speechimprovement
  • Services
    • Overview
    • Public Speaking Training
    • Virtual Communication Training Programs
    • Job interview help
    • Customer Service Training
    • Conference Speaker Coaching
    • Non-native-speakers of English
    • Individual Coaching Programs
    • Workshops
    • Certificate Programs
    • Virtual Reality
    • Biotech Fundraising & Partnering
  • Coaches
    • Overview
    • Dr. Dennis Becker
    • Dr. Ethan Becker
    • Kristen Curran-Faller
    • Jeff Davis
    • Melody Elkin
    • Robin Golinski
    • Laura Mathis
    • Monica Murphy
    • ANDREW PERKINS
    • LAURIE SCHLOFF
    • Dr. Ian Turnipseed
    • Lauren Weaver
    • DR. CAT KINGSLEY WESTERMAN
    • Sharesz T. Wilkinson
    • Dr. Chas Womelsdorf
  • About
    • Overview
    • Office Staff
    • Client Feedback
    • Innovation
    • Working with celebrities
    • Our Publications
    • Our Blog
    • Join Our Team
    • Beacon Street
    • Dr. Paula Borkum Becker
    • Speech Coaches Only
  • Contact
  • Resources
    • OUR BLOG
    • Life Science Blog
    • All Recordings
    • RECORDED WEBINARS
  • Store
  • SPEAK WITH A COACH
    617.739.3330

speechimprovement
  • Services
    • Overview
    • Public Speaking Training
    • Virtual Communication Training Programs
    • Job interview help
    • Customer Service Training
    • Conference Speaker Coaching
    • Non-native-speakers of English
    • Individual Coaching Programs
    • Workshops
    • Certificate Programs
    • Virtual Reality
    • Biotech Fundraising & Partnering
  • Coaches
    • Overview
    • Dr. Dennis Becker
    • Dr. Ethan Becker
    • Kristen Curran-Faller
    • Jeff Davis
    • Melody Elkin
    • Robin Golinski
    • Laura Mathis
    • Monica Murphy
    • ANDREW PERKINS
    • LAURIE SCHLOFF
    • Dr. Ian Turnipseed
    • Lauren Weaver
    • DR. CAT KINGSLEY WESTERMAN
    • Sharesz T. Wilkinson
    • Dr. Chas Womelsdorf
  • About
    • Overview
    • Office Staff
    • Client Feedback
    • Innovation
    • Working with celebrities
    • Our Publications
    • Our Blog
    • Join Our Team
    • Beacon Street
    • Dr. Paula Borkum Becker
    • Speech Coaches Only
  • Contact
  • Resources
    • OUR BLOG
    • Life Science Blog
    • All Recordings
    • RECORDED WEBINARS
  • Store
  • SPEAK WITH A COACH
    617.739.3330

FAQs

How can a presentation be improved in only 30 minutes?

With my focused, no-nonsense approach, we can cover a lot. First, I do my homework before we meet to be well-prepared. Then, we will dive right into your requirements and address them through a combination of review, learning, coaching, and practice. We can talk about speed, pacing, language, visuals, principles of human reasoning, and thinking on your feet. I've coached many public speakers, and the results have been both significant and immediate.

How do these sessions work?

We will quickly set the agenda by identifying your specific challenges and concerns. I will provide proven tools and techniques that my company and I have refined over the past 58 years. We've taught them to thousands of presenters at companies and institutions worldwide, including Apple, Amazon, Bain Capital, Bank of America, the CDC, Deloitte, Harvard University, Pfizer, and the White House.

What areas do you most often cover?

A common one is handling nervousness. Another one is speaking clearly and persuasively. One of my most-liked topics is thinking on your feet so you can handle any situation, especially difficult or leading questions confidently.

Is it done over Zoom?

It's my preferred platform, but I can use whatever you're most comfortable with, including FaceTime, Google Meet, Teams, WhatsApp, Slack, Facebook Portal, or just a phone call.

It can’t be free, what’s the catch?

It really is! It is absolutely free, with no cost or obligation whatsoever. I do this because some of you will want to hire me after your event to continue learning, deal with other communication challenges you may have, or introduce me to colleagues who need my communication coaching and training.

It's a win-win for us both: You get a complimentary session with an experienced speech coach, and I get exposure that's proven to bring me new clients.

How do I schedule additional sessions?

Many clients are prepared to schedule additional coaching sessions immediately following their free session. In this instance, I will schedule a time to discuss your immediate needs and offer my recommendation for additional sessions.

Are you paid by the conference organizers?

We coach speakers worldwide, at hundreds of events, and across multiple industries including life sciences, financial services, retail, legal, tech, automotive and manufacturing. We work independently and do not partner with nor are we being paid by any of the conference organizers.

How did you get my name?

It's listed on the event website. I have a marketing researcher who assists me with finding major conferences and offering complimentary coaching to the executives who are speaking at them.

When should we have a session?

We can do this anytime before your event, provided it gives you time to practice. Most often, I work with conference speakers 2-3 weeks before the conference date. My availability varies, but I keep times open on my calendar that should give you flexibility when scheduling.

Finding a suitable date and time for you is super easy: just visit my scheduling page.

50 Speen Street | Framingham, MA 01701 USA 

Phone: +1 (617) 739-3330 | Email: [email protected]

Copyright 2016-2025 The Speech Improvement Company Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Effective use of visuals

Visual aids can help or hurt a presentation. Whether you are using PowerPoint, Keynote, Prezi, slides, video, a software interface, or other visual support, you need to make sure that the visuals won’t distract from the presentation. Many speakers have chosen abandon visual aids altogether and even proclaim that they are above using such tools. However, well-utilized visuals will significantly improve a presentation. This training will teach the best visual aid practices and offer the opportunity to practice techniques with individualized coaching feedback. Listeners will appreciate how the skillful use of visual aids truly enhances your presentations.

