jon torrens
By reducing stress and fear, I make giving talks enjoyable. I teach confident
communication.
I work with many different companies (Microsoft, Foster+ Partners, Redgate,
Raspberry Pi, Creative Assembly) and I think they enjoy my training so much
because:
1. I’m an introvert.
2. I make it fun.
Training/learning/development can be a chore; I believe it shouldn’t ever be
that way. My background: I was a low-scorer academically. I studied art and
design, then graphic design, got a job as a video game level designer, fell in
love with performing stand-up comedy, became a full-time stand-up, didn’t become
a star so gave it up, went back to games and started a family. While working at
Sony Cambridge I saw a really bad presentation and realised that all the writing
and performance skills I’d learnt as a stand-up needed to put to good use:
transforming everyone into confident speakers. Too many people have suffered
watching boring speakers, delivering dreadful material. I decided things needed
to change.
I set up my own coaching business, and after much hard work I have flourished,
having found my place in the world. I relate to tech people – who are typically
introverted – because I have had a similar experience. I connect because I have
a ton of stand-up skills and… well, I like people. I really enjoy immediately
getting them past the first simple barrier: their perception of their own
communication skill level. It’s simple to get past that and then build on that
foundation.
