Speakers, Pitches & Keynotes
A talk worth giving. A message worth remembering.
From the first idea to the final rehearsal, develop a stronger talk and deliver it naturally when the room matters.
Whether it is a keynote, a pitch, a conference session or a TEDx talk, we work on the idea, the structure and the delivery until you can say it as yourself.
Bring your talk or deck to a Room Review See an exampleTEDx coaching helps you develop and deliver a stronger talk. It does not guarantee selection as a TEDx speaker.
What gets in the way
A good idea still needs a way in.
Most talks don’t struggle because the idea is weak. They struggle with the opening, the structure, the rehearsal or the moments you can’t plan for.
How we work on it
Talk and keynote development. Finding the central idea, the structure and the story.
How we work on it
Message. Find the central idea and build the story.
How we work on it
Rehearsal and feedback. Practising aloud and refining pace, emphasis and clarity.
How we work on it
Questions and unexpected moments. Preparing for the questions and surprises you can’t script.
Fictional teaching example
Same subject. A stronger start.
A strong opening doesn’t need a bigger claim. It needs a clear idea and a moment the audience can picture.
Before
“Good morning. I’m delighted to be here to talk about the future of leadership and share some of the things I’ve learned.”
After
“The biggest mistake I made as a leader was thinking I needed to have all the answers.”
Illustrative example only. Not client work.
The subject is the same: leadership. The after version opens with a specific moment and a point of view, instead of a welcome.
- A specific claim It names a real mistake, which gives the audience something to lean towards.
- A point of view It shows what the talk is about without announcing the topic.
- A reason to keep listening A listener wants to hear how the story continues.
The coach
You bring the idea. I help it travel.
The idea is yours. My part is finding the one thing the talk is really about, building the story around it and rehearsing until the delivery feels natural. I don’t hand you a script to recite. I help you find the version that sounds like you.
- 20+years in global business
- 1,700+people coached
Broad credentials across all my coaching, not a count of keynote speakers.
What that means for speakers
- MessageFind the central idea and build the story.
- MindsetPrepare for pressure and uncertainty.
- PresenceRehearse until you can deliver naturally.
How we work
From first idea to final rehearsal.
A practical process to develop the talk, rehearse it properly and deliver it as yourself.
Discovery
Finding the idea worth sharing.
We look at the room, the occasion and the one thing you want people to leave with.
Send me a short brief with the date, the audience and what you have so far, and we start from there. We look at the occasion: who is listening, how long you have and what they will do after you finish. Then we look at the idea itself. Most talks hold several ideas fighting for space, so we work out which one is the heart of it and what can be set aside. You leave with a single sentence that says what your talk is about, and a clear view of what is getting in its way.
Development
Building the story.
We shape the opening, the structure and the examples that carry the idea.
Now we build the talk around that one idea. We choose a story or example that makes it real, decide the order of what comes next and write an opening that starts with a moment instead of a welcome. For decks, we work out how many slides the talk needs and what each one is for. The goal is a structure you can hold in your head, so you can speak to the room rather than read to it. You can work from a script, an outline or notes, whichever suits you, in your own voice.
Dynamics
Rehearsing for the real room.
We practise aloud, with feedback, and prepare for questions and surprises.
This is where the talk comes off the page. You rehearse aloud on your feet, in short sections and then in full, recorded where it helps so you can see what the room will see, and I give honest feedback on pace, emphasis and clarity. We aim for a delivery that feels natural instead of memorised, so we practise different versions and work on what to do if you lose your place. We also prepare for questions and for the unexpected, such as a technical fault or a blank.
Delivery
Delivering it as yourself.
We prepare for the day and agree what to carry forward.
The final stage is the day itself. We agree a clear plan for the day: how you will arrive, what you say first, how you settle your nerves and how you will recover if something goes off script. You go on stage prepared and clear on the idea. Afterwards we look at what landed, what to keep and what to change, so the next talk starts from a stronger place. You walk away with a clear sense of what to repeat.
Programmes
Three ways to work together
Choose the depth that fits the moment. Every programme starts with your material and your date, and the pricing depends on the project.
The Headline Programme
8 sessions
Take a keynote or TEDx talk from first idea to the stage.
FrameworkAll four stages in depth
- Included: Video recordings
- Included: Notion workspace
- Included: Transcripts
- Included: Storytelling toolkit
The Platform Programme
6 sessions
Shape and rehearse a talk or pitch for a set date.
FrameworkAll four stages, focused
- Included: Video recordings
- Included: Notion workspace
- Included: Transcripts
- Not included: Storytelling toolkit
The Spotlight Programme
4 sessions
Sharpen a talk you already have.
FrameworkThe core of the four stages
- Included: Video recordings
- Not included: Notion workspace
- Not included: Transcripts
- Not included: Storytelling toolkit
Not ready to choose? A Room Review is 40 minutes for £95, and the fee is credited against any coaching you book afterwards. Book a Room Review
Questions
Your questions, answered.
