VirtualSpeechCoach

Top 7 Most-Desired Public Speaking Skills

Do you relate to these public speaking concerns? In the video below, I address the top 7 responses to my recent survey question, What do you most want to improve in public speaking skills?

Impromptu Speaking Book only $0.99 through 2/21/23

“Not only will this book help people improve their public speaking, readers will also improve their personal communications. I particularly liked the chapters on handling difficult situations. Diane offers terrific tips to deal with real-world examples. This book is a must-read for anyone who talks to people — which is everyone!”–Dan Janal “This book provides […]

4 Ways AI Can Improve Your Presentations

Is there anything AI can’t do? Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated the picture at the top, with the prompt, “A cute dog speaking at a conference, digital art.” AI even helped me write this article, in which I give you 4 easy ways that AI can improve your presentations and public speaking skills. The 4 ways […]

Public Speaking Strategies That Work in Healthcare

Public speaking is a skill that every professional, regardless of industry, should master. Whether it’s giving a presentation at work or attending a conference, public speaking requires practice and preparation. What’s more, it can be an intimidating experience for many people who are afraid to speak publicly. But with the right strategies, anyone can overcome […]

“Perfect. Just Perfect.” Twisting a Serious Subject into a Tall Tale

Can death and drugs be funny?  That was my question as I created a tall tales speech for a recent Toastmasters Tall Tale Contest. Tall Tales Contest speeches are 3-5 minute speeches in which the subject “must be of a highly exaggerated, improbable nature and have a theme or plot.” My Tall Tales speech (video below), […]

Stop Apologizing So Much!

In one of my favorite TV series, NCIS, one of the leading characters, Jethro Gibbs, lives by a set of rules. Rule #6 is “Never say you’re sorry.” On the show, that rule is often followed by the phrase, “It’s a sign of weakness.” I disagree with the absolute of NEVER saying you’re sorry because sometimes […]

Public Speaking Coaching/Training Online: Challenges & Opportunities (Interview)

I was recently interviewed via email for a student project that addressed some of the challenges & opportunities of coaching/training public speaking online. Below are 8 questions and my responses. My target client is a subject matter expert who wants to speak with greater confidence and clarity. About 80% of my clients fall into this […]

Is Cancel Culture Bullying You Into Silence?

“No Comment.”  Have you ever wished you had simply said, “No comment”? Are you being silenced for fear of backlash? Michael Toebe, the editor of Communication Intelligence Magazine, recently interviewed me for commentary about the rise of online backlash and “cancellations” in THIS article featuring the story of professional golfer, Graeme McDowell, who experienced tremendous […]

If I Were Elon Musk’s Speech Coach . . .

If I were Elon Musk’s speech coach, I’d offer him some analytics, especially on filler words and repeated words, plus some coaching feedback. In the 2-minute video below, I demonstrate my new speech analytics tool, Yoodli, looking at a short clip of Elon Musk speaking.