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Simply Connect

by Tessa Davis

I help you deliver better presentations and more effective education so you build a solid connection with your audience.

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Featured Post

My Mystic Meg prediction For 2024 Interviews

This is a special 3 part email series. If you missed the previous you can catch up by reading part 1 and part 2 here (they’re a 2 minute read). Yesterday I promised to tell you how to stand out from the pack as an interview candidate in 2023. Now I’ll be honest. It’s rather strange writing this because, not that long ago, I was stuck being the interview candidate who never got THAT call. My years as a trainee were anything but ‘standing out from the pack’. Every interview I did I seemed to...

6 months ago • 3 min read

This is a special 3 part email series. If you missed yesterday’s, we discussed why geography ISN’T the most important benefit of securing your consultant job. You read it here. I grew up in Glasgow. Which might sound pretty cool, but I was NOT one of the cool kids. I was in the Debating Society and was ALWAYS in the chorus in the school musical. I think you get the picture. It was a rugby school and it was full of smart people. In spite of being a Debating Nerd, I coped well. Me and my sister...

7 months ago • 2 min read

I was ecstatic when I got my substantive NHS Consultant job. If you've ever spent years dreaming of something, you'll appreciate just how stressful the thought of failing is. But I'm surprised about what's made the biggest difference since I got the job... I thought it would be staying in one place. As a trainee I'd worked in over 30 different jobs. That feeling of having to prove yourself over and over again is....urghhh. The thing is… I thought staying in the same place would be the best...

7 months ago • 2 min read

Hey Reader, I once went to a job interview where I’d done no prep. It was early in my career. I thought I’d just ‘be myself’. I had no idea what I was doing. I dread to think how bad I was. Needless to say, I didn’t get the job. The harsh truth? You’re unlikely to be a natural interview legend either. This is where frameworks come in. Frameworks are something to fall back on so you perform your best at interview. Without frameworks, what happens when you get asked an unexpected question....?...

8 months ago • 3 min read

Hey Reader, Where have you been??? Haha. I took a break from my weekly newsletter to put my head down on a new project. And I want to share what I learned. I've been interview coaching for a few years and I LOVE it. Helping people face their fears. Then helping them overcome their fears. And most importantly helping them secure their dream jobs. So for the last 5 weeks I put together and launched my course. But the launch process has taught me heaps. My newsletter will focus on interview tips...

8 months ago • 2 min read

Hey Reader, “I don’t get it,” says the audience member, “We have lived perfectly good and virtuous lives. Why are we being subjected to this hell?” The presenter nervously rubs the back of their head. “Honestly? I was pretty sure you’d be happier in this hell than heaven.” This is the problem. As presenters, we are certain we do the audience a favor by putting everything on our slides. But as audience members….it’s boring as hell. Let’s get real. Death By PowerPoint is NOT for the benefit of...

10 months ago • 3 min read

Hey Reader, It was supposed to be a simple task: Start my presentation without telling the audience who I am. I don't NEED to start with the words 'thanks for inviting me' or by explaining how happy I am to be here. It shouldn't be hard. I've watched hundreds of TED talks and I know what a captivating start to a presentation looks like. I must grab their attention. I must make them like me at the beginning. But I've never done it before. I've never launched right into the presentation. I've...

10 months ago • 2 min read

Hey Reader, “I’m sorry I’m speaking in front of....who?!” I say in shock. (Grammar pedants don't @ me, it's just how I speak). I've found out I'm giving a conference presentation in ONE WEEK and there will be someone Very Important in the audience.... How did I end up here??!! So now I'm spending the whole afternoon Googling the etiquette for addressing Royalty. Real Royalty. PRINCESS ANNE. But there's more. After I deliver my presentation, she's going to join me on the stage and deliver her...

10 months ago • 2 min read

Have you ever given a presentation that fell flat, Reader? I have. There I was, pouring my heart and soul into a presentation I had worked on for freaking hours. But, as I glanced out at the audience (only for a second because I was trying to remember what I was going to say next), I saw people flicking through their phones. Checking Twitter no doubt. Or that very important work email. Someone had actually nodded off! Oh man, I wasn't even keeping people's attention enough for them to bother...

11 months ago • 3 min read

Hey Reader, We all know the feeling of sitting through a talk that feels generic and uninspiring as though it could have been delivered to ANY audience. Crafting presentations that resonate with your audience is not just about delivering information; it’s about leaving them feeling inspired and connected. Without that connection, a presentation can quickly become a forgettable experience. So, how can you ensure your audience stays engaged and attentive throughout? This week, I’ll show you how...

11 months ago • 4 min read
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