“But what does a public speaking & communication coach DO?”

I have a prediction about why you’re here: you get the sense that you could be a more confident, persuasive, charismatic communicator, but you’re not really sure how to go about it. And you’re not sure how 1-on-1 public speaking and communication support actually…works. I get it. My job is not exactly common. Truth is, I barely knew it was a thing before I found myself doing it!

So let’s chat about what to expect when you’re working with a public speaking and communication coach.

The first thing to know is that (at least here at Stage Light Communications) there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Your goals and challenges are as unique as you are, so we assess your needs and put together a personalized plan.

Sometimes you have a presentation coming up and you just want help making it the best it can be. In that case, we sit down with you and work on it together: the content, the storytelling, the delivery, the Q&A, and so on. We’ll provide ideas, feedback and suggestions. We can spend as much or as little time as you choose.

More often, though, clients are looking for overall improvements in their public speaking and communication. These skills are part of your day-to-day life, but you feel that they could be easier; that your message could land more often. Maybe you’ve gotten feedback from your boss, or you’re just tired of that sick feeling you get when you even THINK about being in the spotlight.

For this kind of skill-building, we’ll work together on more of an ongoing basis (in my experience, 6 months is the sweet spot). We’ll develop a personalized skill-building plan, then meet regularly to put it into practice.

Here are the stories of some real people who have worked with me (names and identifying details have been changed).

Sara: The Quiet Storm 

Sara was an entrepreneur; skilled, passionate and funny. She knew she could be making more money by getting in front of people and growing her audience, but just the thought of it made her feel panicky. 

We started by creating a core set of messages that Sara could use when talking about her services - including a 30-second elevator pitch that made her feel amazing. By focusing on her expertise and practicing ways to communicate it to potential clients, Sara grew her confidence.

The next stage was to work on her body language and stage presence. This part triggered a lot of nerves for Sara, so we did fun exercises that pulled her gently out of her comfort zone. She pushed through with lots of nervous laughter which gave way to genuine giggles, the thrill of accomplishment cementing the skills that she would otherwise have resisted practicing.

Along the way, we broke down Sara’s inner “scripts” - the stories she told herself about how she would fail and be judged, and gradually replaced them with new scripts about the value of her expertise and how her audience wanted her to succeed.

Sara’s crowning achievement was getting in front of a group of fellow learners and telling a hilarious story with a shocking twist – one that had the audience on the edge of their seats and still gets talked about years later.

Armed with this new confidence, Sara was finally ready to get on camera and showcase what she had to offer.

Ken: The Presence Polisher 

Ken loved being in the spotlight. He joined a public speaking club and signed up to give speeches about topics he loved, setting his sights on the regional and national championship titles.

As he delivered speech after speech, Ken found himself getting feedback that stumped him. When advised to do things like “speak more slowly” or “make your gestures look more natural” he couldn’t quite figure out how to make those changes.

We took a habit-change approach to Ken’s skill development. We identified a key set of speaking habits that were holding him back, then introduced a series of simple daily exercises to shift those behaviours over time.

Ken found it useful to practice his speeches with me, and get my suggestions, before delivering them to his group. An analytical kind of person, he liked to watch recordings of himself in order to identify areas for improvement, then run exercises to polish his delivery. His peers noticed the growth and gave him increasingly positive feedback every time he presented.. 

Being able to see such tangible progress motivated Ken to keep pushing himself and progressing within the organization. Long after our sessions ended, he still reaches out from time to time and tells me about a new milestone that he’s hit or a new way that he’s using the skills he learned.

Gena: The Underdog Leader

Gena was an ambitious and talented young professional who quickly earned a promotion at work - a move which put her in a position of authority over her more senior colleagues. She approached Stage Light Communications for help developing a more confident, authoritative communication style that would highlight her credibility when leading a meeting, delegating work, or giving feedback.

I walked her through a set of techniques for chairing meetings, so that she could show up feeling prepared and confident. She practiced responding to difficult interactions, learning how to read the room and think quickly on her feet. We worked on strategies for giving uncomfortable feedback to a colleague - resulting in a transformational conversation at work that saved her lots of time and stress in the long run.

We also talked about a dilemma that many women face at work: in a world where feminine-coded communication styles can be seen as less professional, less competent, even less intelligent, is it better to learn to “speak like a man” or to embrace your authentic voice? I taught Gena some techniques and practices to gain more awareness and control of her non-verbal communication, so that she could make choices that were right for her.

James: The Reluctant Manager

James was a STEM professional who was promoted to a management role and began getting feedback that his very direct, just-the-facts communication style was rubbing some people the wrong way. 

In the course of our work together, James came to realize that communication isn’t just about transmitting facts; it’s a process of negotiating towards desired outcomes. He discovered the hidden emotional aspects of communication and decision-making, and learned how to frame his messaging in terms of the other person’s priorities and needs.

In addition to improved work performance, James reported that the lessons in emotional intelligence that he got from our sessions also benefited his marriage and other personal relationships.

The Bottom Line

When you’re looking for someone to help you punch-up your communication, look for a professional who will meet you where you are, identify the gaps in your communication, and put together a personalized plan to develop the skills that you need to thrive on your own path, not just give you a one-size-fits-all program that may or may not fit your life. Ask them questions about their approach, and get clear on what they can – and can’t – help you with. For example, if your challenges include mental health, bio-mechanical issues, or accent clarity when speaking English as a second language, your support team may also need to include professionals who specialize in those things. A good communication coach will disclose the limits of their expertise, and may be able to give you the names of others who can fill in the gaps.

Ready for your own success story? Contact us or set up a no-obligation call, and let’s chat!