by Melanie Espeland, Executive Voice Coach
Introduction to Public Speaking.
Do you dislike the sound of your voice?
Do you have a significant presentation or interview coming up?
Whenever you have to talk in from of others, do you get speech anxiety? Do the words “public speaking” make your heart start racing?
Do you feel like you are boring and don’t have the techniques to engage your audience? Do you have monotone voice?
Do you wish you could captivate the room with your confident speaking ability?
Then, an Executive Speaking Coach may be a fit for you. Otherwise called an executive voice coach, speaking coach, or public speaking consultant, this mentor can be a game changer for professionals of all levels. Keep reading to learn more about how to level up and if this type of support is a fit for you.
What are executive speaking skills?
Typically I address a mix of the following topics based upon your specific needs: presentation skills, public speaking, communication, everyday speaking, speech anxiety, how to give a great talk, and how to elevate your voice.
What is executive speaking coaching?
Executive voice coaching is focused executive coaching that can be utilized by professionals of all levels: senior executives, such as a vice president, or speakers in your organization of all levels. This confidential coaching focuses on helping professionals feel more confident in their everyday speaking as well as public speaking in front of small and large groups. Perhaps you also need help with presentation skills, or communication skills in “off-the-cuff” conversations.
If you’re concerned about your voice or how you talk, a coach can help you build more confidence and release your fear. A public speaking coach creates a supportive, safe, and confidential space for you to practice.
What is executive coaching?
An executive speaking coach is a specific type of coach. In general, an executive coach can help you through support, programs, and/or individual training to level up in your capabilities, thought patterns, and goals. You can read more in depth information here.
How is public speaking different from leadership coaching?
Public speaking or speaker training can enable you to build leadership skills or be seen as a more powerful leader. A leadership coach may not have the background or specific capabilities to help build your next powerful presentation; so the best coaches will have a specialization in voice. However, they should be focused on business people and talking ability versus singing or theater capabilities.
For example, I focus on helping specifically business professionals as well as the Ivy League. I bring to the table a mix of professional training in voice and acting, while also having an MBA from Columbia University and years of corporate experience. I still perform as a Voice Actor in my free time, and, I’ve been a proven speaker on major stages such as Tedx.
Why do you need to have public speaking power?
Being a strong public speaker allows for you to create a positive impact on your career, your company, and your audience. If you can speak to a person or give your next talk with more confidence, then you will be closer to reaching success in your career upward movement and in communicating your ideas effectively.
The importance of being a strong public speaker can be underlined by its connection to Executive Presence. Voice is one my 6 pillars of executive presence, which you read more about here.
And, public speaking ability will also improve your overall life, including the personal component. Having a clear and strong speaking voice when you talk to anyone in your life is critical in building and maintaining healthy relationships. Imagine what it would feel like to say what you mean and mean what you say? Imagine what it would feel like to be heard?
Topics in executive speak coaching include:
A list of topics that your consultant may cover are as follows:
-
presentation skills
-
public speaking
-
practical tips for managing speech anxiety
-
effective communication
-
managing your accent or diction
-
how to speak your truth
-
speaker coaching
-
how to connect with your audience
-
telling a great story to a single person or group
-
speaking with confidence
-
performance with power and passion
-
techniques to gain support for your ideas
-
presenting your message to clients
-
how to overcome fear
-
dynamic delivery on stage
-
how to identify answers to on the spot feedback and questions
-
presentations for teams and individuals
-
including dynamic data to transform your message
-
present your talk to a large audience
-
how to stand out
-
body language
-
writing powerful presentations
-
mock practice to present with your coach
-
how to build confidence
How to build executive presentation skills and kill speech anxiety.
You can become a powerful public speaker through your coach’s guidance.
I have a proprietary structure for how I teach and think about Voice. Firstly, it is one of six levers (or enablers) of Executive Presence. Within this lever, there are three intertwining enablers that push and pull on each other: physical, mental, and emotional attributes. Clients are best served when they work on all three attributes to create lasting change.
Physical Attributes
Your public speaking performance can be immediately improved with physical changes to your body. You can transform your talking voice through changes such as:
-
the placement of your tongue
-
releasing your jaw and opening up your mouth
-
improving your breathing technique using your diaphragm
-
and more.
