If you're a nonprofit leader, purpose-driven entrepreneur or business professional, public speaking isn't a one-time thing you do at a board meeting, conference or networking event, and then it's over.
It's a critical ongoing aspect of your work, and a valuable tool for putting your ideas out into the world, changing attitudes and behaviors, and becoming known as an authority.
Public speaking allows you to build the “know, like, trust” factor, which helps you build a reputation and create more visibility for your company.
But if you don’t know what you don’t know, it’s hard to grow as a speaker and to give the kinds of compelling presentations required of someone at your level.
Public speaking coaching helps you build your skills and confidence and gets you to the place where you can make true impact on your audiences.
A coach brings outside perspective.
You might have fears and concerns about your abilities as a speaker, but a professional coach can cut through the forest and help you see the trees.
You may think your voice quivers, or you use your hands too much, or you talk too fast. Your coach will give you the realistic, unbiased view of your presentation habits and style.
On the other hand, you might think your jokes are hilarious... and a coach will gently tell you the truth when you really need to hear it.
A coach shortens your learning curve.
A speaking coach should have been working in the field long enough to have made all the mistakes and done all the learning and research so you can benefit from their knowledge and experience.
Public speaking coaching can help you shortcut the time and effort it takes to create successful presentations.
A coach offers accountability.
It’s easy to slack off on presentation and skill development if we don’t have anyone checking in. Did you do the research on your audience? Did you practice as much as we talked about? Did you read the article on “Five Ways to Say ‘I Don’t Know’”? Did you do the voice exercises?
Without accountability, it's a lot harder to achieve your goals.
A coach gives guidance and support.
A strengths-based coach helps you see what you're already doing right, find and develop your strengths and then apply them to solving your challenges.
As a speaker, you're doing a lot of things right and you have a lot of strengths; a coach can help you appreciate and apply those strengths to your presentations.
A coach gently leads you out of your comfort zone.
A coach works with you, your personality, your strengths and your goals.
A speaking coach should encourage (and sometimes prod) you to leave your comfort zone in order to achieve your goals, but should never make unrealistic demands or expect you to adopt behaviors that are not aligned with who you are as a person.
A coach teaches new skills.
If you think you're done learning, and that you're the best speaker you can be, then don't bother hiring a coach!
Speakers frequently need to add new skills to their toolkits in order to give effective and compelling presentations, to make an impact on their audiences, and to get the results you want from your audiences.
Public speaking coaching will help you learn skills that you didn’t know you needed.
A coach inspires and motivates.
A coach should be someone who makes you feel optimistic about your possibilities and proud of your progress, whether it's in baby steps or in huge leaps.
A coach doesn't berate, belittle or treat you like a child. We're grownups, and we are ultimately responsible for our own learning and growth. How much you choose to do to move yourself forward is up to you, but your coach should inspire you and make you feel excited about doing the necessary work.
You need skin in the game.
Let's face it: When we get things for free, we don't value them as much as when we pay. How many times have you downloaded a free PDF or ebook or course that was free... JUST because it was free? And then you put it on your virtual shelf and never looked at it again. (Me too, sister.) How many times have you taken the free sample at Costco, but never bought the product?
When you're investing your money and your time, things get real. There's a clear exchange of value, where each of us gets something out of the relationship and walks away benefiting from the exchange and the relationship.
Here's some of the value my clients have gained from working with me:
Peace of mind
Forward action
Acknowledgement of strengths
New skills
Self-trust
Personal and professional growth
Creative expression
Kicking procrastination to the curb!
Empowerment
Confidence
Credibility
Fresh ideas
Ditching perfection
Self-awareness
Visibility
A shortened learning curve
... and way more!
Would you like to have a chat about how I can help you achieve your speaking goals?
Click the button to fill out my coaching questionnaire and let's get a (no pressure!) conversation on the calendar.
For realz: no selling - let just see if:
1. I can help and
2. if we're a good fit!