What People are Saying
Below you can read comments from some of the people I’ve coached.
I can't thank you enough for being so committed to providing your great service. It really made a difference to the way I approach not only communication but work and life generally. So many people in their work are giving less than the right amount of energy - why? Can I maintain Lyndon-like levels of commitment?? Anyway, thanks so much, I really appreciate it.
DP Corporate Lawyer
I worked with Lyndon over a two month period to enhance my personal impact in presentations and my ability to lead groups. What started out as an intensive workout to improve performance turned into a more serious and life enhancing journey. I began to learn the techniques associated with giving a performance – Lyndon’s training and experience as an actor gives her an in depth understanding of how that can work to your advantage. As the process developed, I became aware of the impression and impact that I could have on others. It can be highly effective and provides the direct feedback to allow you to know that what you have been learning is working. Lyndon’s insight into your personality and preferences allows her to create a programme of development that suits the individual. She does not try to deliver a “one size fits all” training approach; it is personal, designed to meet the individual’s needs and more effective as a result.
And finally, it is something that never quite goes away. A couple of years later and it remains difficult for me to engage with others without remembering some of the techniques Lyndon shared.
Senior Official in the Public Sector
I recommend Lyndon wholeheartedly. In a short period of time Lyndon transformed me from a hesitant speaker filled with anxiety into a natural, engaging speaker brimming with confidence.
Managing director of large financial services company
I had joined a major company in a senior position and was quickly faced with preparing with one of the company's most important presentations to a critical audience. In such situations you look for someone you can trust and who can help you deliver your messages correctly and with style. Lyndon fulfilled her role brilliantly.
She is clearly very good at helping people but what makes her stand out is her willingness to be honest and direct without you losing the sense that she really is batting in your corner and wants you to do really well.
The key presentation was a major success and I attribute much of that to Lyndon's very special personal and professional qualities.
Managing director of major car-hire company
I head up the Department for International Development’s operation in South East Asia. I determined that myself and other senior colleagues in the region needed to sharpen up our communication skills in order to deliver the business more effectively. We are working in a very dynamic environment where effective oral communication is key in influencing the range of development partners with whom we work and in driving forward change within our own organisation.
We engaged Lyndon to work one-on-one with all the heads of office in the region. Each had different development needs and we were extremely impressed by the way Lyndon tailored her approach to help every individual improve their performance. The impact of Lyndon's work was truly astonishing. Everyone who worked with Lyndon was delighted with her support, and in particular with the very practical tips and techniques she provided them with. I have never before had staff so keen and enthusiastic to try out what they had learned from a training session.
I personally gained much from Lyndon. She helped me better understand the impact of my communication style on others and how to get the best from a particular situation. She was great to work with, and both my ability and confidence as a communicator has risen
to a new level as a result of her efforts.
Head of regional office – UK government department
Lyndon took time out to understand my needs and helped me to find my voice. She built up my confidence in public speaking and, through her training, enabled me to present far more effectively than I had
previously thought possible.She taught me voice projection, breathing, phrasing, rhythm and how to effectively hold the attention of an audience. It was a wonderful learning experience and one which I thoroughly enjoyed. I have already introduced her to other senior colleagues within the NHS.
Chairman, Primary Care Trust
Lyndon's work with individuals - and groups - is powerful, thought provoking and practical; an innovative approach to helping people overcome the demon of public speaking. A truly gifted individual.
Learning and Development director of major finance house
I was recently promoted into a new department within a large UK public sector organisation, working as senior adviser. I started working with Lyndon at at time when I was struggling to find my feet
in the new position.Following several one-to-one and group sessions Lyndon was able to pinpoint critical elements of my communications style and helped me with techniques to increase the impact of my formal and informal presentations. At the same time, Lyndon alerted me to how certain behaviours and attitudes could be inhibiting my
professional effectiveness.I often think back to Lyndon's messages before important meetings and presentations. Her style is highly effective in the way that it combines incisive observations, coaching on practical techniques (such as breathing and posture) and facilitating self-reflection.
In our regular appraisal meetings, senior management has noted a strong improvement in my presence and impact that I can attribute to the work that I have did with Lyndon.
Senior Adviser working for a UK Government Department
I was asked to speak at the Annual Charity Dragon Awards Dinner at the Mansion House in London, in front of the Lord Mayor of London and 450 of his guests from "blue chip" companies. My task for the evening was to introduce a personal friend who had been awarded the main prize.
So, like most inexperienced public speakers, I wrote out every word, and tried to set it to memory. I thought it was witty, intelligent and flowed extremely well.I read it to my partner, who immediately reached for the phone and called Lyndon - and a meeting was hurriedly arranged.
I still couldn't see what was wrong with the speech, until we watched the video playback - and it was then I realised my speech was awful. Over the next few hours, using a variety of techniques, the two A4 sheets of notes I had arrived with, had turned into no more than eight ‘prompt words’ and I had a speech that, a couple of days later, entertained everyone at the Mansion House.
Lyndon gave me the confidence to deliver the speech, and showed me the techniques of how to get and keep your audience’s attention.
The techniques used are extremely simple to put into practice, and I find myself using them all the time with amazing results.
I can't recommend Lyndon highly enough. Without doubt, she gave me the confidence to deliver the speech of my life.
Senior Operational Manager of major charity
Lyndon’s infectious enthusiasm, perceptive nature and will for others to succeed, built upon her obvious experience and expertise, provide an exciting package for my clients.
She has a unique ability for getting to the heart of issues and providing expert feedback and guidance in a non-threatening and useable way.
I recommend her highly.
Colin Fenn
Managing Consultant. CFA Consulting
The value of Lyndon's workshops are multiple. You will be left with a lasting memory, that allows you make use of all it covers for years to come. Lyndon does exactly what she says she will, engaging everyone actively to have a real understanding of their personal impact, to be able to identify where their strengths lay and where they need to focus their development. She helps attendees with speech, presentation construction, posture, breathing and so much more.... but for me the added and most powerful benefit to those that attend is the challenge it sets the attendees, it requires egos to be left at the door and those that can
do that gain the most.
Development manager at Lastminute.com
In my line of work, speaking in public is really important. It is expected that you will give presentations to large and varied groups, speak out in meetings in a confident and coherent way and generally be comfortable in expressing opinions, especially when they provide an opposite point of view. For years I had felt unable to do any of these things.
I came to a point where I didn’t want that feeling to continue and
I wanted to change it.I had 6 training sessions with Lyndon Hughes and I can say with certainty that they changed my life, both professionally and personally. The best thing about the training was that it was tailored to my needs. Lyndon gave me her undivided attention for each 3 hour session and drew on her vast experience as a trainer to provide a variety of stimulating and
motivating techniques.Lyndon videoed me during the sessions and we went through the tapes together, so I could see how I looked, get used to hearing my own voice and get feedback on how to improve. What I realized was that how I came across was very different to the way I felt I was coming across. Watching my progress through those sessions was a remarkable experience.
Now, more than 2 years later, I have a completely different approach to giving presentations and speaking out; they have become a regular and welcome feature in my job. I still remember the tips that Lyndon gave me and use them in preparation and when I am speaking. But the real change was a much more fundamental shift that has had major repercussions in the types of jobs I apply for and subsequently, am offered.
Technical analyst for major NGO