What They Don’t Teach You About Public Speaking in Business School (Edinburgh Edition)
In Edinburgh's thriving business landscape—from the historic closes of the Old Town to the glass-walled boardrooms of the New Town—one skill continues to separate the confident leaders from the quietly competent: public speaking.
And yet, despite the rigour of MBA programmes and business qualifications from top Scottish institutions, many professionals leave without mastering this essential craft.
Why? Because public speaking isn’t just a business tool—it’s a personal performance. It involves emotion, presence, persuasion, and adaptability. These are not easily taught in a lecture hall.
This post explores the critical gaps in business education and provides real-world, actionable guidance for Edinburgh professionals who want to sharpen their communication skills and influence.
The Business School Gap: A Quick Reality Check
Even with a degree from Edinburgh Business School or Heriot-Watt, you may find yourself unprepared for real-life communication scenarios such as:
Nerves before a board presentation on George Street
Losing the attention of a conference room in Haymarket
Fumbling through a client pitch near Lothian Road
Business school sharpens your strategic thinking but often misses the following:
Managing anxiety or stage fright
Developing a dynamic stage presence
Emotionally connecting with audiences
Effective use of voice and body language
Presenting without relying solely on slides
Stage Fright: The Silent Career Killer
Scenario: You’ve prepared your materials, rehearsed in your Morningside flat, and reviewed everything twice at your Bruntsfield cafe of choice. But when it’s time to present, you freeze.
Even highly competent Edinburgh professionals experience this. It’s not a weakness—it’s a survival response.
How to Overcome It:
Reframe the Fear: Reframe nerves as excitement. A Harvard Business School study (ironically) backs this simple mental shift.
Breathing Techniques: Try box breathing to ground yourself before speaking at a networking event in Stockbridge.
Visualise Success: Picture yourself confidently addressing a room at The Balmoral or The Hub.
Gradual Exposure: Start by presenting to your local meetup group or charity board.
Exercise: Record yourself on Arthur's Seat or Calton Hill introducing yourself in 2 minutes. Watch it back. Repeat until natural.
Poor Audience Engagement: Talking At Instead of To
Scenario: You’re presenting at a business breakfast in Leith, but people are checking their phones.
Information alone doesn’t engage. Connection does.
How to Overcome It:
Tell Stories: Use local success stories from the Royal Mile or relatable anecdotes from your own experience.
Ask Questions: Keep the audience thinking—even rhetorically.
Vary Vocal Delivery: A dynamic voice keeps attention better than endless bullet points.
Exercise: Go through your next slide deck and insert one question or personal anecdote per section.
Lack of Vocal Variety: Speaking in a Flat Tone
Scenario: You're leading a workshop at the EICC, but attendees seem to drift.
Vocal monotony is a common culprit.
How to Overcome It:
Self-Awareness: Record and listen to your delivery. Many are surprised by their own voice.
Intentional Changes: Slow down, speed up, pause dramatically.
Emotional Connection: Match your tone to your message. Sound passionate when it matters.
Exercise: Practise reading Robert Louis Stevenson aloud, experimenting with emphasis and tone.
Ineffective Body Language
Scenario: Your presentation at a festival venue in Newington looks polished, but no one seems moved.
Non-verbal cues matter.
How to Overcome It:
Open Posture: No defensive folding of arms or pacing back and forth.
Purposeful Movement: Gesture intentionally, especially during key points.
Consistent Eye Contact: Make real connection with the audience—even in large halls.
Exercise: Deliver a 60-second speech in front of a mirror. Watch it again on mute. What does your body say?
Disorganised Speech: The Killer of Clarity
Scenario: You're presenting at a Chamber of Commerce event and forget your key message halfway through.
How to Overcome It:
Frameworks Help: Try the “What? So what? Now what?” method.
Clear Signposting: Guide your audience with clear transitions.
Strong Finish: Leave them with a takeaway that lingers as they walk through Princes Street Gardens.
Exercise: Rewrite one of your talks using this framework. Deliver it in front of a colleague or coach.
Why Personalised Coaching Works Better Than the Classroom
In Edinburgh, where tradition meets innovation, coaching is the bridge between knowing what to do and doing it well.
Individual Feedback: Know what you specifically need to improve.
Faster Growth: Apply insights immediately to real-world scenarios.
Confidence Building: One-to-one attention helps dismantle bad habits.
Whether you're delivering at The Assembly Rooms or pitching a start-up in CodeBase, personalised coaching will get you further, faster.
Ready to Speak with Confidence in Edinburgh?
Thousands of professionals across the city are still stuck in outdated speaking habits because business school never taught them better.
You can break the mould.
Take the first step.
Reach out to me today for a free consultation. Whether you work in finance on St Andrew Square, policy in Holyrood, or education in Marchmont, I can help you transform how you present, persuade, and lead.
Mark Westbrook | Edinburgh-Based Public Speaking Coach Helping local professionals speak with clarity, confidence, and conviction.
