Walk Air

Why hire an executive speech coach?

Working with an executive speech coach only makes sense if it directly benefits you and your organization.

You could personally profit from working with Chris if you want to:

• Establish yourself as a leader worthy of people’s respect and cooperation
• Prepare a compelling message for an important speech
• Win your audience’s attention, respect, and cooperation
• Connect with your audiences, whether you’re speaking to a small, informal group or addressing a packed auditorium
• Project a commanding presence

Your organization could benefit each time you

• Secure a major job or contract
• Make a persuasive pitch to funding sources
• Influence the public’s perception of your organization
• Win the trust of shareholders and the board of directors
• Gain your employees’ cooperation.

At any time during your work with Chris, if you feel your aren’t benefiting, that month’s fee will be refunded.

How does executive speech coaching work?

Chris works with his clients in person and by phone. How he works with you depends entirely upon your circumstances — what you need and want.

If you have an important speech coming up and all you want is help making it the most successful speech possible, Chris will jump in and focus entirely on it. He will help you plan your strategy, figuring out what you want to accomplish and how best to go about it. Then he will help you create a message that is strong, direct, and commanding. If appropriate, he will help you rehearse your delivery.

If you want to become a better speaker, Chris Witt will work with you over a period of several months. During an initial conversation the two of you will identify your objectives and how best to go about achieving them. Chris will help you understand the way you typically express yourself and how other people perceive you (using the DISC behavior assessment).

During subsequent meetings — in person or by phone — Chris will work with you on whatever speeches you already are giving. As he helps you with those speeches, he will coach you through a process you can apply to future speaking opportunities.

You can count on him for support, understanding, and advice.

How can I work with a speech coach who isn’t even in my city?

Most of his clients are based in San Diego and southern California, but Chris works — by phone and by email — with clients throughout North America, England, and Australia.

Unlike other speech coaches who focus primarily on delivery — how to use your voice and body – Chris shows his clients how to strategize their presentations and craft a compelling message. He does this in a guided conversation over the phone. And he reviews his clients’ material by email.

Chris also reviews audio and videotapes of his clients giving presentations so he can help them improve their presentation techniques.

If you are primarily concerned about improving your delivery, you would do better finding a local coach, someone who can observe you on an ongoing basis and work with you face to face.

Will Chris write my speeches for me?

No. But he will help you craft your own speech, and he will clean it up for you.

Unless you’re the President of the United States, you should be saying what you mean in your words — not delivering someone else’s ideas in words not your own.

Chris will help you craft your speech. He will lead you through a process that helps you:

• Define your objective
• Crystallize your ideas
• Generate your material (evidence, stories, examples, etc.)
• Structure your speech
• Develop a tight outline

You will learn how to speak from an outline in a lively, conversational way.

Chris will then show you how to use parts of that speech over and over again in different settings.

I get nervous talking in front of people. Can Chris help me?

Yes.

The skills, experience, and personal strengths that make you a leader can make you a confident speaker. Chris will help you lessen your nervousness and use the nervousness that remains to add energy to your delivery.

I’m pressed for time. How long does this take?

It depends entirely on what you want to accomplish. And on your schedule.

If you’re working on an important speech, you may only have a few days or a couple of weeks. Chris can step in at the last moment and help you get it done.

If you’re interested in improving your speaking, you may want to take more time. You will notice a great improvement in yourself within three months. By six months other people will comment on the improvement they see.

I’ve taken speech seminars and training sessions before. How is executive speech coaching different?

With coaching you get individual attention, ready when you are, customized precisely to your needs, talents, experience, and situation. What you won’t get is generic, one-size-fits-all advice.

You will learn by creating presentations you’re actually going to give, instead of working on classroom exercises you’ll never use in the real world.

And you’ll remember what you learn and make it part of the way you think and act, something that’s not possible from a two-day seminar.

Does Chris work with teams?

Yes.

Chris helps teams strategize their presentation, create their message, prepare their support material, practice Q&A, and rehearse.

He also works with groups that are creating a presentation for their sales force to take on the road. And he works with senior executives who are crafting a presentation to give to funding sources as they go IPO.

How much does executive speech coaching cost?

It depends entirely on what you want to accomplish. And on your schedule.

During the initial, complimentary coaching session, after you’ve explained your situation and what you’d like to accomplish, Chris will lay out several options and their associated fees.

