What is a public speaking coach?

What does communication skills training really mean? How can a public speaking coach help you or your team? Let's explore and define these things to help you choose the right path to make progress in your public speaking.

Victoria Mintey, Singapore based public speaking coach

Tell us who you are and where you come from!

The gameshows that I grew up watching in the 90s always started with this instruction to the contestants. So how would I answer?

Tell us who you are and where you come from!

Take 1

 “ I am a Northern Irish actor, public speaking coach and trainer based in Singapore”.

But lately I find myself asking - are these labels helpful? Am I choosing the right ones?

Am I trainer? My father in law thinks trainers work in gyms and lift weights. 

Am I a coach? Coaches ask deep questions and never answer any... is that right?

Am I an adviser?

An expert?

An interested, experienced person who wants to help other people?

This post will attempt to answer the questions:

What is a public speaking coach?

How can a public speaking coach help you?

What happens in a public speaking training session?

What is a public speaking coach?

The coaching profession has exploded over the past ten years. Or maybe those are just the years that I took notice. It is really comforting to know that there is help out there. That any of us can seek out a coach for guidance through certain life or job changes, sticky spots and in pursuit of our personal and professional goals. I myself have had a career coach in the past (really nice when you work alone!) And my husband is a certified executive coach helping those new to management roles to settle in and flourish. Essentially, if you don’t have to go it alone, in the big bad world of work, then why would you?

Now, working with me in a 1:1 “coaching” situation is not going to resemble life coaching, business coaching or leadership coaching. Although, when we get it right, our work together will have an impact on all of these things!

I am a public speaking coach in Singapore and around the region and I am completely focussed on making you a more confident and compelling communicator. So therefore public speaking coaching sessions have a very different style and content to these other sorts of coaching.

There may be crossover: a life coach could help to boost your confidence, and so do I. A business coach could help you with your approach to leadership meetings, and so do I. If you come along with communication struggles or frustrations the chances are high that we will discuss confidence levels and work relationships. But the way in which we actively develop you to perform better is very different than traditional coaching.

How can a public speaking coach help you?

In 1:1 private public speaking sessions the content we cover is guided entirely by you and what you want or need to work on. You don’t have to take turns with anyone else or sit through portions of training that are not relevant to your situation. We can cut straight to the exercises and practice that will target your concerns.

These are practical sessions where you get to try all the things you shouldn’t try for the first time in front of a live audience. 

Victoria coaching a client

Different voice and delivery styles. Pacing and pauses. Adding story, drama, humour. Testing out the sequence of your key points and realising they need to be juggled around. Finding out that the smile you put on your face looks scared not sweet and that the hand gestures you thought would look commanding look clunky.

My goal is to create an enjoyable learning experience for you and, if it isn’t too ambitious, to rewire your brain to enjoy public speaking, presenting to groups of people, sharing your knowledge and experience, expressing your views in meetings.

What happens in a public speaking training session?

1.  I will give you my opinion - traditional coaching puts a heavy emphasis on the coachee creating their own solutions and it is, without doubt, transformative. But in public speaking you can’t be your own audience so it would be tough to create a solution before you know what needs to change. So that’s a key part of my role, as your coach, to be your audience and report back on how your message and delivery style is landing.

2. Yes, you can record yourself and watch it back but it is really hard to critique your own speeches fairly (guess what, we are often too harsh on ourselves) So, that’s what I can do as a specialist who has years of experience on the stage and helping people to improve. I have the vocabulary and experience to pin point what you need to amend, augment and achieve.  This is often a skill set that is simply not available within your peer group, from your line manager or indeed yourself. I see it as a unique perspective that I can bring and without any of the baggage of being someone inside your company or industry. I can be unbiased and unflinching in my critique!

   
   

3. It is impossible to know what you don’t know. So instead of talking out your own action plan, I will prescribe, describe, demonstrate and direct you through exercises that strengthen your weak spots and enhance your existing superpowers. The art and science of speaking with impact is very nuanced and the possibilities are endless in terms of what you could change. So allow me to focus in for you and guide your development with hand picked exercises and action plans.

I will really behave much like a theatre director. Directors watch your rehearsals and offer candid, kind, collaborative feedback to improve the performance.

Hmmm, a new label?

Public Speaking Director - no-one searches Google for that, so let’s stick with public speaking coach.

My interest in humans, their communication and connection, comes from my decades of experience in professional theatre and before I go I'll expand a bit on the other facets of me.

Tell us who you are and where you come from!

Take 2

As well as working with people to develop their public speaking skills, I work in theatre as an actor in all sorts of colourful productions. Acting is something that, forgive the hackneyed phrase, makes me feel alive. I’m not sure how to describe it if you haven’t felt it. Maybe it is the kick others get from bungee jumping or skydiving. (Except an average performance is 2 hours long and watched by a few hundred people) It creates a sensation in my bloodstream. Some say it is an addiction. I just think it is true love. So even when I am not acting, I know I am an actor.

Victoria as Mary in The Memory of Water. Wag the Dog Theatre

I am currently living in Singapore. It has been my adopted home since 2011 when I showed up with my boyfriend and my suitcase. All these years later, I’ve got two adopted cats, two Singapore born children and my suitcases have taken a beating whilst exploring this side of the world with my now-husband. I was born and raised 7000 miles away on another small island - Ireland. Have you been? I am clearly biased but the people are really as wonderful as everyone says. They are naturally warm, familiar and fun loving. I also highly recommend a dip in the Irish Sea and a walk in the Mourne mountains to see this place at its best.

So now you know me, I’d love to meet you….

How to find a public speaking coach?

Trust and rapport is so important in this process of developing your public speaking skills. You've got to find a coach that you have chemistry with. Someone that makes you feel comfortable even when trying new things. Who you can speak honestly with.

This chemistry is so important that I never take on a new client without first meeting them on a complimentary video call.

If you want to have a chat and find out if I’m the right speaking coach for you then you can book a time here.

Until then,

with best wishes,

Victoria