Spoken with Authority
Training by the Numbers
World-Class Coaches
Training Events in 2021
Published Books
01
Live Webinars
Through a combination of insightful tools, model strategies, best practices, “real world” scenarios, compelling visuals, active learning techniques and more, your team members will improve their presentation skill and ability — and your organization will increase its capacity and strength!
Develop Your Online Presence (can focus on hybrid events or technology solutions)
Description
Whether you’re in a videoconference meeting, on the phone, at an online networking event, attending a virtual conference, or anywhere else: your ability to speak with confidence will drive your career forward — just as a lack of confidence will frustratingly hold you back.
This session will give you a set of powerful insights and practical strategies that will rapidly elevate your online presence. Get ready to develop your technology-mediated speaking skills in a way that will transform your career — and even change your life!
- Explore the six elements of online presence
- Assess personal strengths and weaknesses with regard to body language, vocal quality, facial expressions, filler words, eye contact, and physical setup
- Start enhancing strengths and mitigating weaknesses with interactive exercises
- Mixed groups of professionals at all experience levels
- Early-career professionals and interns
- Summer associates, first-year associates, and staff at law firms
- Program length of 60 to 90 minutes, can accommodate large groups
- High: participants will record and review their speaking to assess strengths and weaknesses for each of the six elements of online presence
Videoconferencing 2.0: Lead More Effective Meetings
Description
Since early 2020, you’ve gone from a videoconference neophyte to a Zoom ninja. As computer-mediated communication continues to dominate the business landscape, you’re ready to take your virtual meetings to the next level.
This session will allow you to go from persevering and persisting to standing out and shining in the online environment.
- Recognize how to craft agendas and materials that improve effectiveness of virtual meetings
- Explore strategies for optimizing the experience of meeting participants and increasing their engagement
- Review etiquette of facilitating online meetings
- Learn strategies for combating Zoom fatigue and increasing energy during online meetings
- Mid-career and seasoned professionals who routinely lead online meetings
- Senior associates, partners, and other law firm leaders
Program Length:
- Program length of 60 to 90 minutes, can accommodate large groups
Interactivity Level:
- High: participants will answer poll questions, use a whiteboard, engage in the chat box, and participate in small-group discussion
Host Hybrid Meetings and Events with an Eye Toward Inclusion and Engagement
Description
As the pandemic wears on and preferences for remote work remain strong, there will be greater demand for hybrid meetings and events, where some participants are online and some are in person. But how do we make sure the online audience of hybrid events isn’t an afterthought? That they don’t get second-class status? It’s not enough to post a recording of a live event or to stream it live for online participants to view passively. This session will explore when to move forward with a hybrid format, how to deliver hybrid presentations and facilitate hybrid meetings that cater to both in-person and computer-mediated attendees, and what to do to get all participants engaging and interacting in meaningful ways. Get ready to speak confidently and seamlessly to online and in-person participants of your next hybrid meeting or event.
- Create a system for determining when to use the hybrid format and assessing how it will impact the group dynamic
- Understand the technology, training, and testing needs of hybrid meeting facilitators and event speakers
- Identify tools and strategies and adapt your presentation style to engage both online and in-person participants
- Help ensure online participants are on a level playing field with in-person participants
- Mid-career and senior professionals who speak at hybrid events and lead hybrid meetings
- Mid- to senior-level associates, partners, and leaders at law firms
Program Length:
- Program length of 60 to 90 minutes, can accommodate large groups
- Medium: participants will answer poll questions, respond with reaction buttons, engage in the chatbox, and participate in small-group discussion
Say It Right The First Time Online
Description
How often do you fall short when trying to clearly, convincingly, and confidently get your message across “in the moment” — such as when someone asks you a question in a virtual meeting, during a phone call, or in any other online situation where you want and need to be at your most articulate?
This session will teach you a set of little known — but profoundly effective — tools and tips to ensure that you always express yourself with clarity and composure; even when the last thing you were expecting was to be in the spotlight.
