What They Don’t Teach You About Public Speaking in Business School (Manchester Edition)
- Mark Westbrook
- Apr 8
- 4 min read
In Manchester’s dynamic and ambitious business environment—from Spinningfields boardrooms to the MediaCityUK studios—there’s one essential skill that consistently elevates careers: public speaking.
Yet despite earning degrees from leading institutions like Alliance Manchester Business School or Manchester Metropolitan University, many professionals still struggle to speak with clarity, confidence, and impact.
Why? Because public speaking isn’t just about what you say—it’s about how you make people feel, how you hold a room, and how you persuade. These are skills that business school rarely teaches in a practical or personal way.
This post explores the crucial gaps left by business education and offers real-world strategies for professionals across Manchester who want to become stronger communicators.
What Business School Misses
Even with formal training, many Manchester professionals find themselves unprepared for challenges like:
Feeling nervous before delivering a presentation at a Deansgate firm
Struggling to hold the attention of colleagues during a meeting in Ancoats
Failing to engage an audience at a tech event in the Northern Quarter
Lacking structure when pitching in front of investors near Salford Quays
Business school may sharpen your strategy and financial thinking, but when it comes to public speaking, most of the development happens outside the classroom.
Stage Fright: The Confidence Killer
Scenario: You’ve prepped your presentation while sipping coffee in the Northern Quarter, but the moment you stand to speak at a networking event in Spinningfields, panic sets in.
This is completely normal. Stage fright is a physiological response to perceived threat.
How to Overcome It:
Reframe the Emotion: Shift your mindset. Tell yourself, "I’m excited" instead of "I’m scared." This trick is backed by research from Harvard.
Breath Control: Practise box breathing (inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4) before presenting.
Visualisation: Picture yourself succeeding at a Manchester Chamber of Commerce event or a pitch competition at the Science and Industry Museum.
Low-Stakes Practice: Start by speaking at community events or Toastmasters groups in Chorlton or Didsbury.
Exercise: Record yourself delivering a 2-minute introduction. Watch it back and refine your pace, tone, and posture.
Engagement: From Monologue to Conversation
Scenario: You’re mid-way through your presentation at an office near Oxford Road and you notice the audience is zoning out.
Engaging an audience is not just about great content—it’s about delivery.
How to Overcome It:
Use Storytelling: Frame your ideas with real examples. Perhaps a project in Trafford or a breakthrough moment at an event in Hulme.
Ask Questions: Even rhetorical questions spark reflection and draw people in.
Bring Energy: Vary your tone and pace. A flat delivery loses listeners quickly.
Exercise: Review your next slide deck and find one opportunity per slide to insert a story, question, or shift in delivery style.
Vocal Variety: Making Your Words Work
Scenario: You’re speaking at a business breakfast in Altrincham and your feedback says: "clear, but a little flat."
This is usually a vocal delivery issue.
How to Overcome It:
Record Yourself: Most speakers are unaware of their vocal habits.
Practice Variation: Speed up to energise, slow down to emphasise. Pause strategically.
Speak With Emotion: Match your tone to the subject. Show passion when you're discussing innovation or change.
Exercise: Read a paragraph from a business article in three different tones: persuasive, enthusiastic, and serious. Listen to the differences.
Body Language: Silent Signals That Speak Volumes
Scenario: Your pitch at a workspace in St Peter's Square had all the right words, but it didn’t quite land.
Often, body language is the missing ingredient.
How to Overcome It:
Strong Posture: Plant your feet, stand tall, and open your stance.
Deliberate Movement: Let gestures emphasise, not distract.
Direct Eye Contact: Make genuine connections with your audience, not just your slides.
Exercise: Film a short talk with the sound off. What impression does your body language leave?
Speech Organisation: Delivering With Clarity
Scenario: You’re giving a presentation at The Sharp Project, but halfway through, even you feel a bit lost.
This isn’t about intelligence—it’s about structure.
How to Overcome It:
Use a Framework: Try "What? So what? Now what?"
Guide the Audience: Signal transitions: "Let me begin with..."
Clear Close: Always finish with a decisive point or call to action.
Exercise: Take one of your regular presentations and rework it using this structure. Practise until it feels natural.
Why Personalised Coaching is the Game-Changer in Manchester
Manchester's fast-paced business world demands clear, confident communicators. Personalised coaching gives you what business school often can’t:
Bespoke Feedback: Address your unique speaking style
Rapid Results: Apply new skills immediately in your daily work
Authentic Impact: Develop a voice and presence that feels natural
Whether you're pitching to investors, leading a team, or representing your company at an event in the city centre, personalised communication coaching will help you speak with confidence and authority.
Ready to Take the Stage in Manchester?
Thousands of professionals in Manchester are still held back by outdated communication habits. If you’re ready to upgrade your skills, I can help.
Reach out today for a free consultation. Whether you work in tech, finance, law, or creative industries, I’ll help you unlock the public speaking skills that set great communicators apart.
Mark Westbrook | Public Speaking Coach (Manchester) Helping Manchester professionals speak with clarity, confidence, and conviction.
Comments