iSpeak Clearly

12/02/2025

Have you ever struggled to follow a fast-talking speaker? Are you guilty of speeding through conversations and presentations?

Here are 5 exercises to slow your rate of speech:

1. Practice. Select an article from a newspaper or magazine. Highlight the punctuation, then read the article aloud. Make a conscious effort to pause when you see a comma, period, or question mark.

2. Breathe. The end of a sentence is the perfect time to pause and take a breath. This will help slow your rate of speech.

3. Pronunciation. Make an effort to say each word completely when you read and speak. Slower speech allows time for all the sounds in a word to be produced. When your rate of speech is in the average range (120-150 words per minute), your speech will be easier for others to understand.

4. Awareness. Listen to the speech rate of others. TV news reporters, especially the anchors, maximize the power of the pause. Count the pauses in each segment next time you watch a TV news report.

5. Emulate. When you are conveying information, whether at work or at home, emulate the style of broadcast journalists. Pause after each thought or piece of important information. A pause gives your listeners time to process what you have said and to anticipate what you will say next.

Need help with your communication skills, send me a message.

11/26/2025

Ready or not, Thanksgiving is here! It's a time for gratitude, connection, and gathering with the people who matter most. But let's be honest—dinner table conversation can sometimes feel more like a wrestling match than a warm exchange.

You know the cast: The aunt who never stops talking. The brother-in-law who interrupts mid-sentence. The sister who pivots every topic back to herself.

Here's the truth: great conversation is like a football game. The person with the ball speaks. Everyone else waits for their turn to catch it.

Conversation is a team sport, not a solo performance.

Think of your Thanksgiving table as a conversational team. When everyone gets to participate—and no one dominates—the whole meal becomes more enjoyable. This requires intention, listening, and a little restraint.

Here are the ground rules for conversational success:

Three DON'Ts:
• Don't interrupt. You're essentially stealing someone's turn. As tempting as it is to jump in with your story, pause and wait.
• Don't talk over others. Overlapping is another way to hijack the conversation. Let the speaker finish completely before you begin.
• Don't monopolize. If you're talking nonstop, you'll lose your audience—and set yourself up for interruptions as others fight to get a word in.

Three DO's:
• Do wait your turn. Listen for the natural pause or question before you speak. Conversation requires the same patience as waiting in line.
• Do get to the point. Tell your story, then stop. My brother likes to say "Nuts and bolts"—meaning skip the unnecessary details and land your message.
• Do stay on topic. Reference what the speaker just said. It shows you were listening and adds value to the conversation instead of derailing it.

👉 Action step: This Thanksgiving, notice when you're holding the conversational ball too long—or trying to grab it too soon. Practice tossing it to someone who hasn't spoken yet.

When everyone contributes and no one dominates, your Thanksgiving table becomes a place where people feel heard, valued, and genuinely connected.

As you head into the holiday, I just want to say thank you for being here and for reading my posts. I’m grateful for you and your interest in growing your communication.

Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with good conversations, good company, and moments that make you smile.

11/20/2025

If you are a journalist or hope to be one, having strong public speaking skills can really help your career.

Even if you aren't on camera, you may need to interview someone, pitch your ideas to your boss, speak on a panel or otherwise communicate with a variety of people.

Check out this article for tips to help you improve your speaking skills. https://buff.ly/OEhe4U0

If you don't feel confident about your abilities, contact me for help.

Whether it is moderating a panel, conducting a live interview or delivering a keynote speech, public speaking is a vital skill for many journalists. Yet nearly 75% of people fear it — making it a common and potentially career-limiting anxiety. Here are eight strategies journalists can use to overc...

11/18/2025

"I don't have time to practice." I hear this every week from my clients and I completely understand. Between back-to-back meetings and everything else on your plate, finding 30 minutes to rehearse feels impossible.

Here's what changes everything: You don't need big blocks of time. You need small, consistent moments.

My most confident clients don't rehearse for hours. They practice for 5-10 minutes daily—simple exercises that help them speak clearly and think quickly under pressure.

Daily practice beats perfection.

When you practice only when stakes are high, your brain associates speaking with pressure. But when you weave practice into your day—even for just 2 minutes while making coffee—you train your mind that speaking is normal, natural, and safe.

Here's your daily practice routine:

• Morning: While making coffee, speak one key message out loud you need to deliver today. Say it three different ways.

• Midday: In your car or during a walk, practice varying your volume and pace. Read a text message aloud with different emphasis.

• Evening: Record yourself speaking for 60 seconds about your day. Listen back without judgment.

Here's your action step: Choose ONE of these micro-practices and do it every day this week. Set a phone reminder. Make it as automatic as brushing your teeth.

Consistency transforms your speaking faster than intensity ever will.

11/14/2025

Are you nervous about pitching an idea to your boss? This article has some important tips. https://buff.ly/lPbco0m

While these may sound easy, in reality, it takes hard work, confidence, and practice.

Being a good communicator is a skill that you can learn. I've coached many clients looking to be more engaging, persuasive and authentic.

What tips do you have for pitching an idea?

Google executive Mira Lane breaks down how she successfully pitched and launched the tech giant's Envisioning Studio.

11/12/2025

You've seen them—leaders who walk into a room and everyone leans in. They don't just speak well. They listen in a way that makes people feel valued.

