Stories work. I’ve transformed the speaking skills of many, many people over the years from that of anxiety and public speaking fear into confident speakers with presence speaking in front of audiences of ten to thousands.
Read a Recent Testimonial from Our Clients
Nola is an amazing public speaking coach! I just gave the best presentation I've ever given to over 200 people in person last week. I received many compliments. Not only did Nola help me with structuring my speech, but she also taught me many speech techniques that can help engage the audience and make me sound more confident in my presentation.
Take 4 Minutes and Watch This...
If you’re looking for a little inspiration on the speaking front - take a look at the attached.
This is worth listening to and and a good use of four minutes.
Jennifer Coolidge's (Best Supporting Actress Award) speech is a winner in and of itself.
Her acceptance speech is heartfelt, funny and authentic. She thoughtfully acknowledges key people of importance - all with flawless timing.
There are many takeaways here.
On the job front, Jennifer thanks the people that continually gave her work (for 20 years) and how each job kept leading to the next opportunity and then to the next.
And there’s gratitude for those that kept recognizing her talent and giving her that next role, the next opportunity.
Whether we’re employed or looking for our next role, all of the jobs and all of our experiences bring us to our next role until one day, we arrive with the right team and opportunity where we get our starring role, however we choose to define it.
I like to listen to people that inspire. Jennifer does just that in this speech.
Our Clients Speak...
At Nola Speaks, we are the behind-the-scenes experts on building confident communicators. We work 1:1 with our clients. Your success is what we do best!
Are you preparing for a presentation, speech, or meeting? Would you like to feel more confident about your speaking, delivery, and content? We can help.
Please feel free to reach out with your questions and interests. We look forward to speaking with you.
From one of our clients:
"...If you want to improve your public speaking, then Nola Beldegreen will help you find your voice. I recently had to prepare a TedX style speech in London which could not have gone better thanks to Nola. Her calming presence made me feel confident and capable. Nola’s stye is unique and personalized. Like a good coach should, Nola allowed me to take the lead so that my personality and words shined. Nola just simply brings out the best in her clients. The lessons I learned I will carry with me throughout my career and into my personal life. I am truly grateful for my experience and time with Nola." - Nola Speaks Client
Take 2 minutes and 40 seconds out of your day to watch the incredible Matt Higgins as he reminds us all how powerful our minds and inner dialogue can be.
Watch the 2 minute clip posted by Matt Higgins, on LinkedIn.
What do you do when you’re in the middle of a presentation and the lights go out?
How Can I Feel and Sound More Confident when Speaking?
How to sound more dynamic when speaking on the phone
Feeling tired, but you have a business meeting in a few minutes?
Concerned that your fatigue might effect the meeting outcome?
If your meeting is over the phone, and you’re feeling tired - this will help you to sound more dynamic:
1. Stand for the meeting (while speaking)
2. Hold your phone at a distance of 5-6 inches and at an upward angle. Your voice will ‘reach’ (energized) as you speak
If notes are needed for the meeting:
1. Instead of holding them or putting them on a desk (looking down at the notes) simply tape them to the wall or hold them up at an angle. Your voice will project up and outward and this adds enthusiasm to your words.
These techniques build vocal energy and speaking confidence.
I am an Executive Coach who transforms how people speak and communicate while improving their careers.
#executivecoach #publicspeaking #selfconfidence #careercoach
Bethenny Frankel shows us how to make three minutes matter
#BethennyFrankel recently received the Reality Royalty Lifetime Achievement Award at the MTV Movie & TV Awards. Bethenny shared wisdom, humor, gratitude and inspiration through her words.
As you watch her speech, there are many good takeaways for all of us who look to improve our speaking skills.
First, note Bethenny’s presence and her stance. Her eye contact is direct, her smile is warm, she is very centered and in a quick amount of time she takes us on a journey.
Bethenny’s tone is warm and confident. Her words are genuine, she’s humble and authentic. All of this makes us, the listener, connect with her even quicker. She has great timing, there is personal reflection and a connection to her message. This speech flows and is well organized. There are just the right amount of words. No more, no less.
