be great—time to browse at our own pace and get the personalised attention we need. We wander over to the item on our minds. It’s ultimately my wife’s decision—she’s comparing this to something else she has in mind. Two sharply dressed customer service reps sit behind their desks, heads down, working away. They barely glance at us. My wife and I feel confused. Are we invisible? The mirror suggests we’re not. My wife turns to me. It’s a no. We walk out. The customer service reps remain undisturbed, still diligently at work. Later, we reflect. Yes, there were other reasons my wife declined the purchase. Still, if the staff had engaged with us—asked questions, offered guidance—maybe she would’ve weighed her options more carefully. Possibly they’d have made a sale. We’ll never know. Good service is rare, even in the service industry. Often, it’s because the people in charge simply don’t focus on serving their customers. As public speakers, we must never make that mistake. We’re in the business of serving our audience. Cultivating a service mindset ensures your audience feels special (they should!), and it benefits you in three key ways: Calms Nerves Shifting your focus from yourself to your audience is among the most effective ways to conquer stage fright. Instead of worrying about the spotlight, you concentrate on delivering real value. Encourages Self-Awareness Whether you aim to educate, enlighten, or entertain, a service mindset keeps you from becoming self-conscious. You stay focused on how best to serve, constantly checking whether you’re providing genuine worth. Fosters Authenticity Like a teacher focused on student understanding, a speaker who prioritises the audience’s needs comes across as genuine. You’re not trying too hard to close a sale; you’re there to give something meaningful—and people connect with that. The next time you speak—whether at dinner or in a conference hall—ask yourself: Am I delivering value? Does my audience feel seen, or are they invisible? If our attention is anywhere else, we risk pushing away the very people we set out to serve.

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Forget the Frills – What Ryanair Can Teach Us About Public Speaking

Public Speaking / /

What makes an airline really good? And what can it possibly teach us about public speaking? I’m at the airport, following my usual routine. It’s almost time for my flight’s gate number to be announced. I pay the toilet a quick visit (a crucial pre-boarding ritual), then grab something to eat and make my way to the gate with my takeaway bag in hand. The gate number is now on the screen. No panic—I have plenty of time. But when I get there, I’m confused. Nobody’s around. Is the flight empty? That seems the only plausible explanation. Usually, I get to the gate and end up waiting. The plane has often not even arrived from its previous destination—or worse, hasn’t even left it. I walk past the airline desk and onto the plane. What I see next is even more perplexing: everyone is already seated. I sit down, still unsure how this has happened. Moments later, the pilot announces that boarding is complete and this Ryanair flight to Dublin is expected to depart on time. In the end, it’s airborne a few minutes early. This was my first time flying Ryanair. I’d always heard about the “budget” element—the no-frills, no-service, tray-less seats kind of experience. And yes, it was all of that. Even for a short-haul flight, they were offering the bare minimum. But here’s the thing: they did one simple thing, and they did it exceptionally well. They got me—and everyone else—to Dublin on time. In fact, ahead of time. For someone used to delays, gate changes, and the sight of an empty stand where the plane should be, this was a refreshing change. By nailing the basics, Ryanair delivered exceptional service and left a lasting impression. I’ll go as far as to say: it has become my favourite airline. Now here’s the leap—and it’s not a big one: public speaking works the same way. Do the basics well. Keep things simple. Nail your delivery. That’s how you make a strong impression. Here’s how the Ryanair philosophy can elevate your public speaking: Simplify your language Public speaking isn’t about using fancy words. It’s about connecting. The larger the audience, the greater the diversity of background, expertise, and language fluency. To reach everyone, strip away complexity. Speak simply. Simplify your slides Smart people often fall into the trap of proving their brilliance via densely packed charts and walls of text. Don’t. Your slides are not the star of the show—you are. Use clean visuals that support your point, not ones that leave your audience squinting and scratching their heads. Say fewer things Experts often want to share everything they know. But more information doesn’t equal more impact. Great speakers identify the few essential messages that matter—and deliver them with clarity and conviction. Ryanair knows that the goal of an hour-long flight is simple: get passengers from A to B safely and on time. That’s it. They don’t waste time—or space—on buffet trolleys or unnecessary frills. No trays behind the seats? Who cares, if you land early? They know what matters, and they deliver. As public speakers, we must do the same. Know why you’re there. What’s the one thing your audience must remember? Are you delivering that message? Or are you getting lost in fancy slides and overloaded presentations? Keep it simple. Focus on what matters. And you might just become someone’s favourite speaker.

