Manchester Public Speaking Coach on: Making Your Message Clear

PUBLIC SPEAKING IN MANCHESTER?

You've been asked to present. You've done the prep, built the slides, even rehearsed the script. But the moment you begin speaking, the nerves creep in. You ramble, lose focus, and stumble through your key points. When you finish, you’re left wondering: Did they actually understand me?

You’re not alone.

In Manchester’s boardrooms, classrooms, and creative spaces, people are standing up to speak—yet often falling short of delivering a clear, memorable message. That’s not a failure of intelligence or preparation. It’s usually a breakdown in clarity.

As a public speaking coach working in Manchester, I help clients identify and overcome the most common challenges that blur their communication. This blog post explores those challenges in detail—and shows you how to fix them using proven methods, real-life strategies, and hands-on exercises.

Whether you’re a nervous first-timer or a seasoned speaker ready to polish your craft, this guide will help you cut through the noise and make your message land.

Why Clarity Matters More Than Ever in Public Speaking

Public speaking isn’t just about confidence. It’s about control. A confident but unclear speaker may entertain—but won’t influence. A clear speaker, however, commands attention, earns trust, and moves people to action.

When you speak clearly:

• You hold attention in noisy, distracted environments.

• You build authority in your personal and professional life.

• You get remembered for the right reasons.

Yet clarity is often the first casualty of nerves, poor preparation, or bad habits. Let’s look at the key reasons why—and how to turn things around.

1. Stage Fright: The Inner Saboteur

Imagine this.Priya, a Manchester-based solicitor, is presenting at a networking event. She knows her content inside out—but on stage, her mind blanks. Her hands shake. She rushes. Her audience senses her unease and tunes out.

This is a textbook case of stage fright.

Why It Happens

Stage fright isn’t weakness—it’s biology. When we feel exposed, our bodies react with stress: shallow breathing, increased heart rate, and reduced cognitive control. That affects clarity, fluency, and confidence.

How to Beat It

• Regulate your breath. Practise “box breathing”: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4.

• Rehearse under pressure. Simulate stress by practising in front of a mirror or recording yourself.

• Reframe the nerves. Don’t fight the adrenaline—channel it.

Try This

Stand tall, take three deep breaths, and recite your opening lines while focusing on slow, deliberate pacing. Repeat this drill before each speaking engagement.

2. Poor Audience Engagement: Talking at, Not to

Even the most organised speaker can lose their audience if they don’t connect.

Let’s say you’re explaining a new strategy at a team meeting in Manchester. You’ve done the work, but halfway through, you notice phones being checked and eyes wandering. What went wrong?

The Mistake

You're speaking at your audience—without checking in, involving them, or tailoring your message to their needs.

How to Engage More Effectively

• Use audience-centric language. Say “you,” “we,” and “us” to include listeners.

• Ask rhetorical questions. These create mental interaction, even in silent rooms.

• Pause and scan. Look for signs of engagement—or confusion—and respond accordingly.

Try This

Open with a story or question that relates directly to your audience’s experience. For example: “Have you ever tried to present an idea only to watch the room go cold?”

3. Lack of Vocal Variety: Killing the Message with Monotony

The most common feedback I give speakers? “You need to sound like you care.”Even meaningful content gets lost in flat, unvaried delivery.

Why It Matters

Your voice is a messenger. When it lacks contrast—no changes in tone, pace, or volume—it loses its power to persuade or inspire.

What You Can Do

• Mark up your notes. Highlight where to pause, speed up, or add emphasis.

• Practise emotional tone. Inject feeling where appropriate—curiosity, urgency, enthusiasm.

• Use silence. A well-timed pause makes your message resonate.

Try This

Take a short paragraph and read it three times: once with urgency, once with calm, and once with passion. Note how your voice changes—and what effect it has on the message.

4. Ineffective Body Language: What Are You Really Saying?

Words account for only a portion of communication.If your body language contradicts your message, your audience will believe your body.

Think of a Manchester entrepreneur pitching to investors. She says she’s confident—but her eyes are down, her posture is closed, and her gestures are defensive.

What to Watch Out For

• Crossed arms = discomfort or defensiveness

• Pacing or swaying = nervousness

• Lack of eye contact = low confidence

How to Improve

• Stand still, then move with intention.

• Gesture naturally to support meaning.

• Make eye contact in three-second increments.

Try This

Film a 60-second section of your talk with the sound off. Watch your movements. Do they support or distract from your message?

5. Disorganised Structure: Where’s the Message Going?

You’ve sat through talks that felt like a maze—interesting detours, but no clear direction. Don’t let your own message suffer that fate.

Why This Happens

Some speakers try to say too much. Others jump around or forget transitions. Either way, the result is a confused listener.

What Good Structure Looks Like

• Hook – grab attention early.

• Headline – state your core message clearly.

• Three Main Points – keep it digestible.

• Support – add a story, stat, or metaphor.

• Close Strong – with a takeaway or call to action.

Try This

Write your next speech using only five bullet points. If someone reading them doesn’t get the message, refine until they do.

Clarity is a Learnable Skill

You don’t need to be loud, charismatic, or fearless to be a great speaker.But you do need to be clear.

Clarity builds trust. It makes you memorable. It gets you hired, promoted, and invited back.

The good news? It’s entirely within your control—with the right tools and practice.

Work With a Manchester Public Speaking Coach to Accelerate Your Growth

Trying to improve on your own can be overwhelming. That’s where one-to-one coaching becomes invaluable.

As a Manchester-based public speaking coach, I help people like you:

• Refine your message until it cuts through.

• Tackle nerves using proven performance techniques.

• Deliver talks with power, pace, and presence.

• Turn confusion into clarity—and clarity into influence.

My approach is tailored, practical, and designed for real-world situations. Whether you're preparing for a talk, pitch, or major presentation, I’ll help you communicate with precision and authority.

Book your discovery session today and let’s build the confidence, clarity, and presence that sets great speakers apart.

About the Author

Mark Westbrook is an experienced public speaking coach. He works with professionals from diverse sectors to help them speak clearly, confidently, and convincingly.

With a background in teaching, coaching, and performance, Mark brings a deep understanding of human communication—alongside practical strategies honed over more than two decades. His coaching is rooted in empathy, structure, and results.

Whether you're speaking to a team, a client, or a crowd, Mark’s personalised coaching helps you find your voice, refine your message, and make a lasting impact.