27: Mastering Performance Skills: From Journalist to Transformational Speaker with Australian Broadcast Journalist Sophie Scott OAM

Speaker Driven Business

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In this profound episode of The Speaker Driven Business, Jacqueline Nagle lets us in on an illuminating conversation with Sophie Scott OAM, an accomplished Australian journalist who boldly transitioned into professional speaking and carved out remarkable success for herself.

Sophie offers insights from delivering her first TEDx talk on recovering from burnout. She reveals a crucial realisation — that she needs to evolve from being a straightforward, instructive journalist to becoming an engaging, relatable speaker.

Jacqueline and Sophie dive deeper into key learnings, including narrowing content to impactfully deliver what the audience can absorb, the discomfort of new challenges, letting messages land through strategic pausing, and grounding yourself physically when you’re up on stage. Sophie also stresses embodying emotions so audiences feel moved rather than just informed.

This enlightening and amusing episode lets us further unearth other gems — the significance of vocal variety, the concept of being in the Second Circle when presenting, and the value of discerning feedback.

Peppered with vulnerable reflections and sprinkled with laughter, this episode will leave you feeling connected, motivated, and re-energized about the exhilarating craft of impactful speaking.

WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:

• Who is Sophie Scott? (03:09)
• Why it should not be all about the views and going viral (06:29)
• Sophie’s original motivation for pursuing a TED talk (07:50)
• Sophie’s TEDx talk on burnout and burnout recovery (10:17)
• What Sophie needed to adjust to in the transition from journalist to speaker (12:53)
• What Sophie liked best about doing her first TEDx talk and what her biggest takeaways are (16:13)
• Why you should not adopt the cookie cutter approach to speaking: The Second Circle concept (20:05)
• The impact of Sophie’s TED Talk on her career (22:57)
• Sophie’s insights on her TED Talk experience: The importance of pausing and emotion mapping (23:57)
• Creating the Mic Drop technique (26:29)
• The value of vocal variety in speaking (29:16)
• The challenges of online presenting (36:13)
• The importance of discerning feedback (37:59)
• How to prepare for a TEDx Talk (40:52)
• Three quick questions for Sophie (41:32)

“You can get burnt out even in a job that you really enjoy. You don't have to be in a job that you hate to get burnt out.” - Sophie Scott

“And this is probably my biggest takeaway from being on the stage — was that you need to practise being on a stage.” - Sophie Scott

“That's what emotional mapping brings. People don't change anything unless you actually tap into their emotions.” - Jacqueline Nagle

“Not all feedback that comes your way is meant for you. Most feedback is an opinion and not actually feedback.” - Jacqueline Nagle

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