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Speaking With Confidence and Clarity

Speak in a Way that Makes People Listen

Communication is the most important skill for any leader. Effective communication is vital to gaining trust, aligning efforts in the pursuit of goals, and inspiring positive change. In today’s fast-paced world, there are three key steps to becoming a clear and confident speaker:

1. Articulation
2. Speaking from the audience’s perspectives
3. Connecting with storytelling

With so much exposure to knowledge and personalities, leaders are being judged the moment they speak. It’s important to realise that we are what we think. Hence, we are what we speak as well. This workshop highlights the areas of public speech that make the speakers appear weak and ineffective.

Another crucial area of public speaking is the planning and delivery of the subject matter. The most powerful and effective speeches understand what the audience needs to hear. For this to take place, the focus of the speech should be on how valuable the speech is to the audience.

The third aspect of this workshop focuses on the actual delivery of the message. All modern leaders today use storytelling to convey their message, be it for an internal event or a high-profile strategic presentation. Stories capture our attention, communicate meaning, and change people's behaviour.

Elocution and executive communication are especially essential in Singapore because almost all of us learn to speak English by rote in school. It would be disastrous if our leaders spoke badly or use only Singlish on the global stage or when communicating important or sensitive matters. Speaking well is no longer a nice-to-have in today’s highly visual and digital world; all leaders are expected to communicate effective and it starts with speaking clearly and confidently.

Objective

Upon completing this training, participants will:

• Learn the essence of articulation that leads to clarity.
• Understand that clarity of speech starts with accuracy of diction.
• Learn how to plan speeches from the audience’s perspectives.
• Learn how to create value with every communication.
• Increase confidence by focusing on that value instead of on the script.
• Learn how to present any topic using storytelling.
• Learn good presentation habits and techniques from the best speakers.

Outline

I. Introduction
A. Definition of confidence and clarity in communication
B. Importance of speaking with confidence and clarity
C. Purpose of the presentation

• Identify each participant’s areas of speech to work on (this step ensures every participant improves on specific parts of their current speech patterns).
• Learn the key speech rules – stress, modulation, pace, pause, tone – and practise these as part of the clarity exercises.

II. Understanding Confidence in Speaking
A. Definition of confidence
B. Body language and its impact on confidence

• Posture
• Eye contact
• Gestures

C. Overcoming nervousness and anxiety

• Breathing techniques
• Visualization exercises
• Positive affirmations

III. Developing Clarity in Communication
A. Definition of clarity
B. Importance of clear articulation
C. Enhancing vocal clarity

• Pronunciation exercises
• Voice modulation
• Pace and rhythm in speech

D. Structuring thoughts for clear expression

• Organizing ideas logically
• Using clear and concise language
• Avoiding jargon and ambiguity

IV. Techniques for Speaking with Confidence
A. Preparation and knowledge

• Research and understanding the topic
• Rehearsing the content
• Learn what value looks like from audience’s perspectives
• Learn to plan messages into structures so that audiences can follow the way you think

B. Building self-confidence

• Positive self-talk
• Setting realistic goals

C. Connecting with the audience

• Building rapport
• Engaging storytelling

D. Handling unexpected situations

• Adapting to changes
• Thinking on your feet

V. Strategies for Enhancing Clarity in Communication
A. Active listening

• Importance of listening skills
• Asking clarifying questions

B. Seeking feedback

• Receiving constructive criticism
• Making adjustments based on feedback

C. Practicing effective communication in different contexts

• Formal presentations
• Informal conversations
• Learn to present everything like a story, including statistics.

VI. Case Studies and Examples

• Real-life examples of individuals who mastered confident and clear communication
• Lessons learned from successful communicators, especially TED talks

VII. Conclusion

• Recap of key points
• Encouragement for continuous improvement
• Call to action for practicing confidence and clarity in daily communication

Who should attend

Methodology

Participants will get lots of speech exercises because practice makes perfect. The class starts with identifying the areas to work on for each participant. This is done by each participant reading a short passage which the coach will analyse and highlight. Participants will also be recorded (video) so they learn to listen to their own clarity – before and after the lessons. Because of the different levels of participants each time, this workshop has different dynamics every lesson. It just means each session is fully focused on real problems and errors rather than theoretical. Each exercise will focus on “state of clarity” and “level of confidence” for each participant.

Testimonials

Profile of Joseph Wong

Corporate Storyteller

Joseph spent 36 years at Standard Chartered Bank managing traditional and innovative banking spanning Retail, Wholesale, Commercial banking, Marketing, Business Re-engineering, ISO9001 accreditation, Process Management, Sales Management, Communication, Micro-learning not just in Singapore but globally.

When he left his banking career in 2015, he was Director of the Wholesale Banking Proposal Management team that responded to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) in Cash Management, Trade Management and Securities Services businesses and developing training programmes in Digital Learning. He planned, designed and created bite-sized (micro) learning to complement classroom learning on sales effectiveness, business writing, storytelling, the art of asking why, and creating powerful presentations which are still being used by employees at Standard Chartered Bank globally.

Joseph is now a Communications and Leadership coach and is one of only a handful of Phonetics coaches in Singapore who has delivered close to 400 Phonetics training publicly since 1985. He also developed more exhaustive and far-reaching communications programmes such as Corporate Storytelling, Reasoning Skills for Children and is currently the anchor coach in a WSQ-certified Phonics and Phonetics course in Early Childhood Intervention for Pre-School teachers under Chelsea Academia. Joseph is also the author of two books - I’m So Ready For Life, that helps children hone their critical and creative thinking, and The Three Monsters that Destroy Your Career, a must-have set of qualities and expectations for graduates starting on their first job.

Today, his focus on leadership and business communication helps individuals and organisations improve their communication, selling and leadership skills. He co-developed a sales app called Delapitch and launched it at the 2022 Singapore Business Show in September 2022, under a selling philosophy FOSTER Method that he developed. He has delivered lectures and training programmes to local and regional participants, both work teams and executive levels since 2015. He is both ACTA and TESOL certified.