Whether you’re speaking to a thousand people from a stage or one person across a table, how you communicate shapes what people remember.
In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike sits down with Stefano Cossalter, a seven-time public speaking champion, keynote speaker, trainer, master hypnotist, NLP master practitioner, and certified coach. Stefano has won more speaking competitions than anyone in the 90-plus-year history of Toastmasters in BC, but becoming a confident speaker was anything but automatic for him.
Stefano shares how he went from freezing in conversations and avoiding networking to building a career around public speaking and helping others become more effective communicators.
Mike and Stefano explore why public speaking is ultimately a leadership skill, how storytelling helps create connection and influence, and why humour is something people can learn and practise. Stefano also breaks down his simple four-part framework for telling a compelling story and explains why preparation gives speakers more freedom to be present when it matters.
They also discuss how to personalize a presentation for an audience, why useful feedback can make such a difference, and how preparation can help speakers respond when things don’t go according to plan.
In this episode:
- Why public speaking matters far beyond the stage
- Stefano’s journey from avoiding public speaking to becoming a seven-time speaking champion
- How communication skills can be developed through practice
- A four-part framework for telling more compelling stories
- How vulnerability can help create connection
- Why humour often comes from disrupting expectations
- Practical ways to bring levity into a presentation
- How to ask for feedback that helps you improve
- Why connecting with an audience can begin before you take the stage
- The difference between personalizing and completely rebuilding a presentation
- Why strong communicators prepare instead of relying on their ability to wing it
- How preparation helps you adapt when things don’t go according to plan
Whether you regularly speak from a stage, lead meetings, present ideas, or simply want to communicate more effectively, this conversation offers practical ways to become a more prepared, connected, and memorable communicator.
Episode Resources:
Connect with Stefano: LinkedIn / Website
Stefano TEDx talk
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