“Are you really looking to work with us? Well, I don’t know…” A drawn-out silence follows, and your counterpart fixes you with a stern, slightly disdainful look. They challenge your words, firing off questions for which you scramble to find answers. The pressure of the moment bears down on you, and even though you’re no rookie, you feel your blood pressure rising and you start to second-guess yourself. What now?

That’s exactly how the training session in rhetoric and public speaking began with Terezie Tománková and Helena Sováková. I sat in that chair, feeling both stressed and excited at the same time.

This is what fascinates me. I’m no newcomer to rhetoric—I make a living from speaking and have been training presentation skills in companies for over 15 years. But I love swapping my role as an instructor for that of a participant every now and then. Why?

🔹 There’s always something new to discover, and I love learning from the best.
🔹 It refreshes my perspective on what it’s like on the other side, so I never forget to care for my clients with respect.
🔹 I’m always moving forward.

What did I take away this time?
💡 An interesting discovery: when I can’t breathe properly while speaking, I need to focus on exhaling better, not taking in more air (try it—it works wonders).
💡 I was reminded how crucial proper articulation is, and how to strengthen it.
💡 I received direct feedback in an emotionally charged situation.
💡 It was a corrective experience that empowered me.

Terezie generously shared what helps her handle challenging conversations, and Helena offered valuable tips for building resilience. Thank you, ladies. And thanks to all the course colleagues for the great atmosphere and intriguing stories.

If you’re interested in developing your rhetorical skills, check out vyjednavame.cz. I will definitely return for the next session on media communication.

And what about you? How are you doing? Are you a seasoned pro who has everything under control, or are you still (or perhaps always) on the journey? What’s your most valuable rhetorical insight? 😉🚀

I am Katka
Your soft-skills & coaching partner