Building Confidence Through Comedy

I recently took a Present Yourself! workshop with The Growth Company in Manchester, helping a group of their members build confidence through comedy.

Late last year I took part in their 'Spark 2 Scale' programme -  to help grow my own business, and it's been a real boost for my networking and marketing. So it only made sense then for me to then approach them at the end  and offer the service they'd helped me develop in return.

The idea for 'Present Yourself!' was born out of the stand up comedy class I had been  teaching, and has slowly 'iterated' from there over the last 2 years. Slowly adding in 'bits' from other disciples such as personal development,  solo improvisation and side coaching, and clarifying what it is - and what it isn't.  It's great finally see growth myself, the help running the event the feedback on the day was incredibly rewarding.

Stand up comedy workshop for presenting and storytelling

Stand up comedy workshop for presenting and storytelling in business

Feedback from the event:

"I came away with more confidence, and an understanding that I can talk about topics that I'm passionate about in a way to engage the audience without losing them ... probably one of the most rewarding growth hub events and totally valuable use of my time."

"Brilliant – straight away comfortably out of my comfort zone!"

"Really enjoyable. Got a lot from it. Hope to implement in my workplace."

"It will push tour boundaries, but well worth it."

"Amazing use of 3 hours to develop confidence & presentation skills."

Links

Storytelling: getting your voice heard. John Cooper blogs about the break out training session offered by Power to Change at the Locality Convention

On the 14th November I was invited by community business organisation Power to Change to deliver a break out session at the Locality Convention in Manchester. If you were there, hello! Public speaking   workshop. storytelling workshop  

Big thanks to Claire and the team at Power to Change for inviting me along. It was really quite inspiring to be around so many community leaders, people who 'get things done' for the betterment of their local communities.

The session was about providing practical techniques that would get their voices heard at local authority level,  to gain funding for their projects. It was a bit whistle stop as I tried to cram in a lot from what I've learned over the years;  being confident and comfortable speaking and sharing to developing empathy in a narrative.  I was  aware these attendees probably had their own story to tell, and indeed they did.  Everyone I spoke to over the afternoon and evening reception had an incredible story to tell. Choices they had made, often selflessly,  to make things better for those around them. Events they had made happen, goals achieved or journeys that had just begun with a sentence along the lines of  "...so I quit my regular job to go do this instead".

The strength of character in the room was tangible ( I even shared a bit of my own story)  and I was pretty humbled at the end of the session when co-organiser Charlotte showed me the feedback from attendees while I sold some of my books.

Power to Change put on a great evening reception, highlighting the history of community business with a book launch and a play  by the Manchester Shakespeare Company.

Not a bad way to spend my birthday.

Excellent workshop on telling your story led by @JohnCooper_uk, Charlotte and Clare #Locality17 pic.twitter.com/7n08SMxdEJ

— DewsburyParkMansion (@DewsParkMansion) November 14, 2017

Amazing workshop @JohnCooper_uk thank you for making the storytelling so much fun... @Locality17 pic.twitter.com/kpBDQ0MrXZ

— Hero (@CoalvilleHero) November 14, 2017

Links:

workshops for community businesses. training for community business. 

John Cooper
Comedian & artist.
2024
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