Why working with a communication coach might be the best choice you ever made

Clients come to me from all walks of life, industries, and a wide variety of ages, but they unanimously say, “I didn’t know you existed! If I had known, I would have started this training a long time ago. It’s so useful.”

It’s true, most people don’t know I exist. Honestly, I didn’t know I existed before I started coaching. I thought I made this type of coaching up. Turns out there are others who do this work as well.

My background is in acting. Before I began coaching, I commonly used my acting skills in my “real life”, especially in high stakes or “challenging” situations. I used these skills to nail interviews I didn’t fully qualify for, to make lasting impressions on first dates, and to communicate confidence when I first began teaching even though I was shaking in my boots.

With my acting training, I knew I could communicate confidence even if I didn’t feel confident. This led me to think, ”Hmm, other people could probably benefit from knowing what I know.”

I realized I was unique in that I knew I could change my confidence level and communication style.

Most people think they’re stuck with what they’ve got. But here’s the deal…

• There IS a way to ensure you’re communicating with confidence and you’re seen as an authority.

• There IS a way to build your confidence and your presence.

• There IS a way to change your communication style.

I teach a class at Middlebury College (my alma mater) called The Art of the Argument in which I teach students to stand in front of their peers, make eye contact, and confidently communicate their ideas. 

I watch as they start the class, shaking with terror, but over the course of the semester, build confidence by learning speaking and acting techniques. 

By the end of our time together, they are able to stand in their power and speak their mind. That’s how I know this sh*t works.

Here are a few reasons why most people look for a communication coach:

1) They’ve forgotten how to talk good :)

You don’t need me to tell you that with email, texting, and zoom, it is RARE to have to communicate in person these days. Are you like me where you’re startled when someone actually calls you? 

Yes, we are in a strange, virtual world and it’s only going to get more virtual. This creates challenges for us when we DO have to communicate in person: Coffee dates, networking events, panels and conferences. 

In-person presentations are not only challenging, but intimidating, simply because we have forgotten how to do them. Through coaching, I remind you what you already know.

2) They used to be good at speaking and presenting, but now they’re not.

Most people find me when they’re going through a transition. This could be a life transition or a career transition. For MOST people, the transition they’re experiencing is an internal one. Essentially, for whatever reason, what they used to do in their communication isn’t working anymore. 

Maybe it was a style thing. Maybe it was the environment. Maybe it’s an age thing. Frankly, it could be one, or all of the above. 

The bottom line is, whatever used to make them confident, is not making them confident anymore, and it’s affecting their career. They come to me to figure out why it’s happening and what to do next.

3) Comparison is a great motivator.

I’m not going to lie, ambitious people are my people. They intelligently compare themselves to others and notice others aren’t looking as anxious, others voices aren’t shaking, and others seem to have effortless timing and charisma. My people ask themselves, “Why can’t I be like that?”

Let me tell you something, Toastmasters, though GREAT for practice, is not going to get you to where you want to go. A little known fact, many people who are EXCELLENT speakers, have a coach. Reality check, they weren’t born that way.

So, to pull this all together, just like a personal trainer can significantly improve your results with lean body mass and other dimensions of fitness, according to a study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning research in 2013, harnessing the power of a communication coach helps you show up as the best YOU that you can be.

4) Showing up as your best self is incredibly satisfying.

Most people that come to me have a YEARNING inside of them to be MORE. They know they can do BETTER. They ACHE because they feel they’re not living up to their potential. If that’s you, you’re my people.

I was like you for many years. I felt like I didn’t have the tools I needed to fully be myself. I would deal with overwhelming “stage fright” and anxiety at the strangest times, sometimes when I only had to introduce myself. 

I would sometimes stutter when telling a story to friends. I didn’t want to be this way forever. I wanted to show up as myself, without all of the inhibitions and nervous habits.

So, I learned these techniques and trained myself to be more fluid so I could show up, not perfectly, but more in alignment with my true self. These are the techniques I can teach you. I’m here to help you get to where you want to go.