Start with one idea you can say in a sentence. Build the talk around it, cut anything that does not serve it, then rehearse out loud and on your feet until it sounds like you talking, not reciting.
No. Selection is decided by the organisers, so I can’t guarantee it. What I can do is help you develop a clear idea, a stronger talk and a delivery you can trust, which gives you the best foundation for an application or an invitation.
Yes. Bring it as it is. We look at the idea, the structure and the delivery, then work out what would make the biggest difference.
We list what you want to say, then test each point against one question: would the talk still work without it? What remains is the idea. Everything else supports it or waits for questions.
It shouldn’t. We rehearse the opening, the order of ideas and the moments that matter, not every word, so the delivery stays natural and can adapt to the room.
Free tools for speakers
Your next talk
You have the idea. Let’s help it land.
Bring the talk, pitch or deck that matters. We’ll work out what needs attention and where to start. A Room Review is 40 minutes for £95. One focused challenge. Practical feedback. No obligation to continue.
Book a Room Review Or send a short briefSpeakers, Pitches & Keynotes
A talk worth giving. A message worth remembering.
From the first idea to the final rehearsal, develop a stronger talk and deliver it naturally when the room matters.
Whether it is a keynote, a pitch, a conference session or a TEDx talk, we work on the idea, the structure and the delivery until you can say it as yourself.
Bring your talk or deck to a Room ReviewSee an example
TEDx coaching helps you develop and deliver a stronger talk. It does not guarantee selection as a TEDx speaker.
A good idea still needs a way in.
Most talks don’t struggle because the idea is weak. They struggle with the opening, the structure, the rehearsal or the moments you can’t plan for.
The opening doesn’t grab attention.
The first moments set the tone, and many talks spend them on thanks and housekeeping.
Too many ideas compete for space.
When everything matters, the audience can’t tell what to remember.
Rehearsal makes the delivery feel mechanical.
Practising the words is not the same as practising the moment.
The questions or unexpected moments worry you.
A question, a technical fault or a blank can unsettle a well-prepared talk.
Same subject. A stronger start.
A strong opening doesn’t need a bigger claim. It needs a clear idea and a moment the audience can picture.
“Good morning. I’m delighted to be here to talk about the future of leadership and share some of the things I’ve learned.”
“The biggest mistake I made as a leader was thinking I needed to have all the answers.”
Illustrative example only. Not client work. The subject is the same: leadership. The after version opens with a specific moment and a point of view, instead of a welcome.
What changed?
- A specific claim
It names a real mistake, which gives the audience something to lean towards.
- A point of view
It shows what the talk is about without announcing the topic.
- A reason to keep listening
A listener wants to hear how the story continues.
You bring the idea. I help it travel.
The idea is yours. My part is finding the one thing the talk is really about, building the story around it and rehearsing until the delivery feels natural. I don’t hand you a script to recite. I help you find the version that sounds like you.
- 20+years in global business
- 1,700+people coached
Broad credentials across all my coaching, not a count of keynote speakers.
What that means for speakers
- MessageFind the central idea and build the story.
- MindsetPrepare for pressure and uncertainty.
- PresenceRehearse until you can deliver naturally.
Illustrative scenario · Not a completed coaching engagement
A talk with too much in it.
The situation
A speaker had been invited to give a keynote on a subject they knew well. Their draft held a lot of good material, but it read like a list of topics.
The opening was a welcome and an agenda. Rehearsing the full script made the delivery feel stiff, and they were unsure how to handle questions afterwards.
What the coaching would address
- Finding the one idea the talk is about
- Choosing a story that carries that idea
- Rewriting the opening around a specific moment
- Rehearsing for the room, not for the page
- Preparing for questions and the unexpected
What this scenario shows
How a talk can move from a list of topics to one clear idea, a stronger opening and a delivery that holds up when something unexpected happens.
This is a teaching scenario, not a statement of achieved client results. A real, permissioned case study will replace it when one is available.
From first idea to final rehearsal.
A practical process to develop the talk, rehearse it properly and deliver it as yourself.
Discovery
Finding the idea worth sharing.
We look at the room, the occasion and the one thing you want people to leave with.
Send me a short brief with the date, the audience and what you have so far, and we start from there. We look at the occasion: who is listening, how long you have and what they will do after you finish. Then we look at the idea itself. Most talks hold several ideas fighting for space, so we work out which one is the heart of it and what can be set aside. You leave with a single sentence that says what your talk is about, and a clear view of what is getting in its way.
- Finish this sentence: “The one thing I want them to remember is…”
- List what you could cut without losing that sentence.
Development
Building the story.
We shape the opening, the structure and the examples that carry the idea.
Now we build the talk around that one idea. We choose a story or example that makes it real, decide the order of what comes next and write an opening that starts with a moment instead of a welcome. For decks, we work out how many slides the talk needs and what each one is for. The goal is a structure you can hold in your head, so you can speak to the room rather than read to it. You can work from a script, an outline or notes, whichever suits you, in your own voice.
- Write three different openings and say each aloud.
