Public Speaking | Presentation Coaching

If you're like most people, you fear public speaking more than death, but speaking in front of people doesn't have to consume you with dread. With a little preparation, confidence and mindset adjustment, you can learn to speak as comfortably in a crowded room as you do over dinner with close friends and (non-in-law) family members.

We'll start by determining how much preparation you will need and what level of stress the process provokes in you. Whether you're looking for support for a one-off, high-stakes presentation or ongoing public speaking responsibilities that will grow over time, we can outline a series of sessions to meet your needs.

It's possible that one "mock presentation" session will do the trick, but if you are in need of multiple sessions, we can meet you where you are, offering reassurance and encouragement as we direct you in ways to perfect your content and delivery. We can even use video to capture you in performance mode to show you where you can make improvements in posture, demeanor, pacing, eye contact and spoken content.

We can offer strategies to overcome common public speaking pitfalls such as:

Physical barriers, like shaking, perspiration, clammy palms and heart palpitations;
Mind "going blank" and writer's block;
Lack of eye-contact and poor posture; and
Speech challenges, like slurring, stammering, fast-talking, monotone pitch and "quiet voice" / lack of projection.

Much of the anxiety of speaking in front of others lies in thorough preparation, but there's a lot to be said for rehearsing our performance and studying tried-and-true techniques to overcome a deeper, insidious sense of dread. The goal is to reframe the experience as one that you anticipate eagerly rather than dread with every fiber of your being.

Practicing with an impartial person to provide frank yet positive feedback can do wonders for your oratory performance skills. It also gives you the chance to try out your material and see what resonates and what falls flat.

Our Public Speaking Coaching helps you focus on delivering a smooth performance -- our Interview and Confidence Coach Bill Johnson offers 20 years of acting instruction experience to help you shine in the limelight, offering techniques for staying cool under pressure, keeping your thoughts straight, speaking clearly and engaging your audience.

First and foremost a writer, Career Coach Kristin Schuchman can also help you craft your content to ensure that you're putting your best foot forward and choosing the right words, modulating them appropriately to your audience and leaving them with a lasting, effective impression.

Personal Stylist Kat Depner will make sure you look your best by offering feedback on your wardrobe choices (included in the Deluxe package). If you choose to work one-on-one with Kat, she can also help you find the right clothing to sharpen your look and express yourself with confidence and flair.

If you are comfortable with idea, we can also offer video services to further help you improve your performance. In addition to using video to show you your hiccups, we can prepare you to speak well in online webinars and e-courses, virtual conference calls and other online speaking engagements.

Below are our Public Speaking Coaching Packages:

Starter Package - $550

This package includes three (3) sessions that cover:

Session 1: Content Discussion/Preparation
Session 2: Mock Speech (and verbal feedback and pointers)
Session 3: Dress-Ready Mock Speech (and verbal feedback and additional pointers)

Intermediate Package - $800

This package includes four (4) sessions that cover:

Session 1: Content Discussion/Preparation
Session 2: Pointers on Overcoming Anxiety, Boosting Confidence, Addressing Common Stressors
Session 3: Videotaped Mock Speech (and verbal feedback and pointers)
Session 4: Final Session to Refine Content and Delivery

Deluxe Package - $1500

This package includes seven (7) sessions that cover:

Session 1: Content Discussion/Preparation
Session 2: Pointers on Overcoming Anxiety, Boosting Confidence, Addressing Common Stressors
Session 3: First Videotaped Mock Speech (and verbal feedback and pointers)
Session 4: Refine Content and Delivery
Session 5: Second Videotaped Mock Speech
Session 6: Full Session with Personal Stylist Kat Depner
Session 7: In-person Feedback and Additional Pointers and Content Refinement

Individual Public Speaking Preparation

You can also purchase Public Speaking prepatory sessions "ala carte," but we recommend at least two sessions: the first firm up your content and the second session to practice a Mock Speech and receive some final feedback. The Public Speaking Sessions that don't include video services are $125 while Video Mock Interview session are $250.

Contact Bill to schedule an appointment or schedule a free 20-minute call