Frequently asked questions about our programs, services and
products
- What’s the difference between
your 2 day small group coaching intensive (Successfully
Speaking) and your 12 week course (Speaking with Confidence
for Results)?
- How big are your programs –
how many are in each group?
- I have to present to large groups
of 20 or more. How can a class that's so small really help
me?
- In your courses, will I get an opportunity
to prepare and present on a subject of my choosing?
- I need help with a specific upcoming
presentation? Do you do that type of work?
- I need help with my visual –
PowerPoint, or other – for presentations. Can you
coach me?
- I can’t commit for 12 weeks,
but I’d like to get the impact of your 12 week program.
How do you suggest I work with you?
- How much time will I get to practice
speaking in front of the group in your programs?
- I’d like an opportunity to
be video-recorded as I speak. Do you offer that in any of
your programs?
- What type of people will I find
in your programs? Who is the typical participant?
- I’m in sales and would like
to improve my speaking. What would be a good program for
me?
- I have been told that I need to
improve my speaking ability and impact, in order to progress
in my career/ company. What can you suggest?
- I am comfortable speaking in front
of large groups, but need help with smaller sized presentations.
Can you help?
What’s the
difference between your 2 day small group coaching (Successfully
Speaking) and your 12 week course (Speaking
with Confidence for Results)?
While the course outline for each of our
two programs is similar (the first half covering speaking
presence and the second half preparing for and delivering
specific content), the differences between these two courses
are very much related to the amount of time available. The
12 week program offers more depth, personalization, support,
and the opportunity to integrate and practice over a long
period of time.
In the two day intensive you get the opportunity to learn
about and practice all the major tools that I offer, but it
really requires that you then take these tools and apply them
on your own. In the 12 week program, we can take our time
with each tool, practicing in class and then applying each
new tool in our work situation between sessions. It really
becomes a support group where you can report on what’s
worked and what hasn’t, learn from each other, and be
inspired to continue to integrate the tools so that they become
a way of life.
Both programs are small, with a maximum of 8 people in the
12 week course and 6 people in the two day coaching program,
and so you will get plenty of opportunity to practice and
be videotaped within the time constraints of the program.
But since we have so much more time available to us in the
12 week program, we can take much more time addressing individual
issues and concerns.
How big are your
programs – how many are in each group?
This is one big advantage of our programs
over other public speaking classes. Group sizes are very small.
Our small group coaching programs will run between 2 and 6
people, with an average of 4 people. Our extended course of
12 weeks can accommodate up to 8 people. In either case, this
will give you plenty of opportunity to practice in front of
the group and will allow us to focus specifically on your
individual needs.
I have to present
to large groups of 20 or more. How can a class that's so small
really help me?
We work at the very fundamentals of speaking
presence, most important of which is to speak directly to
one person at a time. So, whether you are speaking to two
people or to 200, the skills you'll gain are directly applicable.
What you learn in our small groups can be easily transferred
to large group situations.
In your courses,
will I get an opportunity to prepare and present on a subject
of my choosing?
It depends on the course. Since we begin all our courses
with an emphasis on presence, what you talk about is, quite
honestly, secondary. We actually suggest that you not plan
what you are going to talk about ahead of time.
In our more advanced classes, the
two day small group coaching and our 12
week program, you'll get an opportunity to apply
what you've learned about presence to delivering a talk of
your choosing.
I need help with
a specific upcoming presentation? Do you do that type of work?
Yes, the best way for us to work together on a specific presentation
is in a private coaching
session.
I need help with
my visuals – PowerPoint or other – for my presentations.
Can you coach me?
I am very interested in helping you design your slide show
or other visuals to enhance your talk and get your message
across. Focusing on the "less is more" design principle,
I have a wealth of experience helping people craft powerfully
effective PowerPoint presentations.
My work with you on your slideshow will be to assess what
is be the most effective way to communicate what you want
to say. I also want to help make the presentation fun both
for you and your audience. How skillfully you use PowerPoint
is one important key to making this a great experience both
for you and your audience.
In our 12 week Speaking
with Confidence for Results program we spend
a lot of time talking about PowerPoint best practices. We
also explore creative uses of other visuals and stories to
illustrate your points. We touch on these topic in our 2 day
Successfully Speaking
Small Group coaching. And, we can devote whatever
time is necessary on your slides, stories and visuals in private
coaching sessions.
I can’t commit
for 12 weeks, but I’d like to get the impact of your
12 week program. How do you suggest I work with you?
Because of busy business schedules, participants in the 12
week program sometimes miss one or two classes. It's pretty
easy to catch up with the group when you miss a class. If
you think you're going to miss more than two classes, then
the best option is to sign up for one of our two-day
intensives. People sometimes take that program
more than once so that they can truly reinforce what they've
learned.
How much
time will I get to practice speaking in front of the group
in your programs?
Obviously, this is dependent on which program you select.
But in all our programs, because our class size is so small,
you'll get multiple opportunities to speak to the group.
I’d like an
opportunity to be video-recorded as I speak. Do you offer
that in any of your programs?
Some of your speaking turns will be sitting down and some
will be standing up. We video record you every time you stand
to speak. These recordings are not reviewed in class but will
be given to you as a way to continue your learning outside
of class.
What type of people
will I find in your programs? Who is the typical participant?
I get this question all the time and it's always difficult
to answer. The reason is that there's no single type of person
who benefits from my programs. The general answer is that
the people who are most drawn to my programs are people who
recognize that their professional and personal lives would
be improved if they were more comfortable speaking.
Many people come because they recognize that they are missing
great advancement opportunities because they are avoiding
speaking situations. Other people come because they've just
been promoted and they realize they're going to have to speak
frequently in order to be effective at their new jobs. Some
people are comfortable speaking but feel they could be so
much better if they were able to hone their skills. Many people
are quite frightened of having to speak and wish to change
that.
Our programs are not just about standing at a podium and
doing a presentation. The skills and tools you'll learn apply
to speaking one-on-one, speaking up in a meeting, or speaking
to a large group.
I’m in sales
and would like to improve my speaking. Would your programs
be good for me?
Absolutely! In any sales situation, the relationship you
are able to create with people is what's most important. Our
focus is on placing a priority on the connection you make
with your audience.
I have been told
that I need to improve my speaking ability and impact, in
order to progress in my career/ company. What can you suggest?
My question to you would be, "Do you agree? Is this
something you want for yourself? Or, are you trying to meet
someone else's expectations?"
Our programs work only if you want
to improve. If you are doing it because someone else has told
you it was a good idea, then this might not be the approach
for you. Our approach requires a real commitment to change,
which can mean being willing to step out of your comfort zone
and practicing on your own.
I am comfortable
speaking in front of large groups, but need help with smaller
sized presentations. Can you help?
What you'll learn in our programs can be applied to groups
of any size.
Other questions? Please email
us and we'll be happy to answer.
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