- Give every slide one job, or remove it.
Dynamics
Rehearsing for the real room.
We practise aloud, with feedback, and prepare for questions and surprises.
This is where the talk comes off the page. You rehearse aloud on your feet, in short sections and then in full, recorded where it helps so you can see what the room will see, and I give honest feedback on pace, emphasis and clarity. We aim for a delivery that feels natural instead of memorised, so we practise different versions and work on what to do if you lose your place. We also prepare for questions and for the unexpected, such as a technical fault or a blank.
- Rehearse the opening until you can say it without notes.
- Plan what you will do if the slides stop working.
Delivery
Delivering it as yourself.
We prepare for the day and agree what to carry forward.
The final stage is the day itself. We agree a clear plan for the day: how you will arrive, what you say first, how you settle your nerves and how you will recover if something goes off script. You go on stage prepared and clear on the idea. Afterwards we look at what landed, what to keep and what to change, so the next talk starts from a stronger place. You walk away with a clear sense of what to repeat.
- Agree your first line and your last line.
- Note one thing to review afterwards.
What working with Richard looks like.
Coaching is individual and practical. It starts with your talk, your audience and your date, not a standard course.
Every item below reflects the kind of work we can do together. What you use depends on what you need.
TEDx coaching doesn’t guarantee selection. It helps you prepare a stronger talk.
Talk and keynote development
Finding the central idea, the structure and the story.
Pitch and deck review
Making a deck clearer, shorter and easier to present.
Rehearsal and feedback
Practising aloud and refining pace, emphasis and clarity.
Questions and unexpected moments
Preparing for the questions and surprises you can’t script.
TEDx and conference preparation
Developing a talk for an application or an event you have been invited to.
Programmes
Three ways to work together
Choose the depth that fits the moment. Every programme starts with your material and your date, and the pricing depends on the project.
The Headline Programme
8 sessions
Take a keynote or TEDx talk from first idea to the stage.
FrameworkAll four stages in depth
- Included: Video recordings
- Included: Notion workspace
- Included: Transcripts
- Included: Storytelling toolkit
The Platform Programme
6 sessions
Shape and rehearse a talk or pitch for a set date.
FrameworkAll four stages, focused
- Included: Video recordings
- Included: Notion workspace
- Included: Transcripts
- Not included: Storytelling toolkit
The Spotlight Programme
4 sessions
Sharpen a talk you already have.
FrameworkThe core of the four stages
- Included: Video recordings
- Not included: Notion workspace
- Not included: Transcripts
- Not included: Storytelling toolkit
Not ready to choose? A Room Review is 40 minutes for £95, and the fee is credited against any coaching you book afterwards. Book a Room Review
Bring the talk. Let’s work on it.
The Room Review
£95 · 40 minutes
A focused working session around one talk, pitch or deck.
Bring a draft, an outline, a set of slides or just the idea you’re trying to land.
We’ll identify what is already working, what needs attention and the most useful next steps.
Not ready for a session? Take the free Stage Intelligence Read
Practical ideas for speakers
Three short exercises to try on your next talk.
Opening with a moment
A specific moment beats a welcome and an agenda.
Read the 60-second version
- Write down a moment from your own experience that shows the idea.
- Say it in two or three sentences, as a story.
- Use it as your opening, then say what the talk is about.
Choosing the one idea
When you have too much, pick one idea and let the rest support it.
Read the 60-second version
- Write every point you want to make.
- Circle the one the talk would collapse without.
- Move or cut anything that doesn’t support that point.
Rehearsing without sounding scripted
Practise the moments and the order, not every word.
Read the 60-second version
- Learn the opening and the closing line.
- For the middle, remember the order of ideas, not the sentences.
- Say it aloud differently each time.
Your questions, answered.
Start with one idea you can say in a sentence. Build the talk around it, cut anything that does not serve it, then rehearse out loud and on your feet until it sounds like you talking, not reciting.
No. Selection is decided by the organisers, so I can’t guarantee it. What I can do is help you develop a clear idea, a stronger talk and a delivery you can trust, which gives you the best foundation for an application or an invitation.
Yes. Bring it as it is. We look at the idea, the structure and the delivery, then work out what would make the biggest difference.
We list what you want to say, then test each point against one question: would the talk still work without it? What remains is the idea. Everything else supports it or waits for questions.
It shouldn’t. We rehearse the opening, the order of ideas and the moments that matter, not every word, so the delivery stays natural and can adapt to the room.
The Room Review is a focused, 40-minute paid working session. We take one real communication challenge, identify what is already working, explore what needs attention and establish practical next steps, and you receive written notes afterwards. It costs £95. If you would rather pay in euros or dollars, I can send an invoice in pounds, euros or dollars, or you can pay securely online.
You have the idea. Let’s help it land.
Bring the talk, pitch or deck that matters. We’ll work out what needs attention and where to start.
Book a Room Review · £95Take the free Stage Intelligence Read
One focused challenge. Practical feedback. No obligation to continue.