17 Mar Speaking Successfully at a Conference Fireside Chat
A fireside chat in business is an informal yet structured conversation between a moderator and a guest speaker (or panel) at a conference, event, or corporate gathering. Unlike traditional keynote speeches or panel discussions, fireside chats are engaging, relaxed, and interactive—almost like an intimate conversation around a fireplace, which is where the term originates.
Of course, speaking in this format may not always feel comfortable. Nerves can creep in between the lavalier mic, a tight dress belt, and the fear of the unknown. As coaches, we’ve helped hundreds of professionals prepare for fireside chats, and here are our top tips for success:
1. Embrace the Conversational Format
Unlike formal speeches, fireside chats should feel like a candid conversation between you and the moderator (and the other speakers if appropriate).
How to Prepare:
- Ditch the script. Instead of a full-page speech, keep an index card with key points or hard-to-memorize data. Ideally, you have no notes.
- Trust the flow. There’s no need to memorize word-for-word—let the conversation develop naturally.
- Pivot when needed. A great moderator will shape the conversation, but if an important point hasn’t come up, don’t be afraid to steer the discussion toward it.
Pro Tip: Moderators have the toughest job—they act as conductors of an orchestra, guiding the discussion’s rhythm and tone. The best ones will make it effortless for you! Meet them in advance to get in alignment.
2. Engage with the Listeners
Fireside chats often include Q&A segments, making them more dynamic and interactive.
How to Prepare:
- Predict questions. Think through likely questions and prepare a loose 30–60-second response for each.
- Prepare for the tough ones. Anticipate the questions you hope you don’t get and have a clear, concise answer ready.
- Stay composed. Suppose an unexpected question catches you off guard. In that case, pause before answering—silence for a few seconds is better than rushing into an unclear response.
3. Be Relaxed Yet Informative
Fireside chats are professional but casual—a balance of credibility and approachability.
How to Deliver Well:
- Smile and maintain good posture—but don’t be stiff.
- Use quick stories or examples to illustrate key points. (Plan a few)
- Could you keep it simple? Make complex topics more accessible and engaging.
Pro Tip: The best fireside chat speakers create a “behind-the-scenes” feel—offering insights that go beyond rehearsed corporate messaging.
4. The Biggest Rule of Speaking at a Fireside Chat
Don’t Over-Speak—Make an Impact Quickly
- Get to the point quickly—be crisp, clear, and compelling.
- Use a purposeful pace—avoid rambling, and keep responses within 60 seconds before passing them back to the moderator or a fellow speaker.
- Allow space for moderator engagement and co-speakers—a good fireside chat flows like a great dinner conversation. Don’t ramble or repeat yourself due to nerves or being distracted by the setting, such as media photographers or 50 people nibbling croissants.
Final Thoughts
A well-executed fireside chat creates a genuine, insightful, and engaging experience for the speaker and the audience. And let’s be honest—no one ever complained about a lack of long PowerPoint slides in this format. So, smile, enjoy the experience, and embrace the conversation!
7 Jan Speak With Confidence Tips
Tip #1: Consider your use of contractions
If you want to polish and add gravitas to your speaking style, it’s time to reconsider your use of contractions. The words below can be a good start to set a formal tone and an excellent approach to elevate your messaging.
aren’t → are not;
there’s → there is;
can’t → cannot;
they’d → they had;
couldn’t → could not;
they’ll → they will;
didn’t → did not;
they’re → they are
Not every situation calls for formality, but there are some situations where being well-spoken or more formal may benefit you—negotiating a contract, sharing a presentation with C-level leaders, delivering serious news, or influencing others.
Tip #2: Prepare quick opening and closing remarks for your meetings
In a recent coaching session last week, a client (let’s call her Mary), the Founder of her company, expressed frustration. During bigger events such as offsite sales meetings or team events, the last speaker often turns to her and says on the mic, “Mary, any final thoughts?” Mary, as an introvert (and taken by surprise), tends to respond with a simple “Nope, all set!”
For event hosts (CEOs, heads of IR, Founders), preparing both opening and closing remarks can be incredibly beneficial even if you are not officially scheduled to speak at those times. These moments are a valuable opportunity to conclude events meaningfully, express gratitude and build trust.
Here are some examples to consider:
- Short and sweet closing remark: “If you have any follow-up questions, please drop by my office next week. As a token of appreciation for your time, treats and swag bags are in the hallway. Help yourself on your way out! Thank you.”
- More elaborate closing remark: “Before we depart, I want to thank everyone who participated this week. Your presence made this event a huge success! A special acknowledgment to our XXX team for their outstanding efforts in organizing everything from XXX to XXX. Their dedication was pivotal to the success of our Fourth Annual XXX. Let’s show our gratitude for their hard work!”
Seize these moments to conclude your gatherings on a high note and leave a lasting, positive impression.
Tip #3: Practice for a ballroom-setting presentation in front of a busy storefront
It’s a busy time of year as we coach speakers for Fall Annual Global Meetings in Private Equity and Financial Services. In a coaching session earlier this week, a client had the (accidental) opportunity to practice their ten-minute presentation in a glass-walled boardroom, with at least 15 folks walking through the halls at 3 p.m., hunting for snacks and caffeine. This made me extremely happy because if you can stay laser-focused in a chaotic environment when you practice, you’ll feel the same sense of calm and control in a hotel ballroom, with all the people typing, eating, getting up to go to the bathroom, whispering, laptop notifications dinging, etc.
