Speak With Confidence

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Why Do People Fear Speaking?

by Dr. Dennis Becker “This question presupposes what to most of society is a given. Speaking to groups is a scary proposition. In fact, it is one of the most prominent fears of all humans. Each survey that is taken places it in the top three, almost every single time. It would be interesting for you to ask a few friends if they feel nervous or fearful about speaking before groups. I’m sure you’ll get

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Catching Up With the Coaches – Monica Murphy

This week, we caught up with Senior Coaching Partner Monica Murphy. Monica is currently leading a lengthy customer service training program with software developing company Pega Systems. This unique program, called Communicating Extraordinary Service, was developed by Monica and fellow TSIC coaches Kristen Curran-Faller and Debbie London, and has led Pega Systems to great success. >What is Pega Systems and how did you become involved with them? “Pega Systems is a software developing company that

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New Management

The Speech Improvement Company Inc., has announced today the promotion of Ethan F. Becker to President, and Kristen Curran-Faller to COO (Chief Operating Officer). Dr. Dennis Becker will remain on as the firm’s CEO and Dr. Paula Borkum Becker will remain as the firm’s CFO. “For 45 years, Paula and I have been holding the reigns for all the operating functions of the firm. We will continue to coach and remain infuential in the firms

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Are women better managers than men?

A recent article on the New York Times titled: “No Doubts: Women Are Better Managers” sparked this reaction from Coach Laurie Schloff. Communication Coach Laurie Schloff of The Speech Improvement Company (Boston and Tampa) agrees with Carol Smith (right) of the Elle Group that women are often better managers, but based on her work with hundreds of females aiming for the C level she cautions ambitious females: 1. Women are still cut little slack in

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Dr. Dennis Becker on The arrest of Henry Gates

by Dr. Dennis Becker. “Isn’t human communication fascinating?! This whole Gates-Cambridge Police-Crowley-Obama flap is just the latest in the ongoing saga of humans attempting to communicate with each other. By this time, we all pretty much know what happened: Gates lost his keys to his home and couldn’t get in, Gates asks help of his limo driver to push the door in, Neighbor observes two “black men with back packs” doing this, Neighbor, being good

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Rewind: Professor Gates meets Sgt. Crowley

If only everyone had obeyed our SOS Stop-Observe-Strategize Principle, one esteemed Harvard professor and one well regarded police sargeant in Cambridge Massachuseetts would be sleeping better tonight. So to the both of you, think mind over mouth next time. 1. Sgt. Crowley: Couldn’t you have used your astute observation skills to surmise that the well dressed, articulate and arrogant fella was likely a Harvard man? Could you have made nice? 2. Professor Gates, yes you

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Boston tweet-up in August

Following the great success and interest in our first Social Media seminar, I am planning to organize a tweet-up in the first half of August. Please get in touch with me by email or leave a message below, and suggest topics of discussion as well as preferred day/time. Wahyd Vannoni Director of New Media / Coach http://speechimprovement.com/pages/wahyd_vannoni.php The Speech Improvement Company, Inc. 1614 Beacon Street Brookline, MA 02446 USA Phone: +1 617-739-3330 Fax: +1 617-232-9430

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How Obama Talks: Why Obama Needs a Teleprompter

Commentary by Laurie Schloff “When Obama’s telempromter screen shattered abruptly at a White House press briefing last week, the audience held its collective breath. Obama’s communication strength lies in his ability to deliver a prepared, pre-written speech, not to ad lib, “wing it” or be impromptu. Communication coaches observe that this difference in skill depending on context is not unusual at all. In fact, John McCain (remember him?) was way more smooth when responding to

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