Working with an experienced coach is an investment in your career and in your company’s success. It is not inexpensive, although it often costs less than most executives spend on conferences or workshops. At the same time you can determine how much you want to invest at any one time.

Remember, Chris offers a money-back guarantee. If you don’t feel you got value from any session, he will refund your money for that session, no questions asked.

I’m not sure I can afford a speech coach. What do you suggest?

In addition to the resources posted on this website, you may want to check out a CD Chris co-produced called “Power Presentations for Professionals.”

Consider joining Toastmasters. It is an international organization that has clubs — tens of thousands of them — around the world. For a modest investment you can attend weekly meetings where you will be guided through a variety of exercises. You’ll be on your feet speaking in front of a supportive audience right from the start. It’s a great investment.

“Thanks to his coaching I receive two long ovations and a standing ovation at the conclusion of my speech in San Diego.”
-Bob Hunt, President, Stepping Stones

Are you a good speaker, but you know you need to be better? Do you worry too much about giving speeches? Are you disappointed by the response you get when you do speak? Would you like to project a more commanding image?

Chris Witt, an executive speech coach based in San Diego, works one-on-one with leaders — and up-and-coming leaders — who want to speak more influentially.

Ask yourself how often you address the board of directors or your executive team, a key client, investors or funding sources, the media, fellow leaders or direct reports, company gatherings or community events.

Then ask yourself how well you’re doing.

• Are you presenting yourself and your organization as powerfully as you can?
• Are your speaking skills holding you back or driving you forward?
• Are you getting the results — and the respect — you want?

Executive Speech Coach

Chris Witt, a speech coach based in San Diego, uses a proprietary process to help you:

• Make the most of your natural speaking style
• Think and speak — even off the cuff — with greater clarity and impact
• Engage audiences in a way that increases their trust and your confidence
• Craft a hard-hitting message that gets the results you want
• Use your voice, gestures, eye contact, and unique personal qualities to become more influential and charismatic

Dr. Witt’s approach to speech coaching is both structured and customized. (Who wants an open-ended, indeterminate process?) This is his commitment: to help you be your best in front of an audience.

“My first big speech as CEO was at our 20th anniversary celebration — with over 500 people in attendance. There’s no way I could have gotten through it without Chris Witt’s coaching. He helped me give a speech I’m proud of.”
-Norma Diaz, CEO, Community Health Group

Other speech coaches focus primarily on delivery, as if you are an actor and they are directors. (“Stand this way. Don’t use that gesture. Put more life in your voice.”) Chris focuses more on strategy and message formation, regarding you as a leader and himself as a trusted advisor.

Step 1: Discovery

Through assessments, a structured interview process, and close observation, you will gain a deeper understanding of your unique presentation style and of how best to leverage it during important speeches.

Step 2: Strategy

You will learn a 3-step process you can use to make every speech a winner: 1) uncovering what drives your audience, 2) determining what you want to accomplish, and 3) addressing your audience’s needs while achieving your goals.

Step 3: Message

You’ll discover the elements of a focused, powerful, and audience-centric message. And you will learn how to put those elements together easily and for the greatest impact.

Step 4: Delivery

Everything that makes you a successful leader — your knowledge and experience, your way with people, your values, attitudes, and vision, even your sense of humor — can be used to make you a successful speaker. (You will also learn when — if ever — and how to use PowerPoint.)

“Thanks to his coaching I receive two long ovations and a standing ovation at the conclusion of my speech in San Diego.”
-Bob Hunt, President, Stepping Stones

Chris Witt will help you be the best speaker you can possibly be. He won’t try to make you look or sound like anyone else. He won’t ask you to do anything that you aren’t capable of doing. Instead he will show you how to use the strengths and skills you already possess as a leader to be a commanding speaker.

Depending on your goals and schedule, you can work with Chris by phone or in person.

However you work with him, you – and others – will notice a dramatic improvement almost immediately.

The first conversation is always free. You can ask your questions. He’ll ask you plenty of his own. Then you’ll decide together if there’s a fit: If he can help you achieve what you want and if your styles are compatible.

“Because of the advice and coaching Chris Witt gave me, I was able to give my speech with confidence and not anxiety. Many people came up to me afterward to say how much they enjoyed it and were inspired by it. I even got an invitation to give it to another audience.”

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!