Handling difficult questions

Speakers must prepare to answer real questions about their topic. Sometimes, listeners ask friendly, genuine questions, but often, you might be tasked with answering aggressive or set-up questions. In either case, the ability to handle even the most challenging question in a clear, comfortable, and competent manner is an important skill. Whether you have been called to answer questions at a congressional committee, in a sales meeting, or during a team presentation, this module will teach you how to hear and understand questions in order to respond with practical answers.

Thinking on your feet

Have you ever wondered how some people always have the right thing to say at the right time? There is an art to handling yourself well in just about any setting—from dealing with an angry customer to holding a political debate or managing a contentious investor meeting.

Imagine yourself in front of the executive committee, the board of directors, the press, or a client, and someone requests that you speak on an unfamiliar topic. Perhaps you are asked a tough question that you hadn’t anticipated. What do you say? Thinking on your feet is a module that teaches you how to process and organize your thoughts quickly in a way that will help you communicate clearly and with confidence

Developing your speaking style

What two words would you like people to say about you after you have left a meeting or a conversation? The answer defines your communication style. Style coaching is one of our most popular leadership and management offerings. It allows senior executives, managers, and emerging leaders to achieve their personal vision of how they wish to present themselves. Our coaches work with clients on their core communication skills, beginning with their two style words. The result is authentic, comfortable, and effective leadership or management capabilities.

Speaking to Boards and Shareholders

Most crucial business communication occurs between leaders, managers, board members, and shareholders. Because Boards advise and direct management teams on key decisions, it is critical that leaders and managers clearly communicate the vision, metrics, and progress of the organization. Having worked with thousands of managers and board members, we have developed valuable insight into how relationships, presentations, handling questions, and more can affect your communication success. Whether you’re new to senior management or an old pro, this module will allow you to hone your Board and shareholder presentations and share your thoughts in a clear, concise manner. Our guidance will help you strengthen your relationships and effectiveness with your Board and shareholders.

Developing coaching & mentoring skills  

Since the 1990s, coaching and mentoring have become widely used to develop employees in the business world and are important skills for anyone in a managerial or leadership role. Learn how to communicate in both coaching and mentoring styles while learning the differences between the two. Among other things, learn Socratic questioning, goal setting, skills in accountability, and ways to inspire that lead to complete development.

Managing difficult conversations

At times, speaking with coworkers, your staff, your boss, and, yes, your customers can be difficult. They may come to you with stories about their problems or your mistakes. They might even mistreat you. We need to remember that there are always two sides to every story. Learn how to diffuse difficult situations and become the difficult person’s advocate rather than the enemy.

Building trust

When relationships are strong, you can communicate anything. When they are not strong, even the simplest feedback becomes difficult. This module provides an understanding of why and how strong relationships are created using our original research, which has unveiled the two most essential characteristics for building a solid working relationship. This module utilizes practice to strengthen the techniques and skills that foster trusting relationships.

Active listening

Listening is not just about hearing—it involves the understanding and evaluation of what is heard. Whether you’re in a face-to-face meeting or talking on the phone, leaders and managers must exhibit comfort and proficiency in six specific areas of listening, or messages can be misunderstood. These qualities and techniques are the focus of this module. In addition, this module covers the top ten barriers to listening and how to overcome them. This is one of our most popular topics.

Connecting with listeners

Have you ever felt that your listeners were confused? Have listeners ever asked you to get to the point? Truly connecting with your listeners is fundamental to all communication and critical for a successful presentation. This module teaches you how to make your point and engage all of your listeners. It does not provide a one-size-fits-all methodology but instead covers a whole range of skills from which you may choose the best approach for specific groups.

Being persuasive

Business speaking requires a mixture of information and persuasion. Both are critical, and you use both in different situations and for various reasons. The distinction between these two types of speaking is that informative speaking lists data and impartially clarifies and enlightens with no particular goal other than making information clear. Persuasive speaking urges a partisan decision, favors a position, and tries to garner acceptance for that position. In many presentations, the speaker will use both information and persuasion in order to convince the listeners.

This training will help you understand the difference between informative and persuasive presentation. It teaches how to implement these concepts in your content and delivery and the three ways of persuasion that are used in virtually all presentations we see today. You’ll learn how to choose the proper mode of persuasion and how to match your message to your listeners.

Speaking clearly

Do your listeners ask you to repeat keywords? The ability to speak clearly is an important skill, no matter who you are. There are several ways to lose your listeners, but poor articulation, mumbling, and lack of volume are the most preventable. Don’t force listeners to work harder to understand the words coming out of your mouth! This module on communication excellence will teach key sounds and practice techniques to ensure that you are speaking clearly.

Delivering exceptional customer service 

Your customers will often pay attention to how you sound as much as what you are saying. A positive interaction can depend on your tone and inflection, speed, and projection.

Plus, words matter! Your choice of words, such as “customers,” “clients,” “guests,” or “patrons,” will shape their perception, and perception shapes service communication. Don’t let your choice of words become a distraction during a customer interaction. This teaches participants the various sounds of service and how to master their sounds to best communicate with customers.

Speak with Confidence
FREE! PUBLISHED 6 TIMES A YEAR
Helpful, practical advice on how to communicate better at work and at home.
   


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