Latest news with #DineshriePillay
eNCA
28-06-2025
- General
- eNCA
Author shares tips on how to become an expert speaker
JOHANNESBURG - Speaking in front of people seems to come naturally to some people but it's a scary experience for many of us. WATCH | That's why professionals like Dineshrie Pillay are helping people find their voice. Pillay, through her book Ignition, is dispelling the myth of public speaking being an art that's mastered by only a few people.
Daily Maverick
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Maverick
From novice to expert: How to unlock your presentation potential
In this section of her newest book, Ignition: 3 Steps to Drive from the Newbie Presenter to Expert Speaker, Durban-born leadership speaker and trainer Dineshrie Pillay will help you start your journey as a speaker. Spending more than a decade-and-a-half training professionals to master the art of public speaking, Pillay has released her how-to guide for anyone who wants to get over their fear of public speaking. This practical book will provide readers with tips, speaker hacks and engaging visuals to help you 'achieve the highest levels of presentation proficiency', says Mark Brown, Emmy Award nominee and World Champion of Public Speaking. *** Growing your brand as a speaker full throttle! When I reflect on my journey of becoming a professional speaker, it involved speaking at both formal and informal events. Most of these early speeches were delivered at family occasions and social settings. Later, I started finding ways to present more formally within my role at work. It was when I started my own business that I began to develop my skills more intently as a public speaker. I realise now that every occasion, whether big or small, that I spoke at, whether it was a short speech or a longer talk, slowly developed my skill and increased my confidence as a speaker. Each of the various types of speeches requires a different presentation style, a different approach to preparation, and a different method of delivery. Yes, I made lots of mistakes in my first attempts at these speeches. What is important is that I learnt from the mistakes and I used those lessons to enhance my skills even further. Executing the function of a master of ceremonies (MC) Objective Your objective is to ensure that the event runs smoothly. You will do this by studying the agenda of activities or the presentations for the day, and taking a role on stage to be the connecting link between the audience, the speakers, the event proceedings, the event organisers and the technicians. Time limit: This will depend on the event itself, which could be anything from a one-hour event to a full day proceeding or a longer two to three-day conference. Delivery style Your delivery style should suit both your personality and the event proceedings. If the event itself is casual and light, you can adopt a more relaxed and friendlier attitude. If the event is more serious and structured, you should align your delivery to be more formal and conventional. What to be aware of You are the conduit of a message between the presenters, the event organisers, and the audience. Sit close to the aisle, or somewhere towards the side of the room where you can move around without disturbing the audience. There are times when you will need to walk to the stage to assist the presenter, and other times when you may need to walk to the back of the room to: Speak to the technician; adjust the room temperature or the lighting in the room, and speak to other people to ensure the smooth running of the event. It is your role as the MC to keep the agenda running on time. Techniques for managing time include: Having a countdown clock on the stage for the presenter to see; flashing timecards from the back of the room to notify speakers of the amount of time left. Simply have separate cards with the following words written on them: 'Ten Minutes Left'; 'Five Minutes Left'; 'TIME OUT'. Professional speakers should be allowed to manage their own timers on the stage, or with a countdown timer in the venue that they can view. It is critical to the role of the MC to know the protocols for the event to ensure an orderly flow, so that the speakers and the audience gain the maximum benefit. Some of the common protocols are listed below. Speak to the host of the event for any other protocols that are specific to the event at which you are going to be the MC. How to execute Before the event: Speak to the event organisers to understand the logistics of the event and the order of the speakers. Obtain a list of the speakers on the day, so that you can research their background. This way, you will know something about the speakers before you actually meet with them. Confirm if there will be any 'walk-on' music being played for the speakers as they enter the stage. Speak with the technician to ensure that the presenters' slides, videos, and music are in working order. Obtain a list of cellphone numbers for the speakers and the event organisers, so that you can keep in touch via your mobile devices. This helps to keep the event on track: If a speaker is late or seated in the room where you cannot see them, you can quickly communicate with each other; if a speaker is unable to locate the venue or is delayed, they can get in touch with you; if you need to ask the event organiser something or confirm a change in the agenda, you can quickly text them without disturbing the audience. Connect with the technicians to ensure that they have sufficient roving microphones to use during the question-and-answer session. Ask them to assist you in handing out the roving microphones during the question-and-answer session. Complete a sound check with your microphone and ideally use a headset. Prepare a running script that you will use as an MC on the day of the event. This essentially is the agenda, with a detailed checklist of what should occur before, during and after a speaker. The running script could include: A short introduction of the speaker; a reminder to yourself of all the protocols to announce; the snippets of information to announce at certain times of the day; the names of the breakaway rooms; videos that you would like to show if there is a gap in the agenda. At the event Names and introductions Meet with the speakers and confirm the pronunciation of their names. Ask the speakers if they have a preferred way of being introduced through a specifically worded biography. Focus on correctly pronouncing names and getting the titles of their presentation right. It is unprofessional for an MC not to do so, and it impacts your own credibility as an MC. Engagement Your role as an MC is to lift the energy of the audience. Prepare snippets of information to