Some people captivate a room the moment they speak. Why?
Hi, I’m Angela, speech-language pathologist/speech therapist by trade, but think of me as your communication coach who can help you understand every aspect of your communication habits.
Communication skills isn't some talent you're born with. It's a trainable skill and tool for connection, clarity, and presence.
Mastering your voice and communication style can help you feel confident in your professional life (and even more so if you work in diverse and global companies). Let me tell you 5 reasons why you'll want a speech therapist communication coach to help you communicate clearly and confidently.
- Your voice is your identity. Your voice conveys more information about your personality and your emotions than you might realize. Ever notice how some voices just seem to command attention? There's a reason why Morgan Freeman's voice is so famous. Before we know anything about a person, we already make judgments about their intellect, their confidence, and their emotional state. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. A speech therapist can help you become aware of the information your voice is conveying, and learn how to control it. Tense voice? You might be conveying anger, nervousness, or frustration. Use your voice with intention, and people will pay attention.
- Everyone has an accent; some are easier to understand. If you have an accent that's different from the people's around you, consider if it might be difficult for others to understand you. This is for people with foreign accents AND native speakers of ANY language talking to non-native speakers of that language. For example, when I speak to my immigrant parents or to a foreign traveler, I make sure to speak slowly and pay careful attention to my enunciation. While accents are a wonderful hint of the place you're from, pronunciation and intonation differences can cause misunderstandings or cause your listeners to take longer to process what you're saying. Speech clarity training helps you adjust how you express your ideas so that they're understood clearly by everyone, no matter their language background. When you aren't constantly being asked to repeat yourself, you'll feel your confidence improve.
- Simplifying and organizing information is invaluable. If you're a subject matter expert with tons of technical expertise, you must have tried explaining something technical to a non-technical person. The ability to take complex information and turn it into something easy to understand is priceless in today's information-heavy world. Execs can't possibly know everything about everything. Learn how to communicate the essentials in a digestible way. A communication coach can help you identify essential information, omit irrelevant details, and organize it logically. This skill will make your ideas easy to understand, meaning they'll be more likely to stick.
- Communication enables connection. I've had countless clients tell me about their difficulty giving accurate constructive feedback to a colleague, and struggles with managing disagreements (socially and professionally). Sometimes people think communication skills is all speaking and they forget about the listening and responding part. This means that conversations don't have to be all small talk and talking AT people. Conversations should be used to deepen our understanding of other people and to create meaningful interactions. Speech therapists can help you troubleshoot your conversations for better (work and social) relationships, uncovering unintentional judgmental language or shooting down passive language.
- ATTENTION IS A RESOURCE. In a world full of noise - ragebait, fake news, and irrelevant voices - people's attention have become a finite resource. When you get to have someone's attention, use it well and use it efficiently. When you speak your words with clarity, confidence, and intention, people notice. When you don't, people will feel like you're wasting their attention and time. A communication coach can help you intentionally craft your voice, words, and message to improve your presence.
That's a broad overview of why communication skills are a big deal in life. This is true whether you're climbing the corporate ladder, looking to improve your relationships, or hoping to make your daily interactions smoother.
Want insights and guidance to improve your personal communication habits? Reach out and let's talk about talking!
Speak clearly, if you speak at all; carve every word before you let it fall. - (Oliver Wendell Holmes)
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