This week on my mailing list, I featured this gem of a talk I had to share on my blog, too. If you missed it, you’re in for a treat!
Check out Stacey Flowers’ talk on happiness through relationships. Beyond the content, please pay attention to her delivery techniques. Notice how she creates an instant connection by admitting she was “homeless and angry” without dwelling in self-pity. She brilliantly uses space – physically positioning each person-type in different stage areas, creating a mental map for listeners.
Watch her pacing – she speeds up during lighter moments but deliberately slows down for key takeaways. Her hand gestures aren’t random but purposeful anchors that help you remember each point. And did you catch that moment when she breaks the fourth wall with “I know what you’re thinking”? That’s not just clever – it’s a way of addressing objections before they form.
Most impressively, she transforms a potentially self-centered topic into a universal framework. No fancy slides, no props – just authentic storytelling that leaves you with practical advice and emotional resonance. This is a perfect example of how vulnerability, when handled with confidence, becomes your greatest speaking strength.
Next time you speak, try her technique of physically anchoring different parts of your message in different spaces on stage. Your audience will thank you for making your ideas heard, seen, and felt.