share with the audience that is aligned to the theme of the event. In the instance that speakers finish early, you can use these snippets of information to fill up the space. If appropriate, you can also have a selection of relevant learning videos to share with the audience. If you have a big gap to fill between speakers, you could ask the audience to engage in a discussion among the groups to reflect on their learning, their actions, and their insights. Have a roving microphone on hand, so that you can ask the group to share their insights. If your role as an MC is to facilitate the discussion among a panel of presenters, maintain eye contact with your panellists and focus on having a conversation with them alone. Keep the dialogue between yourself and your panellists fluid, natural, and conversational. For panel moderation, it is important to use the panellists' names as you pose a question to them or acknowledge their response to your question. Acknowledgement and gifts When acknowledging and thanking a presenter after their talk, there may be a gift that needs to be handed over to them. Confirm who will be officially thanking the speakers and handing over the gift. Social media interaction Ask the audience to participate in real time during the event, using social media platforms and including event hashtags. If there are going to be any prizes handed out to delegates for such social media interactions, then your role as an MC is to announce these at the start of the event. Smooth transitions Your role as an MC is to ensure that there is a smooth connection from the topic and theme, from one agenda item or speaker to the next. Your snippets of information, group discussion and moments of reflection are the techniques you use to bridge the gap between speakers. After the event Use the opportunity to request testimonials on your role as an MC via social media, like LinkedIn or formal feedback forms. You can use these testimonials for future speaking work. Reflect on your role as an MC and conduct a post-analysis of what you did well and what could be done differently next time. Ask for feedback from the host on your role as an MC. Speak with the delegates who attended the event. Ask them for their feedback on their experience on the day. Benefits of being a master of ceremonies You have the opportunity to learn how to coordinate an event from behind the scenes, as well as on the day of the event. You have direct access to the presenters and the guests on the agenda. You can learn from them and watch how they prepare and execute their presentations. You expand your network within the speaking industry to include the presenters, the audience, the event organisers, and the technicians. You can gain practical learning on the role of an MC. You will learn how to be adaptable on the day, as you must think on your feet and make quick decisions when you need to. You grow your confidence to speak, so that one day you may become a presenter yourself. DM
IOL News
09-06-2025
- General
- IOL News
The art of starting over: Public Speaking Lessons Relearned
Ignition This book provides a transformative approach to public speaking, guiding readers to master confidence, connection and presence with clarity and purpose. Public speaking is not just a skill; it is a journey. And sometimes, even seasoned speakers need to revisit the starting line. In Ignition: 3 Steps to Drive from Newbie Presenter to Expert Speaker, Dineshrie Pillay offers a fresh, structured approach to mastering your message, your mindset and your presence. More than a how-to, Ignition is a guided reset designed to reignite your confidence, reconnect you with your audience, and remind you why you stepped up to speak in the first place. Public speaking has been a cornerstone of both my personal and professional growth. Long before I picked up Ignition by Dineshrie Pillay, I had spent years in front of audiences refining my delivery, mastering the rhythm of a compelling story, and learning how to truly connect. As a Distinguished Toastmaster, I understood the mechanics of a strong speech. But this book reminded me of something even more essential. Even experienced speakers need a reset. A moment to strip things back, recenter, and remember what really works. Coming Home to the Basics Reading Ignition felt like coming home to the fundamentals but through a sharper lens. It did not teach me something brand new. Instead, it reframed what I already knew. It gave structure to instinct and language to habits I had developed but had not fully understood. Confidence Is Not a Feeling It Is a Process One of the most pervasive myths in public speaking is that confidence is innate, that you either have it or you do not. Let us be real. Confidence is not a magical personality trait. It is built. I still remember my first Toastmasters speech. My hands trembled. My voice barely filled the room. Every sentence felt like it was on fast forward. I kept waiting for confidence to show up like some kind of superhero. It did not! What Ignition reinforced, something I have learned the hard way, is that confidence is a muscle. You train it. You build it. You earn it through reps. The most powerful speakers are not always the most talented; they are the ones who practice deliberately and consistently. That line stopped me in my tracks. Because it is not about waiting to feel confident. It is about doing the work that builds your confidence. The Power of Enjoying Your Own Speech One of my favourite takeaways was a deceptively simple idea. You have to enjoy your speech before anyone else can. When I am excited about my message, when I genuinely enjoy the words I am saying, everything changes. My pacing smooths out. My tone finds its rhythm. My presence lands. And the audience, they lean in. 'You must enjoy your speech first—otherwise, how will your audience enjoy it?' That hit hard. Because I have given speeches where I was too focused on perfection and others where I was just in the moment, fully alive in the message. The difference was night and day. Ignition reminded me that public speaking is not just a performance. It is a shared experience. And if the speaker is not feeling it, the audience will not either. Final Thoughts This was not a reinvention. It was a recalibration. A chance to re-engage with my craft from a place of curiosity and clarity. For me, it was a well timed reminder. Confidence is built, not born. Enjoyment matters. And no matter how long you have been speaking, it is always worth stepping back to view your voice with fresh eyes. Ignition is more than a book—it's a transformative guide to mastering the art of public speaking with confidence, clarity and impact. * Ignition is available at Exclusive Books.
