by LYIS
One of the standout highlights of this year’s #LYIS25 conference was the opportunity for attendees to take part in personalised, one-to-one Public Speaking Coaching Sessions with the highly respected LAMDA practitioner, Elizabeth (Libby) Delfgou. With her extensive background in theatre, coaching, and education, Libby brought not only her expertise but also warmth and encouragement to every session.
These intimate coaching slots offered attendees the rare chance to receive direct, constructive feedback tailored to their individual needs. Whether someone was looking to overcome nerves, sharpen delivery skills, or refine an upcoming presentation, Libby’s thoughtful guidance helped unlock new levels of confidence and clarity. Importantly, her coaching didn’t just focus on fixing weaknesses—it celebrated and elevated existing strengths.
As Libby emphasised, public speaking is a crucial skill in virtually every professional setting—whether you’re pitching an idea, leading a team meeting, advocating for change, or simply communicating with clarity and impact.
Her sessions centered around one central question: How can we better connect with our audience?
Key Focus Areas
Libby shared several actionable strategies to improve both speech writing and delivery:
Hook Them Early – Capture attention from the very first sentence with a thought-provoking question, a quote, or a personal story.
Make Eye Contact – Engage individuals in the room, not just the crowd.
Vocal Variety – Use changes in pitch, pace, and tone to maintain interest and emphasize key messages.
Gestures and Movement – Use your body purposefully; avoid rigidity or over-animation.
Be Relatable – People remember stories far more than data—personal anecdotes make abstract ideas memorable.
End with Impact – Don’t fade out. Finish strong with a statement or question that lingers in the audience’s mind.
The idea of “Ending with Impact” particularly resonated with attendees. Many speakers, Libby noted, tend to close with a simple “thank you” and miss a valuable opportunity to leave a lasting impression. A strong ending helps the message stick—and makes the speaker unforgettable.
The Power of Technique
In addition to practical feedback, Libby also introduced two helpful frameworks:
The 7 P’s of Public Speaking: Pronunciation, Pace, Pause, Punch, Power, Passion, and Posture.
The 6 C’s of Effective Communication: Clear, Concise, Correct, Contextual, Concrete, and Caring.
These models provided an easy-to-remember checklist for effective delivery—tools participants could take away and refer back to again and again.
Practice Makes Progress
Each session concluded with a chance for the attendees to deliver a short speech—either something they had prepared themselves or one of Libby’s provided examples. This immediate application of skills gave attendees valuable experience in a safe, supportive setting and allowed Libby to offer live feedback on their delivery.
From nervous first-timers to seasoned speakers looking to polish their edge, everyone left the sessions feeling more empowered and equipped for their next speaking engagement.
These sessions were a powerful reminder that with the right support, anyone can become a compelling communicator. Bravo to Libby and all the participants who took the opportunity—you inspired us all.
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