Here's the truth most communication training misses: your listening skills directly impact how people perceive your speaking.

When you truly listen—not just wait for your turn to talk—you pick up on what matters most to your audience. You respond with relevance and eloquence. You build connection that makes people want to hear what you have to say.

Listening isn't passive. It's your secret influence tool.

Think of listening like a spotlight. Most people shine it on themselves, waiting to speak. But leaders? They turn that spotlight on others—and paradoxically, that's when everyone sees the leader's brilliance.

The C-suite executives I coach understand this: the person asking the best questions and actively listening controls the conversation.

Here's how to listen like a leader:

• Pause before responding. Count to two. This shows you're processing, not just reacting.

• Reflect back what you heard. "What I'm hearing is..." builds connection and clarity.

• Watch body language. People tell you what they need through their posture and energy.

In your next conversation, focus entirely on understanding before being understood. Notice how the dynamic shifts.

When you listen with intention, people remember how you made them feel and they're ready to follow your lead.

If you want to improve your communication skills, send me a message.

11/06/2025

Do you ever feel your mind racing before you speak—wondering if you’ll forget your words or lose your audience’s attention?

You’re not alone.

I created this new newsletter series: 22 Secrets from The Clear Path to Confident Public Speaking.

Secret #1: Breathe to Lead.

When anxiety spikes, your breathing becomes shallow—which makes your voice weaker and your mind less focused.

The quickest way to reset is a simple breathing technique:
• Inhale slowly through your nose for 4 counts.
• Hold for 2 counts.
• Exhale through your mouth for 6 counts.

Repeat 3 times before you begin speaking.

You’ll notice your shoulders drop, your voice steady, and your focus sharpen.

👉 Action step:
Before your next call, meeting, or presentation, pause and try this 4-2-6 breathing reset. You’ll start strong—and your audience will feel your confidence.

Are you ready to build a repertoire of skills that will keep nerves at bay and prepare you for any speaking situation? Let’s talk about your goals and how iSpeak Clearly can help.

11/04/2025

We all think we're great communicators until something happens and we realize that we aren't getting our message across.

There are many reasons why we may not be communicating effectively. This article discusses some of them and what to do generally. https://buff.ly/ikTYJJY

But, often, we need one-on-one help from an impartial and experienced coach.

If you want to be a better communicator, contact me. I can help you identify and address concerns, so you can be a more confident and engaging speaker.

Want to communicate better? These skills will help you get your message across, avoid misunderstandings, and improve your relationships.

10/31/2025

When answering the door on Halloween, I don’t wear a costume, but I want to be part of the fun. So I wear a ghost necklace and jack-o-lantern T-shirt to let the kids know I share their elation. There’s conversation, smiles, and candy for all!

When you reach a goal or complete a project, sharing your achievement with a colleague or friend is part of the reward. If that person responds unexpectedly — with low energy or negativity — your excitement diminishes.

You got a trick, instead of a treat.

How you feel about your accomplishment may also deflate. Next time you’ll share good news with someone else.

Ultimately, the interaction damages your trust in the relationship.

Think about the last time you shared good news. What type of response did you get, and how did it make you feel?

How do you respond to others?

Is there a person in your office everyone gravitates to when they’re excited? It may be because he or she gives active-constructive comments. That person can be counted on to appreciate your excitement.

Do you have difficulty building professional relationships? Becoming aware of your responses to good news can be a step toward building trust.

Practice answering with an active-constructive response:

1. Listen with interest to the news.
2. Respond with a supportive word or phrase.
3. Speak with excitement, a smile, and eye contact.

Treat your colleagues to enthusiastic support!

10/29/2025

Many people in their late 20s and early 30s report that they want to be better public speakers, especially those looking to advance in their careers.

As noted in this article, when you're presenting to higher-ups in your organization, it's important to know the communication style of those individuals. That's true in any setting. You have to know your audience.

Becoming comfortable with public speaking takes time, but it's an important job skill that helps individuals be more successful.

If you are a business owner or manager and think your employees want or would benefit from public speaking training programs, contact me to discuss your needs.

This boss says her reports often want to get better at public speaking. Her are her 3 best tips.

10/24/2025

Body language is a vital form of communication, but most of it happens subconsciously.

With practice, you can learn to better control your own body language and become more skilled at reading others. That's why I work with clients on body language as part of coaching them on their communication skills.

If you want to learn more about what signals you and others are sending out, check out this article - https://buff.ly/9w3n4Lj

Body language is a silent orchestra, as people constantly give clues to what they’re thinking and feeling. Non-verbal messages including body movements, facial expressions, vocal tone and volume, and other signals are collectively known as body language.

10/22/2025

Writing a good speech is challenging. We've all sat through boring presentations. If you don't want to be one of those presenters, this article offers some tips. https://buff.ly/gSxKEUS

While many of these focus on the substance of your speech, how you deliver it is just as important.

Your tone, body language and other aspects of your performance also matter.

Fortunately, you can learn to be a better communicator.

What do you think makes a good speaker?

Get expert tips for public speaking and learn how to overcome nerves to deliver an engaging and memorable speech that will captivate your audience for work presentations, sales pitches, and keynotes at conferences.