Services

Can you create a custom public speaking workshop for my company or team?

Yes. This is a great way to work. I start by interviewing members of your team to get a sense of their daily and weekly challenges. I custom designed my workshops to focus on solving your particular, real problems, rather than teaching great public speaking techniques. The institutional knowledge we establish together will allow your team to evaluate one another and carry the training forward after our work is finished.

Do you work with clients remotely?

Yes. I do plenty of remote one-on-one coaching, educational talks, and team training.

Where are you located?

I’m based in New York City, but I’m happy to travel for work, when needed.

What’s the best time of day to work together?

I usually work “normal” hours, from 8:00am-6:00pm EST. If time (or time zones) makes that impossible, I can sometimes schedule sessions on the weekend.

Process

I’ve always been terrified of public speaking. It provokes sleeplessness, sweaty hands, anguish and panic attacks. How can I overcome such a deep psychological roadblock?

The modern conception is that skill at public speaking depends on reducing anxiety and increasing confidence. If this were true, we’d all be a Xanax or two away from being Oprah or Steve Jobs. The goal is ultimately unrelated to emotions: the goal is to speak well and reach people and explain ourselves well so they get us. Right?

Public speaking is awkward for one reason: because we’ve never been taught how to do it. When we do it poorly and represent ourselves an incompetent and awkward manner, yes, it feels emotional. But the fix isn’t emotional. It’s theoretical and practical. It begins with learning how people listen, then builds from there.

The principles I’ll teach you are very simple. Anyone can learn them. We’ll work together; you’ll practice using these principles a few times. After that, every time you draw on them, you’ll find yourself speaking more clearly, explaining yourself more effectively, and “being yourself” in a way you never would have imagined. In the end, yes, you’ll feel more confident.  

Is this at all like therapy?

No (see above). My approach to speech training is based on simple ideas—rooted in the Ancient Greek and Roman art  of rhetoric—about the nature of speech and how people listen. Approaching speech from this perspective (thinking about others, instead of thinking about yourself) reduces the cognitive noise in your head by narrowing down your focus. What I will teach you has everything to do with thinking about your audience and nothing to do with your childhood, brain chemicals, or emotional state.

Is our work confidential?

Any information you share with me stays between us. I’m also happy to sign an NDA.

Are you available for fine-tuning and questions in between sessions?

Yes. After two (or so) initial sessions—much of our work can be done during short sessions, emails, and so on.

If you
need more convincing

What can I expect from working with you? What’s my ROI (return on investment)?

My experience is that after 4-6 hours of work, my clients no longer hate public speaking. They no longer suffer the painful regret that follows a bad presentation. Founders report getting a second meeting and/or funding from investors. Job candidates report getting the job. At a minimum, they learn to speak more convincingly and less boringly in pitches, presentations, and meetings. They walk away with a method for speech prep that saves time and stress. Once you know what it feels like to speak well, you won’t go backwards.

I’m interested in working with you. Can I check out your references?

Of course—depending on their availability, and how serious you are about coming on as a client. I’d be happy to connect you via email if you’re interested in hearing more about their experience.