These physical skills typically aren’t taught to business professionals outside of the performance world, and therefore can provide you with a special edge.
Mental Attributes
If you overcome the thought patterns that align to your fear of the stage and ability to provide a confident delivery, then you can replace them with thoughts that serve you. Giving your brain feedback by using neuro-linguistic programming can be a game changer in your speaker ability. Your public speaking consultant can help you see through your blind spots and understand the deep drivers of your beliefs that are no longer serving you.
If your thoughts are calm and confident, then your talking will immediately sound more confident in return.
Emotional Attributes
You can learn to tell a confident story through harnessing authentic emotions, creating nuances and highs and lows in your melody. The importance of the “right” emotion at a given moment cannot be further underlined for public speaking. There are multiple techniques that speakers can use to signal a specific emotion such as gratitude instead of fear.
For example, if you say “It’s great to be here”, we want to ensure it actually sounds like you’re excited to be in that room. Intentional emotion will help connect the dots in your words and delivery.
Free Tips
For specific do-it-yourself tips, you can read my free guide 5 Secrets to Immediately Improve Your Voice on the Free Resources page. These are useful to employ before your next big presentation or simply for use in everyday speaking.
The logistics of Executive Speaking Coaching.
Cost is minimal when seen as an investment.
While it is true that individual coaching programs require an investment in the four to five figure range, they also have long lasting effects on your career success. In general, coaching sessions may cost less than your annual vacations or a luxury watch, while providing leaders with the influence, focus, and success they deserve. Imagine public speaking being easy for you – and how this could positively effect the rest of your career, and even your personal life.
Time can vary but will provide ongoing benefits.
Speech training will vary in length depending upon your needs and your executive speaking coach. For example, you may have a specific presentation that you would like to prepare for, or you may want to work on building foundational speaking ability first. In either case, I would recommend committing to training for few months with the potential to meet more sporadically as time moves forward and your executive presence skills increase. Working with me through Espeland Enterprises will typically be at least a 4 month commitment, with the exception of single pay as you go Power Hours.
Who this training is for.
If you speak, you can utilize this training. Even if you are not public speaking regularly, you still are speaking daily at work. The relevant audience include a leader such as a vice president; a leader who is an individual contributor; and clients of all levels in your organization. I’ve had success with diverse industries including finance, tech, consulting, healthcare, Ivy League academia, fashion, and more. I’ve also worked with many senior level professionals, but also Founders, Influencers, and even former athletes.
Where and when is this training.
Our work can be accomplished either on site or through virtual meetings. It is best to start working on your public speaker ability early on in your career, especially if you have stage freight or feel awkward when speaking. That being said, there is no time like the present to start building this game changing capability.
How to choose your Executive Speaking Coach.
Executive coaches should have gone through at least one coaching program and have experience with high potential managers. It is an excellent sign if your coach conveys confidence; have self awareness; and understand what it takes to lead in your field. Make sure that your coach has proven success in teaching communication and speaking in today’s climate. Listen to your coach speak and check if they have been a speaker on a major stage previously. I’ve taught this skill through 1-on-1 coaching, masterclasses, group coaching, and online courses. Building these skill sets is possible, but is best when completed with an objective coach.
In particular, make sure your coach has the specific background in presentation skills, voice, and/or speech anxiety.
Executive Voice Coaching case studies.
Our clients have provided helpful testimonials in video and written format available here. I have worked with speakers from multiple backgrounds, including finance, tech, consulting, healthcare, fashion, sports, and more. Our presentations have included Tedx talks, television interviews, board meetings, and more.
How to work with Executive Speech Coach Melanie Espeland.
You can work with me, the Executive Coach of Espeland Enterprises. You can sign up for a consultation to learn more about our packages. Or, if you have an urgent issue, or don’t want to wait for a consultation, you can schedule a Power Hour.
Have questions?
If you’d like feedback on your talking style, you can set up a confidential consultation. Or, if you have any questions about public speaking or talking in general, email us at hello@espelandenterprises.com.
