RiverWays Enterprises Adds Evening Class to Its Comprehensive, 12-Week Public Speaking Training

December 2006 Press Release
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Cambridge, MA, February 2007 – The fear of public speaking once ranked number 1 in The Book of Lists, preceding even death. So Bay State executives may breathe a sigh of relief to learn that Cambridge-based RiverWays Enterprises is adding an evening section to its regular 12-week public speaking course.

Speaking with Confidence for Results RiverWays’ most comprehensive program, is unique both in structure and content. Unlike many public speaking programs that stress tips, techniques, and developing and memorizing content, RiverWays’ approach emphasizes building a strong leadership presence.

And, while the average public speaking course lasts no more than a weekend, this 12-week class allows participants time to practice the material between sessions and to report their experiences during class, according to Carla Kimball, RiverWays founder and president.

With a maximum of eight participants, they also have plenty of time to practice within class and support one another. During the final class, each delivers a formal presentation he or she has worked on during the course for guests they’ve all invited.

Even more unique is the approach Kimball takes, which uses techniques like conscious breathing, grounding, and, perhaps most importantly, developing an authentic connection with the audience and staying in the present moment.

“The kinds of tools that participants learn don’t just apply to public speaking – they can be used in any communication situation, including with family, friends or in everyday encounters,” she says. “So participants can practice them frequently in daily non-stressful situations. This way, the skills become integrated into their normal responses and so can be called upon much more readily when a stressful public speaking opportunity presents itself.

“This creates a pretty significant shift. We’re not working at a surface-level that requires remembering a list of things to do. I think of the changes people experience as happening on a cellular level. They begin to own this new way of being, rather than doing this because someone told them how to be.”

“I’ve learned skills that I can apply, not only in my public speaking, but in life, “says Kelly, a student in the current course. “My communication skills have been raised to a much higher level. Carla’s program is powerful and well thought out.”

Kimball’s innovative approach has earned similar accolades from over two dozen clients, whose testimonials appear on her website at www.riverways.com.

There may be a yet another reason for Kimball’s success with her students. “I am not a natural extrovert. For much of my early adult life I was terrified of speaking. So I know how painful it can be to experience debilitating anxiety when confronted with a speaking situation. I’ve taken what I’ve learned from my years as a stress management consultant, yoga teacher, meditation teacher, and Tai Chi practitioner - taken all I know from all of that and combined it into a program that really addresses the underlying fear and gives people concrete, practical tools to calm themselves, quiet themselves, and come from a grounded place.”

The new evening section will take place Tuesday evenings, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., from February 6 to May 1. RiverWays will continue to offer its morning course, with the next session taking place Thursday mornings, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., February 15 to May 17. RiverWays offers other programs as well as workshops and private coaching.

An open house introducing the “Speaking with Confidence for Results” program will be held at RiverWays on Thursday, January 18, from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. To register for the open house or sign-up for any other program, contact Anne Braudy at 617-232-3644 or anne@riverways.com. All RiverWays courses take place at their offices in the Fresh Pond area of Cambridge.

“Perhaps most importantly to me, this change feels permanent, like I've stepped over some kind of line – a threshold and I'll never revert back to the way I used to be.”
David Wolf: Director, A financial firm in Boston

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