FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Public Speaking and Camera Confidence FAQs

Answers to the questions Samantha is asked most, from nerves and going blank to presentations, job interviews, camera confidence and court appearances. She coaches online with clients worldwide and in person in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast.

25 years

coaching executives and leaders

1–2 sessions

for most clients to see results

Since 2002

founder of Dare Enterprises

Can you help me with my PowerPoint presentation?

Yes. As a public speaking and presentation skills coach, Samantha has run corporate workshops focusing on PowerPoint presentations for decades. She also coaches individuals and groups online, locally, interstate and internationally, and travels to run workshops for companies. Her coaching includes structuring the talk, speech writing and advising on slides. She has watched tens of thousands of ineffective presentations across every industry, worldwide, where the calls to action, and in fact most of the key points, are largely forgotten shortly afterwards. Bring or send your slides or a rough draft and she will shape your message so it lands, then coach you on delivery, whether it is a sales pitch, a keynote or a business presentation. Most clients see results in 1–2 sessions.

How do I calm my nerves or stop a panic attack when speaking in public?

Nerves, fear of public speaking and presentation anxiety are your body's natural stress response, known as fight or flight. You would be surprised at the calibre of speakers who still have panic attacks, as an intimidating audience or camera can rattle even a seasoned politician, CEO, celebrity or barrister. The good news is it's a normal human response that Samantha has coached people through all over the world. She uses tools and tricks from theatre, TV, psychology and decades of communication and empowerment training to calm fight or flight and activate your parasympathetic nervous system. You feel empowered, calm, centred and clear-headed, so you can focus on influencing your audience instead of worrying what they think of you. Most clients feel the difference in 1–2 sessions.

How do I stop going blank or freezing in front of an audience or camera?

Samantha's 3 pro tips:

Slow breaths, pausing and a good solid neutral stance need to be your default.
A variety of breathing techniques, such as pranayama breathing or making your out breath longer than your in breath, are proven to activate your rest and digest or parasympathetic nervous system.
Preparation is key. Prepare more than you think you need and know your opening, closing and 3 key points and call to action backwards, so when nerves kick in you are not easily rattled and can get the job done regardless.

Going blank or freezing is common, very fixable and a symptom of your body going into fight, flight or freeze. Samantha has decades of experience and incredibly effective techniques to calm your system, lose self-consciousness and ensure you are clear-headed.

How do I build confidence and become a more confident public speaker?

Samantha's 2 pro tips:

Focus on and really lean into how important your message is to your audience and how it can change their lives.
Raise the stakes, so your drive to influence your audience outweighs your self-consciousness.

Samantha has many tools and tricks of the trade to help you both build confidence on a very deep level over time and manage any evidence of nerves while you still have your training wheels on in the short term. She ensures your “message” speaks louder than your “mess”. She sees past the self-doubt to each person's pure potential and brings it out. She also coaches body language, posture, gestures, eye contact, vocal projection, energy, passion and charisma. Most clients see a dramatic improvement in 1–2 sessions.

Can a public speaking coach help with social anxiety and panic atttttacks?

Many people come to public speaking coaching sessions who experience social anxiety and panic attacks, and psychologists and speech pathologists refer patients to Samantha. The tools that help calm the system to empower you to be a more confident, charismatic and articulate communicator will pay dividends socially and professionally for the rest of your life. Coaching is not a substitute for medical care for severe social anxiety or panic attacks.

I hate how I look and sound on camera. Can you help?

Samantha's 4 pro tips:

Good lighting and good sound are imperative. The most flattering light is outdoors at dusk or dawn (golden hour) or on a cloudy day, so your face is beautifully and softly lit with no squinting.
Know your angles. Everyone has a better side and better angles.
Know your flattering cuts and colours.
No busy backgrounds or patterns on clothes that distract from your face or message.

As a former TV host and founder of talent agency Dare Enterprises, established in 2002, Samantha has loads of industry tricks and tips from decades in front of and behind the camera to build your camera confidence, so you look and sound your very best, whether it's a media appearance, video for social content or your website, an online job interview or a headshot. If needed, coaching covers your best angles, lighting, background, makeup, hair and clothes styling, but the real magic happens when you lose all self-consciousness and project charisma and confidence through the lens. This applies to headshots and still photos too, including how to pose for photos and look good in photos.

How do I speak with more authority and command a room?

Samantha's 3 pro tips:

You have seconds, not minutes, to grab attention and command the room, so skip pleasantries like “welcome” and “nice to be here”. You don't need to be liked, you need to be remembered and respected. Open with an unusual, memorable statement, shocking statistic or fun fact that breaks the ice and reinforces your key message, and conclude with a crystal clear call to action.
Pausing and taking moments to genuinely connect with eye contact is very powerful.
Focus on how your message is helping or changing the lives of your audience.

Samantha has coached executives, leaders and communicators for 25 years, helping them become authoritative and persuasive in the boardroom, on stage and on screen. She coaches leadership presence, body language, eye contact, vocal projection, posture, gestures, energy, passion and charisma.

Can you help me prepare for a job interview, including online and self-tape interviews?

Samantha's 4 pro tips:

Put the camera at eye level and look into the lens, not at your own face, so they feel you are talking to them.
Lead with your answer, then back it up with a real life example.
Pause before you answer, and stand up if possible. Screens can zap your energy and enthusiasm, so crank it up a bit.
Make sure you have great lighting and sound, an uncluttered background and flattering, non-patterned clothes.

Samantha role plays and asks typical and tough questions so you are well prepared, whether the interview is in person, online or a self-tape. She coaches you to deliver succinct answers with confidence.

Can you help with speech writing, such as a wedding speech, eulogy, keynote or conference talk?

Yes. Speech writing is one of Samantha's specialties. She can help rewrite your speech to make it land and be memorable, but the real magic happens with the delivery coaching. Sessions are online with clients anywhere in the world, or in person in Noosa. Most clients see a dramatic improvement in 1–2 sessions.

How do I prepare for a court appearance?

Samantha has coached barristers, police prosecutors and victims for decades and she knows what you are up against at a court appearance. She covers much more than nerves and panic attacks: she role plays tough questioning from a barrister, so you can speak clearly and articulately without being derailed by an aggressive opponent. Her breathing techniques help get you out of fight or flight, so nerves don't get in the way of you speaking the truth. Many clients whose hearings were being adjourned due to debilitating panic attacks leave after one session feeling confident and prepared to face their opponent and the courtroom. She coaches composure and delivery only and does not give legal advice.

Do you coach online or in person, and do you run public speaking classes?

Samantha works 1:1, online with clients around the world and in person in Noosa. She also runs workshops for large multinationals and in-house group workshops, interstate and internationally. Availability is limited, so please enquire early.

How soon can I book in?

Samantha is in demand and currently has a wait list. If you have an urgent court date, job interview or a big presentation coming up, contact her today to see what is possible.

Contact

Samantha has a wait list, so the sooner you reach out the better. If you have an urgent court date, job interview or big presentation coming up, contact her today to see what is possible.