Climbing the Corporate Speech Ladder
In my business, I meet a lot of people who aren’t really sure where they belong in the speech and voice training process. There are a lot of options for improving speech, and it’s challenging to know what to do first, second and third.
First, it’s important to realize it’s a process. There’s no “quick fix”. It can take 2 years or more to get a really strong voice and presence that supports you.
Second, there is a sequence. Usually, it’s preferable to improve your “foundation” first. So, if you are using incorrect sentence structure, mixing up your verb tenses, and mispronouncing words, you have to fix that first. Once you learn how to speak clearly and succinctly, then you want to get exposure to mixed audiences, work on your messaging, and gain confidence. Only then do you want to dive into executive speech coaching for professionals. At this point, you truly perfect your skills and get to the next level. It’s important to see your journey as having several stops along the way in a sequence.
Third, slow and steady wins the race. You have to find ways to stay engaged, focused, and relentless on your ascent to powerful speech. If you skip some steps, you may achieve the result you desire. In addition, if you take the steps out of sequence, it can be a frustrating experience. You need to make sure you are in the right place for the skills you need with the support you need to be successful.
1. Foundational skills: Strengthen the voice, speak clearly and succinctly, have control over your speech, good supportive posture and good breath and projection skills. At Englishbythehour.com, we support foundational skills for your success-oriented clients who wish to prepare for the next 2 steps.
2. Group Speaking: Join a speech club that you attend regularly for at least 6 months to a year to gain comfort and confidence in front of an audience.
3. Executive Speech & Presentation: Gain the skills you need to be commanding in front of an audience and perfect your skill set for maximum engagement.
Build a strong foundation first, and then add group speaking and executive speech & presentation for best results.
