Public speaking
Public speaking workshops
Turn nervous presenters into clear, confident communicators. Taught by David Peace, with techniques your team can put to work straight away.
Speaking well is a skill, not a personality trait
Most people are never actually taught how to speak in public. They are handed a slide deck, told to present, and left to work the rest out under pressure. When it goes badly once, the lesson people take away is that they are simply not a speaker. That is the wrong conclusion.
This workshop treats speaking as something anyone can get better at. Nerves, a racing heart, a mind that empties at the wrong moment: these are normal, and they are workable. What changes things is having a small set of techniques you can rely on, then practising them somewhere it is safe to get it wrong.
David Peace built his own speaking this way. As a child he had a stutter and a lisp and went through speech therapy to be able to perform as he does today, and he was very shy growing up. Every technique he teaches is one he used himself first, on stage and in the workplace.
Who it is for
Ideal for people who want to lead. It also suits:
- Anyone who presents to colleagues, clients or senior management
- Team members who hold back in meetings and want a way in
- Teams facing a pitch, a conference or an all-hands later in the year
- Managers who need to land a message rather than just deliver it
What the team takes away
- Manage nerves and stage presence
- Structure a talk that lands with the audience
- Practical speaking practice with feedback
Each one is a practical habit rather than a theory, so it can be used in the next presentation your team gives.
How it runs
Choose the format that fits your goal. Every option is available in person or virtually, and each one is tailored to the team in the room.
Talk
A presentation from David followed by a Q&A, with live magic woven in to keep the room engaged. Ideal when you need something memorable in a shorter slot.
Half-day workshop
The presentation ideas plus group exercises and speaking practice. Enough time for everyone to try the techniques and get feedback.
Full-day workshop
A deeper session with room for individual practice, longer exercises and a proper debrief. Best when speaking confidence is a priority for the year.
Half a day of public speaking and half a day of creative thinking is also available as a single booking.
Why this works in a corporate setting
As a magician and mind reader, David Peace has spent more than twenty years in front of live audiences, which is where he learned how to hold a room and how to recover when something goes wrong. He has also worked in the corporate world, from customer support through to managing a multinational team of software developers and QA engineers, in both large multinationals and early-stage start-ups.
That combination matters. The techniques are chosen for rooms where the stakes are real, and the examples come from workplaces your team will recognise rather than from a training manual.
Frequently asked questions
Which format should we choose?
It depends on the outcome you want. A talk works well at a conference, an away day or a lunchtime slot, where the goal is to inform and inspire. A half-day or full-day workshop is better when you want people to actually change how they present, because the practice element is where the skill is built. If you are unsure, tell us what you are trying to achieve and the format can be recommended for you. Half a day of each workshop is also available if you would like both topics covered.
Can you deliver this virtually?
Yes. All services are available virtually on request, and sessions run in person across Ireland and worldwide. Virtual works well for talks and for workshops where the team is already used to meeting online.
Do you travel outside Cork?
Yes. David is based in Cork and works with teams across Ireland and worldwide, with travel covered.
Is the content tailored to our team?
Yes. Every session is tailored to the group in the room. Let us know your industry, the situations where people speak most and the outcomes you care about, and the content is adapted to suit.
What if people are nervous about taking part?
That is expected, and it is exactly what the session is designed for. Participation is built up gradually, nobody is put on the spot, and the practice is shaped so that getting something wrong is part of the process rather than a risk.
Is this only for people who present on stage?
No. The same techniques help anyone who speaks at work, including internal updates, client meetings, pitches and team briefings. It suits people who want to lead as well as anyone who would simply like to find speaking easier.
Bring this to your team
Tell me about your team and the outcome you want. I'll come back with a tailored proposal.
Enquire about a workshop