Scottish Public Speaking Coach on: Making Your Message Clear

No matter where you are in Scotland—from the boardrooms of Glasgow to the lecture theatres of Aberdeen or the community stages of Inverness—public speaking is part of daily professional life.

But here’s the challenge: being heard is not the same as being understood.

You can have excellent content, a killer slide deck, and a strong voice. But if your message is unclear—if your audience leaves unsure about your point—you’ve lost the moment.

Clarity is the cornerstone of great communication. And yet, it’s often the first thing to slip when the pressure rises.

In this article, I’ll walk you through the most common barriers to clarity—from stage fright and flat delivery to disorganised structure and distracting body language—and give you practical, psychology-backed tools to overcome them. This is for professionals across Scotland who want to raise their public speaking game and connect with audiences more effectively.

Why Clarity is the Skill That Separates Good Public Speakers from Great Ones

Many people assume great speakers are born with charisma. But in truth, the ones we remember—whether they’re politicians, CEOs, or community leaders—are those who speak clearly and confidently.

Clarity ensures:

• Your message is understood the first time.

• Your ideas resonate and stick.

• Your audience trusts and engages with you.

Let’s break down what gets in the way of clarity and how to conquer it—wherever you’re speaking in Scotland, be it a business meeting in Edinburgh or a leadership training in Perth.

1. Stage Fright: The First Obstacle to Clear Speech

Let’s meet Darren.He’s a senior civil engineer based in Stirling. He’s asked to deliver a progress update to stakeholders. He knows the content, but the moment he’s in front of the room, his throat tightens. His hands tremble. He skips half of what he meant to say.

His clarity evaporated the moment his anxiety kicked in.

What’s Happening?

This is a textbook case of performance stress. The sympathetic nervous system goes into fight-or-flight mode, flooding your body with adrenaline. Your cognitive functions suffer—particularly clarity, recall, and verbal fluidity.

What You Can Do

• Regulate your breath. Try box breathing: inhale for 4 seconds, hold, exhale for 4, hold again.

• Ground yourself physically. Feel the floor beneath your feet. Anchor your stance.

• Embrace nerves as energy. Turn “I’m nervous” into “I’m ready.”

Try This

Stand in front of a mirror or camera. Rehearse your introduction three times, focusing only on breath, posture, and pace. You’ll feel more in control and sound more focused.

2. Poor Audience Engagement: When the Room Goes Cold

Imagine this. Morag, a community organiser from Dundee, is delivering a passionate presentation about a local initiative. She’s done her homework. But twenty minutes in, she realises: no one is really with her. They’re nodding politely but not connecting.

She’s speaking to them, but not with them.

Why This Happens

Many speakers get so caught up in delivering content that they forget the audience is part of the experience. Without active engagement, your message gets lost—no matter how good your ideas are.

How to Re-Engage

• Use inclusive language. Words like we, you, and together draw people in.

• Ask rhetorical questions. These activate attention and reflection.

• Watch the room. Adjust if you see signs of boredom or confusion.

Try This

Start your talk with a relatable anecdote or question:"Have you ever felt like your voice wasn’t being heard?"This draws your audience into the story and frames your message around them.

3. Flat Delivery: Vocal Variety as a Secret Weapon

Ever listened to a speaker whose voice never changed? No highs. No pauses. Just a stream of even, unbroken sentences?

Even if the content is strong, monotone kills attention.

Why Vocal Variety Matters

We’re hard-wired to respond to change. A dynamic voice signals importance, passion, urgency, or reflection. Without it, your audience tunes out—especially in long sessions or virtual meetings.

Ways to Add Vocal Interest

• Pitch: Raise or lower your tone to highlight emotion.

• Pace: Slow down for key points. Speed up to energise.

• Pause: Give your audience time to absorb ideas.

Try This

Take a paragraph from your talk and read it aloud with three different emotions: passion, seriousness, and wonder. Record and replay. You’ll quickly hear what brings your message to life.

4. Body Language That Undermines Your Message

Let’s say you’re delivering a talk on innovation. You say you're excited, but your arms are folded, you’re swaying on the spot, and your eye contact is stuck on your notes.

Your audience believes your body, not your words.

Common Body Language Mistakes

• Closed posture

• Overactive fidgeting

• Eye avoidance

• Rigid stillness or aimless pacing

Body Language That Supports Clarity

• Stand tall with your shoulders relaxed.

• Use open gestures that mirror your words.

• Scan the room and make eye contact section by section.

Try This

Deliver a one-minute talk and film yourself without sound. Does your body language say “I believe in what I’m saying”? If not, adjust posture and gesture for alignment.

5. Messy Structure: When Your Message Gets Lost

You’ve probably heard this one:A speaker begins with a story, jumps into stats, then loops back to the intro, then pivots into a side point… and ends without a clear conclusion.

You admire the effort—but struggle to remember the point.

Why Structure is Crucial

A well-organised message gives your audience a roadmap. Without it, they get lost in the weeds. Clarity suffers.

Structure That Works

• Start strong: hook with a story, quote, or question.

• State your main message clearly.

• Deliver 2–4 key points in a logical order.

• Support each with evidence or illustration.

• Finish with a memorable takeaway or call to action.

Try This

Outline your next talk using just five lines:

1. Hook

2. Key message

3. Point 1

4. Point 2

5. Conclusion

If your talk doesn’t make sense on paper, it won’t in the room either.

Clarity Isn’t a Talent – It’s a Trainable Skill

You don’t need to be extroverted to be clear. You don’t need to be dramatic to be memorable. But you do need to be intentional.

Clear speakers:

• Prepare with purpose

• Rehearse with feedback

• Speak with structure

• Deliver with confidence

Whether you're leading a workshop in Fort William, giving a toast in Ayr, or pitching in Glasgow, clarity will always be your most powerful tool.

Ready to Take Your Public Speaking to the Next Level?

If you’ve ever finished a talk and thought, I could’ve done better, then now is the perfect time to invest in your growth.

As a Scotland-based public speaking coach, I help individuals across the country:

• Refine and simplify their message

• Overcome anxiety and stage fright

• Improve delivery and structure

• Develop a strong, authentic voice

Whether you're preparing for a leadership event, an industry conference, or just want to feel more in control when speaking, personalised coaching can fast-track your progress and build real, lasting confidence.

Book your discovery session today and start speaking with clarity, courage, and conviction.

About the Author

Mark Westbrook is a highly experienced public speaking coach based in Scotland, working with professionals across industries to help them become clearer, more confident communicators.

With over 20 years of experience in teaching, coaching, and performance, Mark brings a practical, psychologically-informed approach to speech preparation and delivery. His clients include leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, and creatives who want to speak with impact in high-stakes environments.

Whether you’re preparing for a pitch, presentation, or panel discussion, Mark helps you craft your message and deliver it in a way that earns trust, holds attention, and inspires action.