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The Disaster of the Twin CEOs – Why the Energy You Bring Can Change Everything

Public Speaking / /

As I prepare to take the stage, the event host does something unexpected. She introduces me, primes the audience for an interesting session, and then—out of nowhere—announces a 15-minute coffee break. An unscheduled one. Coffee breaks are normal at conferences. Unscheduled ones? Not so much. I’m intrigued. Moments later, the host finds me in the crowd. She confesses that she felt compelled to give the audience a break—to get some coffee and wake themselves up for my session—after what had just happened. I smile approvingly and tell her that works fine with me. Truth be told, the previous session had almost put me to sleep too. It was a panel discussion featuring two very experienced CEOs being interviewed on stage. Throughout the session, my colleague and I kept exchanging perplexed glances. The energy in the room had flatlined. The CEOs spoke with such a lack of enthusiasm about their businesses that it was impossible for anyone else to be interested. They both had microphones, yet they were barely audible. At one point, one of them probably made a joke—but I wouldn’t know. Only a few people in the front row chuckled. Worse still, they were in perfect sync. Maybe mirror neurons were at play, forcing one to match the other’s energy level. Or maybe they both just had the same communication style. Twins. The effect was so profoundly dull that even the host couldn’t contain her candor with me. And that’s the real tragedy. Both CEOs were obviously brilliant, highly accomplished professionals with a wealth of wisdom to share. But their communication skills were failing them. Their message wasn’t just weak—it was barely making it to the audience at all. The Energy You Bring Matters Energy is the fuel of public speaking. Without it, even the best ideas fall flat. It’s easy to assume that energetic speakers are just naturally like that. “That’s their personality,” you might think. “I can’t talk like that—it wouldn’t feel like me.” I say, just try. Different situations demand different levels of energy. A casual lunch conversation with your partner requires a different energy than a high-stakes business pitch. Sure, some people find it easier than others, but here are two mindset shifts that will help: Be excited to be there. If you aren’t excited, why should anyone else be? Be sold on what you’re selling—whether it’s a product, a service, or an idea. Your enthusiasm will shine through in your voice, body language, and expressions. It’s contagious. Think from the audience’s perspective. When I take the stage, I never take my audience’s attention for granted. It’s my job to engage them and keep them engaged. Is every word I’m saying making them want to stay in the room? Or am I giving them reasons to mentally (or physically) check out? Speaking Is a Service—Deliver It Well Public speaking is a service business. Speakers serve their audience by delivering ideas that can change lives—big or small. And energy isn’t just a bonus; it’s the difference between being memorable and being forgettable. So, bring the energy. Because what happens if you don’t? Well, the organisers might just have to schedule an emergency coffee break after your talk. And no one wants that.

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5 Simple Ingredients of an Impactful Story

Public Speaking / /

It’s my turn to speak and share a highlight from the past week. The instructor’s eyes turn to me. So do everyone else’s in the room. I’m sitting among eight couples, all expecting their first child in just a few weeks. My wife is beside me. We’re here to learn what to expect as new parents and to build a social support network. I begin… “I generally consider myself a very safe driver. But recently, I was caught being naughty.” A big laugh echoes around the room. I continue, “And so last week, I did a speed awareness training.” Another laugh. “And now, I hope to be an even safer driver for my family.” Bit over. The warm-up exercise continues as we go around the room. But later, during a breakout session, a couple approaches us to share how one of them had just gone through something similar. Someone else tells me he recently saw two camera flashes on the motorway—one on the way there and another on the way back—and was hoping they’d be lenient and count it as one offence. Another couple tells me they recently moved house because their previous one was on a busy road with fast traffic. I joke, “Who are these people who speed?”—to much amusement. A simple story sparked engaging conversations. It helped create connections because it related to experiences others had. But stories, like great recipes, have different ingredients. Given the context of this one, here are five simple ingredients that can help you connect with your audience: A personal touch I was invited to share something about my week, but even without a prompt, a personal story reveals something about you that others can relate to. And that’s what builds connection. The right portion size This was a quick, around-the-room warm-up. The unspoken rule? Keep it under 30 seconds. The right length for the right setting is crucial. The last thing you want is for your audience to wonder when you’ll stop. A dash of humour The bar for humour is usually quite low. Even a small dose tends to land well as long as it isn’t inappropriate or forced. Laughing at yourself is generally a safe bet—it makes you appear confident and likeable. A sprinkle of relevance A story should be engaging, but it must also serve a purpose. A personal anecdote can add impact even to a business presentation—so long as you establish a clear link to the topic. A well-mixed narrative arc Even a short story benefits from structure. Mine started with thinking I was a safe driver, then making a mistake that challenged that belief, followed by an action I took to correct it, and finally, a learning outcome—becoming a safer driver for my family. This tied in perfectly with the group’s focus on family and safety. A great story leaves a lasting impression and can spark unexpected connections. So next time it’s your turn to speak, share something personal—maybe even a little silly. Were you flashed by a speeding camera? Own it. You might be surprised by the positive response.

