You may be wondering what a public speaking coach is, before asking what they do.
Contrary to popular belief, public speaking isn’t restricted to wedding and key note speeches. It’s also not just something politicians do.
Imagine the following situations at work:
– You have to update or brief your team regularly.
– Your management team or board have asked you to present your thoughts.
– The business needs a verbal status report on a project you’ve been working on.
– A major change initiative needs your leadership.
– You are called on to represent your company at a conference.
– Part of your role involves sales and you need to make a pitch.
– You need to inform, influence or persuade a group of people.
These are all examples of public speaking.
Outside of the workplace it may be more ceremonial:
– Birthday, anniversary and congratulations speeches.
– Retirement or funeral speeches.
– Thank you or graduation award speeches.
The list of public speaking opportunities is a long one
This is where the role of a good public speaking coach is a significant one.
Whatever the situation is, it requires strong communication skills. All presenters need confidence and the ability to connect with an audience.
In short,whether you are presenting to two people or a group of two thousand, public speaking is a skill.
You may have heard it described as a ‘soft skill’. The truth is, there is nothing soft about using the spoken word to influence, persuade and lead fellow human beings.
The role of a public speaking coach
Here are a few of them:
– Understanding a presenters specific communication challenges, objectives and aspirations.
– Identifying what their personal communication strengths are.
– Fixing bad habits and hinderances.
– Developing a strong rapport and empathy with the client.
– Challenging, equipping and empowering clients with tools to improve.
– Understanding the client’s mindset, perspective and limiting beliefs.
– Looking for possibilities and opportunities for clients to improve.
– Creating a safe, confidential and supportive learning environment.
– Championing open and respectful honesty.
– Respecting and coaching for authenticity.
– Creating a fun and enjoyable learning experience.
Common public speaking challenges
The role of a good public speaking coach is a varied and challenging one.
Here are just a few of the common areas we help people with every day.
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Overcoming fear and anxiety
Many people admit to being frightened of speaking in public. In fact, public speaking anxiety is one of the most common phobias in the world today.
Here are just some of the symptoms many people experience:
– ‘Brain freeze’
– Palpitations
– Sweaty palms
– Dry mouth
– Dizziness
– Trembling
– Muscle tension
– Nausea
The list really does go on and on.
A public speaking coach can help you to overcome these symptoms
They will focus on:
– The body language needed to feel confident.
– Showing you how to find your true voice.
– Coaching to craft content which allows you to speak authentically.
– Reframing your fear of public speaking.
– Helping you to feel at ease making eye contact.
– Breathing, meditation and visualisation techniques to build confidence.
– Channelling your nerves into a positive energy.
– Connecting with yourself before connecting with your audience.
– Relieving the paralysing symptoms of public speaking anxiety.
A highly effective public speaking coach will give you the tools needed to manage and overcome the fear of public speaking.
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Presenting with confidence, clarity and impact
A public speaking coach will help you to step way beyond anxiety. One to one coaching will help you to speak with much greater confidence, clarity and impact.
A mindful public speaking coach achieves this through:
– Helping you to look and sound your best presenting in-person or virtually.
– Showing you what your audience really want and need from you.
– Giving you the skills to craft a clear and content rich presentation.
– Building a compelling message that connects with your audience.
– Coaching you to speak with presence and authority.
– Demonstrating how to present creatively and stand out from the crowd.
– Helping you to connect with your audience emotionally as well as intellectually.
– Showing you how to influence, persuade and inspire any audience.
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Standing out from the crowd
Anyone can learn to present with confidence, clarity and impact. A mindful public speaking coach doesn’t stop there. A highly effective coach will show you what it takes to stand out from the crowd.
They will do this by:
– Sharing storytelling techniques to connect with your audience.
– Helping you to think creatively to challenge the status quo.
– Showing you how to present powerfully with visuals.
– Coaching you to involve and interact with your audience.
– Revealing the key elements of high impact presenting.
– Coaching you to use your voice in way that engages and energises your audience.
– Giving you lots of honest, helpful and constructive feedback.
– Creating a safe, open but challenging learning environment.
– Helping you to leave your ego at home and focus exclusively on your audience.
There are a great number of benefits in getting help from a good public speaking coach
If you are still not clear on what they are, I’ve shared my favourites in a previous article:
The 20 reasons everyone needs presentation skills training
If you need help with the presenting:
– Book yourself onto a powerful public speaking course.
– Invest in some really good one to one public speaking coaching.
– Get yourself some excellent presentation training
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