Blog
Three Guidelines for Choosing a Speech Coach
Posted August 5, 2011
Choosing
a speech coach is similar to selecting a doctor or a lawyer. You want
someone you can instinctively trust—someone who will help you overcome
your fears and develop the confidence necessary to become a good
speaker.
You
also want someone who has worked as a professional speaker and
understands the mechanics of good public speaking—and how important is
to establish rapport with an audience.
And,
of course, you want someone who has trained others as speakers and
appreciates how difficult it can be to face a roomful of strangers for
the first time.
Keep
these three guidelines in mind when interviewing a prospective coach
and you'll find the right person to help you improve your presentation
skills.
Category:
Speech Training
Tags:
coaching, communications
skills, confidence, education, overcoming fear, presentations, public speaking tips, speech, speeches, training, workshops.
See the speech training page for
more information about Trimount's SpeakOut
Training Program.
Can Public Speaking Really Help You Succeed?
Posted March 31, 2011
Imagine two managers working for the
same company. Both are easy going, meet their deadlines, and enjoy
their jobs. They have advanced degrees and are considered to be experts in
their particular field. Each is being considered for the same
position—unfortunately, only one of them will be promoted.
The main difference between the two
managers? Their public speaking skills. One of them is extremely
gifted-—able to address groups of any size, reduce
complex, technical terms to everyday speech, and make audiences
feel comfortable.
The other manager is the exact
opposite. When addressing even small groups,
this manager is hesitant, tripping over words and is obviously
uncomfortable. Audiences grow restless, squirming in their seats,
whenever this manager
speaks.
Who Wins?
By now, you've guessed who will win the promotion. Both managers are
"good at what they do" to quote a senior executive, but the second
manager will always come up short in a head-to-head competition.
Is the second manager doomed to lose
every time? No, not if that person does
something about the problem. Speech training is the key to success in
this situation because everyone can become a better speaker!
Whether you are a senior manager or just beginning to climb the corporate ladder, you can improve your presentations.
Enroll in Toastmasters, sign up for an adult education class, or work
with a speech coach who knows how to unleash your natural talents. With
training and practice, you'll become a more successful speaker—and
improve your chances for promotion.
Category:
Speech Training
Tags:
coaching, communications
skills, confidence, education, overcoming fear, presentations, public speaking tips, speech, speeches, training, workshops.
See the speech training page for
more information about Trimount's SpeakOut
Training Program.
Is
the Audience Paying Attention?
Posted September 22, 2010
When
giving a speech, a good speaker knows to watch for people’s reactions:
Are they
paying attention to what you're saying? Or do they seem restless and
uninterested? Are they shuffling in their
seats? Coughing? Clearing their throats? If the answer to these
questions is "yes," then you know something is wrong.
The
remedy may
be as simple as cutting short your prepared text and engaging the
audience directly. Ask them to share their thoughts, pose questions and
participate in the ebb and flow of the presentation. Encourage them to
participate actively rather than
listen passively. You'll be amazed at the energy you create in the room
and the audience will leave thinking "what a great presentation."
Category:
Speech Training
Tags:
coaching, communications
skills, confidence, education, overcoming fear, presentations, public speaking tips, speech, speeches, training, workshops.
See the speech training page for
more information about Trimount's SpeakOut
Training Program.
Courting
Public Opinion
After a Disaster
Posted
June 16,
2010
How do you remake a
company's public image after a disaster takes place? Is it possible
to carry on with business as usual? That's the challenge British
Petroleum has faced since the Deepwater Horizon exploded in
April. Unfortunately, BP's public response has done little to
mitigate the damage done to its corporate image.
From the beginning, BP
seemed to underplay the full scope of the problem. According to the
press, the company admitted to a certain number of gallons being
spilled and no more, even though independent scientists eventually
pegged the
oil flow at much higher levels. As the environmental disaster has
continued, the magnitude of the spill has become evident. The numbers
are staggering. Shouldn't BP have admitted that their initial
estimates weren't accurate?
While it's logical to
assume that lawyers on both sides of the Atlantic cautioned counsel,
the enormity of the problem spreading through the Gulf demanded the
company come clean with the public as quickly as possible.
Ultimately, it's the court of public opinion which will judge BP
(even jurors in future lawsuits will be swayed by the impressions
they form of the company as it responds to the disaster). Going
forward, anything less than full disclosure risks making BP's public
persona even more troublesome than it currently is.
If BP is
to regain public
support, senior executives must also be seen expressing genuine
remorse for the incident. BP CEO Tony Hayward's comments in Britain's Guardian
newspaper did little to assuage public
anger, noting
that "the Gulf of Mexico is a very big ocean. The amount of
volume of oil and dispersant we are putting into it is tiny in
relation to the total water volume." Comments of this caliber
fuel the perception that BP is indifferent to the damage
it has caused and tarnish the company's corporate image.
Category: Media
Training
Tags: corporate image, crisis management,
facing the press,
handling questions,
interview, IPO, journalist, media, media relations, press, press conference, press releases, product launch, public relations, reporter, statement, staying on message
See the media training page for more information about Trimount’s MediaSmart
Training Program.
E-mail
Shortcuts
Posted March
23,
2010
E-mail is a great communications tool. It's fast
and easy—perhaps a little too fast
and easy.
E-mail encourages people to take shortcuts they
wouldn't take in handwritten or printed letters. E-mail presumes
readers understand the meaning conveyed even when the writer has
eliminated subjects, skipped verbs and written incomplete sentences.
The result? Confused readers who are left scratching their heads,
wondering what the real message is supposed to be.
It's true that it takes a few extra moments to
double check your writing, replacing missing words and filling in
unintended gaps in the meaning of the text. However, your readers will
be grateful that you took the extra time to make sure your writing can
be clearly understood.
Category: Writing Training
Tags: business writing, communications, confidence, course, direct mail, e-mails, letters, newsletters, overcoming fear, presentations, proposals, reports, seminar, speeches, training, websites, workshops, writing
See the writing
training page for more
information about Trimount’s WriteNow Training Program.
All current and past postings are available in the Categories
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