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Appearances Can Be Deceptive – Why You Must Talk to Everyone

Public Speaking / /

He shakes my hand, thanks me for an excellent presentation, and states that he will definitely invest in the product I had just pitched. My jaw is ready to hit the floor, but I restrain my surprise and excitement. Instead, I say thank you with a polite smile. It’s unusual for people to endorse your pitch so directly, but that alone isn’t why I’m so taken aback. It’s because of who this person is and what I’d been grappling with during the presentation. The event was a roundtable with six or seven people in the audience. Two people stood out. One exuded positive energy, with body language showing not just engagement but enthusiasm. The other, the one who later came to me, had a poker face. I couldn’t tell if he found my presentation interesting at all. Throughout my presentation, I was thinking that maybe my message is landing with the person showing enthusiasm and perhaps not working for the person with the stern face. I later learned the highly enthusiastic person wasn’t a serious investor—but was just there for fun. This was a powerful reminder to never fall into the trap of focusing on one person at the expense of others. As public speakers, we naturally gravitate toward friendly faces—someone smiling or laughing at our jokes—to calm our nerves. But this can come at the cost of ignoring someone with a less expressive demeanour who may be deeply engaged. Everyone expresses interest and reactions differently. To truly connect, we must speak to everyone in our audience. Here are three tips to ensure you do: Talk to people individually. Think of public speaking as a series of individual conversations. This mental trick can ease nervousness. Instead of addressing the whole crowd at once, treat it as speaking to one person at a time. Say something to one individual, finish your point, then move to the next. This way, everyone feels you’ve spoken to them personally. Make deliberate eye contact. Public speaking is the opposite of riding the London Underground, where avoiding eye contact is an unwritten rule. In a speaking setting, look directly into people’s eyes, just as you would in a one-on-one conversation. Avoid the tendency to scan the room aimlessly—connect with individuals through your gaze. Reach everyone. Don’t focus solely on one person. In small groups, it’s easy to engage everyone. For larger groups, hold individual conversations with people in different parts of the room. In very large crowds, orient yourself to different sections to simulate the feeling of personal connection. Spread your attention to include as many people as possible. When you connect with everyone, you ensure that no one feels left out—not even the person with a poker face who may become your most enthusiastic supporter. Just as I learned at that roundtable, appearances can be deceptive. Don’t let surface impressions dictate your focus. Speak to everyone, and you’ll leave a lasting, positive impression.

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What My Failed Joke Taught Me – How to Make Humour Work

Public Speaking / /

Seven people stare at me with blank expressions. I’ve just told a joke that clearly hasn’t landed. I’m at a conference where I’m delivering the same pitch multiple times in a series of roundtables with different investors. I’ve already made this joke six times, and on each of those occasions, I received an appropriate amount of amusement. But on the seventh occasion, the only two people polite enough to smile are my colleagues—who, of course, have already heard the joke six times. Now, arguably, these aren’t terrible odds. The joke worked on six occasions and failed on just one. Maybe this time my deadpan delivery didn’t translate. Or maybe they simply didn’t find it funny. But even if the joke had landed every single time, there’s a better way to deliver humour—and I’m grateful my one memorable flop taught me this lesson. What was wrong with my joke was that… it was a joke. It felt forced. It didn’t necessarily contribute to the narrative. It wasn’t a story. By contrast, delivering a humorous story—or weaving humorous moments into a broader story—tends to work far better for two reasons. First, storytelling gets the audience engaged and invested in what you’re saying, making the humour more obvious and harder to miss. Second, even if the humour doesn’t spark a laugh, the story itself can still serve its purpose by conveying an important message in an engaging way. While the thought of introducing humour in a serious presentation can feel intimidating, I believe that in the business world, the bar for success is relatively low. Audiences are often relieved to encounter a fresh, entertaining approach—especially when they’re enduring a series of presentations. If you can make an audience laugh, you’ve already won them over. And if you do it through a story, your message will stick because people remember how you made them feel. Oh, and if you do get a few blank stares now and then, that’s okay. Developing the ability to introduce humour in serious presentations will pay dividends in the long run.

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The Elephant in the Room – Why You Should Never Go Over Your Time

Public Speaking / /

I’m sitting in the conference room, waiting for my turn to speak. Everyone is focused on the speaker on stage, but my gaze drifts to the moderator, who’s started pacing beside the podium. At first, I don’t think much of it. Moments later, I glance over again, and his pacing has turned more frantic, his body language more agitated. He checks his watch. At this point, I notice others watching him too. One by one, people are pulling their attention away from the speaker and toward the moderator. A nervous energy settles in—there’s an unspoken tension, like an elephant in the room. The speaker has clearly gone beyond their allotted time. A few more minutes go by, and now it seems everyone is aware of the situation. Everyone… except the speaker. When the speaker finally wraps up, you can almost feel the moderator’s palpable relief. As a public speaker, going over your time can seriously undermine your credibility. A common reason is that people who are knowledgeable—those who’ve studied a subject deeply and have plenty to share—often feel compelled to unload everything they know. This explains the bloated slide decks, jam-packed with information, and the tendency to cram too many points into each slide. It’s practically a recipe for running overtime. Here’s a simple way to avoid this: say more with less. Reduce the number of points you include in your presentation. Ultimately, if someone asks you to articulate the main message or purpose of your talk, you should be able to state it in just a few words—or maybe 10 to 15 seconds. Once you’re clear on the “why,” you can fill your 20, 30, or 40 minutes with just the right amount of material to support that goal. Not everything you know belongs in the presentation. In fact, by sharing fewer, carefully chosen points and delivering them effectively, you’ll not only make a stronger impact on your audience, but also avoid the awkward moment of being the speaker who makes the moderator panic.  

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