Bethenny masters the art of the pause throughout her acceptance speech. Anyone that’s worked with me knows that I love pauses. Watch when the audience applauds, Bethenny stops. That’s exactly right, we have to let our audience respond to us.
The big takeaway…this talk is under three minutes.
Never underestimate the impact and inspiration you can leave on a single person or a crowd in a short amount of time.
Watch the journey that she takes us on
The Power of Inflection
Taylor Swift - Songwriter & Speaker
Taylor Swift is known for her brilliant songwriting, genius marketing campaigns and so much more.
This past week, Taylor added masterful public speaker to her long list of accomplishments. Her speech captures: the power of the spoken word, the impact of artful pausing and showcases the impression we can make on our audience when we’re connected to our words.
Whether we are speaking to a room of 20 or a stadium of 20,000, never underestimate the impact we can have by showing up as our best self.
Watch Taylor’s full speech here
Why Smiling When Speaking Is A Good Thing
Smiling when speaking:
•relaxes us (the speaker)
•relaxes the listener (our audience)
•connects the speaker and the listener by adding a happy expression to the conversation
•gets rid of any tension or nervousness by exercising the facial muscles upward
•makes us more animated thus increasing the enthusiasm in our voice
•is an action step that consciously moves flat or negative energy
•brings a positive response (smile) from the listener. When we smile at someone, there’s a good chance that they’ll smile back
• adds warmth to a phone conversation. You can hear a smile over the phone…try it!
As an Executive Coach, I help clients develop strong speaking skills and presence. If you need to become a more confident and effective speaker - I can help.
How To Make Memorable Eye Contact
Take It From The Top
Could you imagine going on a long drive to a new place and having no directions? What would happen if you did this?
You might take several wrong turns, end up in the wrong place or possibly have to reroute yourself. Chances are that you might have some hesitancy on the journey as you’re not 100% certain on your direction.
Giving a talk also requires a map. When you engage in any kind of public speaking your success relies heavily on having a clear plan and knowing the points you want to hit.
If you ever feel that you get lost in your thoughts and words when you present or simply feel filled with fear before you begin, writing out strong and deliberate opening and closing lines will help. By leading with a good sentence you start out strong and with direction. You won’t have to worry that you got off to a weak start. The strong opening builds certainty and confidence.
For your next meeting, write out how you want to open and the words that you want to end with. Even if your audience is that of one, you will feel so much calmer and it will not go unnoticed. What’s also helpful is to tie the ending (close) back to the beginning (opening).
How-To Speak with Confidence
To build confidence when speaking, know what you’re setting out to do and why.
One question to ask yourself, prior to any meeting, interview, acceptance speech, etc. is: “Why am I showing up?”
This question (and the corresponding work in answering it) brings clarity. It also identifies your purpose.
When we are connected to our purpose, there’s often an emotional connection that’s shared through our vocal tone.
Tone gives meaning to words.
When we speak about something that has meaning to us, our audience hears this in our voice. If a message has meaning to us, it will have meaning to our audience, too.
As an Executive Coach I transform the way people speak. The goal is to speak confidently with connection and joy.
How-To Stop Using Filler Words in Four Easy Steps: Say Goodbye to “Ah”, “Um”, and “Like”
One of the most sought after questions my clients bring to me is how to drop the habit of inserting “filler words” into all that they do and say. Like any bad habit, this is one you can break with the right tools by your side.
Filler words (“ah”, “um”, “like”) are usually used as placeholders or simply out of habit when we’re trying to figure out what to say next and keep our nerves at bay. These words distract when overused and are rest stops when speaking.
There’s another technique when it comes to speaking that allows for the same moment to think.
Enter the pause!
How to Leave an Impressionable Voicemail
Women Who Speak Up at Work Get Ignored While Men Get Promotions
According to Nola Beldegreen, a New York communications professional, too many of us don’t spend enough time considering the “art” in which we say things. To embody this executive presence, she suggests speaking with “vocal conviction” at a high volume and organizing what you want to say well in advance of a discussion.