To replicate a busy ballroom environment, you can go to a place like a storefront or shopping center and say your presentation out loud. (You can slip in earbuds if you want to look like you are talking to someone!) Can you stay focused on your content despite the sirens, crying babies, and bustling people? People who have ADHD or are Neurodivergent (Autism Spectrum, etc.) could also significantly benefit from this type of practice. The more important the presentation, the more rigorous your preparation should be.
Tip #4: Use transition phrases to add content fluidity
As you change slides or topics during a presentation, you might find yourself saying things like:
- So yeah, anyway
- Um, ok next slide
- Sorry, that was a lot of info; moving on…
Instead, memorize a few transition phrases to add polish, such as:
- From an overall perspective on…
- I’d like to walk you through…
- In our conversations on the importance of…
Here’s a great quote to motivate you:
“When you are not practicing, someone else is getting better.” – Allen Iverson
23 Oct How To Communicate Price Increases
Many items and services have become more expensive in the last few years. Auto insurance, health insurance, homeowners’ insurance, and restaurant food have all seen turbulence and rate changes.
As a coach, we often run 1:1 and group training sessions where we role-play (“real play”) to practice difficult conversations, such as raising a fee or price increase for your services and products. From medical devices to business insurance, we know firsthand how your wording and approach can make or break those conversations about billing and rates.
Some people will avoid this conversation or approach it with guilt or nervousness.
Some will come on too strong, sound defensive, and lose the customer entirely.
Some will need to build trust and demonstrate value to set themselves up for success.
Some fear negotiation overall due to a lack of formal negotiation training.
Successful Negotiation Skills Are Key
The ability to be fearless, ask for what you want or need, and know your value (or the company’s value to the customer) has a tangible impact on the quality of a negotiation and your long-term success. Also, the company depends on you to help meet the overall revenue goals.
One way to approach a rate increase with a client is to examine your mindset. Your mindset has a direct impact on the quality of your negotiation skills.
Having a mindset for success can be a primary factor in finding mutual gain and making both parties feel respected after a negotiation.
Here are some action items you can do to set yourself up for success when you need to address a price change with a client or customer:
How to Ask for What You Want
- Continuously show the value you provide the customer, not just when discussing money.
- Make your gain their gain; how can you create a win for THEM? (I suggest you ask them this)
- Think LONG TERM, not just one conversation at a time.
- Do your homework/ prework. Don’t wing it.
- Build authentic, trusting relationships. How? Be a good listener, do good work, and be helpful but not overbearing.
- Check your tone (be friendly, not apologetic). Smile. Make sure your facial expressions match your words. Listen for their tone also. Does it match?
- Follow up, get creative, and be ready to find new common ground or even part ways if needed.
Align Pricing with Your Organization’s Strategic Goals
Leadership needs to be aligned on how pricing is meant to support the overall strategy and then communicate this with sales reps and folks having these conversations. Without this alignment, any pricing planning is a wasted effort.
We can all agree that paying more for services and products makes us grumpy, but most customers have become trained to tolerate price hikes. Good communicators can have tough conversations and know they can maintain the relationships they have so carefully nurtured over the years.
6 Jun Paraphrase When Communicating and Coaching Others
Paraphrasing is repeating in your words what you interpret someone else to be saying. Paraphrasing is a powerful approach to furthering the understanding of the other person and yourself and can significantly increase the impact of another’s comments.
As coaches, we know paraphrasing is incredibly difficult because we often need to listen deeply, a skill you must purposefully cultivate. Despite appearing attentive, our minds are churning with various thoughts, beliefs, defenses, distractions, and redirections.
The best way to practice paraphrasing is in your personal life. You can apply this powerful skill at work once you get the reps in with your husband, wife, kids, cousins, or friends.
When paraphrasing:
- Focus your paraphrase on what the other person implied rather than what you wish they meant. For example, avoid saying, “So you’re saying you have NO homework? Instead, say, “If I understand correctly, you finished all your schoolwork during study hall?”
- Put the focus of the paraphrase on the other person, e.g., if the person said, “I had a horrible night; I didn’t sleep more than four hours,” then don’t paraphrase, “Well, I WISH I got four hours; I had an even worse sleep; I was up all night.” Instead, say, “Oh no, you only got four hours of sleep?”
- Put the ownership of the paraphrase on yourself, e.g., “If I’m hearing you right…” or “If I understand you correctly…”
- Put the ownership of the other person’s words on them, e.g., say, “If I understand you right, you’re saying that…” or “Do you believe that…” or “Do you feel that…”
In the paraphrase, use some of the other person’s words. For example, if the other person said, “I think we should do more fun outings as a family. We never go anywhere,” You might paraphrase, “If I’m hearing you right, you feel like we need to schedule more outings we can enjoy together as a family?”
Don’t judge or evaluate the other person’s comments, e.g., don’t say, “Don’t you think you should be calmer when we drive in rush-hour traffic?”
You can use a paraphrase to validate your impression of the other’s comments; e.g., you could say, “So you were frustrated when…?”
The paraphrase should be shorter than the original comments made by the other person. Be brief and concise. It’s not about you!
13 Mar Controlling the Impression You Make
What would you like other people to say about you when you are not present?
This 30-minute recorded lesson will reveal the six most frequently selected impressions that leaders of countries and companies worldwide find effective.
Managing Employees Remotely
Overcoming challenges in communication, motivation, and employee engagement
The coronavirus is forced many of us to work and manage remotely. With large numbers of employees working remotely or in a hybrid environment for the first time, managers have a whole new set of challenges to continue leading effectively. (more…)