- Appreciate the importance of readiness and polish in online meetings, virtual events, and phone calls
- Learn a strategy for responding concisely and confidently to questions in meeting and conversations
- Gain experience and confidence speaking off the cuff
- Early- and mid-career professionals who routinely participate in online meetings
- Summer associates, junior associates, and staff at law firms
- Program length of 90 to 120 minutes, can accommodate large groups
- High: participants will record and review speaking exercises, will practice individually and in small groups during the program, and will assess progress
Elevate Your Online Energy
Description
“Zoom fatigue” describes the prevalent and intense tiredness, stress, and burnout associated with heavy use of Zoom and other platforms for virtual communication during the COVID-19 pandemic while professionals work and socialize almost entirely remotely.
In this session, you will discover specific habits you can adopt today to combat Zoom fatigue; improve your mindset; and help you stay engaged and energized when you work from home.
- Learn six habits that boost energy and combat Zoom fatigue in online meetings
- Become more enthusiastic and engaged in virtual situations
- Mixed groups of professionals and staff at all experience levels who are heavy users of virtual meeting platforms
Program Length:
- Program length of 45 to 60 minutes, can accommodate large groups
- Medium: participants will answer poll questions, respond with reaction buttons, engage in the chat box, and participate in small-group discussion
Craft Engaging Online Presentations
Description
Let’s face it: for many people, the only thing worse than being asked to give a presentation is having to deliver it online. But it doesn’t have to be that way!
This session will give you firsthand experience with our foolproof Sandwich Structure Method for outlining presentations as well as audience-engagement techniques, which you’ll use to deliver game-changing computer-mediated presentations — even if you don’t have ample time to prepare, or if you only have a few minutes to give your virtual presentation.
- Explore best practices of presentations and visual aids delivered online
- Learn and apply the Sandwich Structure Method of preparing presentations
- Identify ways of leveraging storytelling, visuals, and technology to make presentations more engaging
- Practice new skills in a supportive learning environment
- Ideal for:
Mid-career and seasoned professionals who deliver presentations, briefings, or pitches online - Mid- to senior-level associates, partners, and leaders at law firms
- Program length of one or two 90-minute sessions, up to 10 participants
- High or very high: participants will develop a sample presentation, refine it in breakout groups with fellow participants, and (in the two-session format) deliver their presentation and receive encouraging feedback
Get the Butterflies to Fly in Formation
Description
Mark Twain once said, “There are two types of speakers: those that are nervous and those that are liars.” And, to a large extent, research backs up this maxim. This session aims to equip attorneys with long-, mid- and short-term strategies for managing nervousness during in-person, computer-mediated, and hybrid communication situations. You won’t entirely eliminate the butterflies in your stomach when you are speaking, but you will get them to fly in formation so you can harness their energy and use it to make your delivery more enthusiastic.
Objectives:
- Assess your current levels of nervousness using proven scales of communication apprehension
- Understand when nervous energy is productive and when it’s unhealthy
- Learn to reframe attitudes about public speaking as well as other long-, mid-, and short-term strategies to manage nervousness
- Become more comfortable and confident in speaking situations, using our easy-to-calculate communication apprehension scales to track progress against your benchmark score
Ideal for:
- Mixed groups of professionals and staff at all experience levels who experience nervousness or anxiety in public speaking and other oral communication situations
Program Length:
- Program length of 45 to 60 minutes, can accommodate large groups
- High: participants will complete a communication apprehension survey, answer poll questions, practice exercises to reduce nervousness, develop a pre-speaking routine, and engage in the chat box
Testimonials
“From the moment Lean In D.C. reached out to Spoken with Authority, they were timely in their responses and willing to build a tailored event for our community. Throughout the workshop, Christine and Michele balanced presenting information with providing hands-on examples (i.e. polls, breakout sessions, whiteboard). This not only allowed our members to fully understand the capabilities of presenting virtually, but also kept the audience engaged throughout the webinar. After the event, the attendees provided overwhelmingly positive feedback on the presentation and content.”
“Christine and her team have done wonders for me personally as a public speaker, and also for my entire team. They are also incredibly easy to work with, and I feel like I can delegate big projects to them and not have to worry about the results — because they always deliver!”
“Spoken with Authority was wonderful to work with! The information they provided SMPS Boston was very useful to our members. The webinar was engaging, interactive, and gave us all immediate skills that we could apply to our work life. I would recommend Christine’s services to anyone looking for a presentation on best practices for virtual presentations, she’s an expert!”
“I had a fantastic engagement with Spoken with Authority. My coach Lisa is an expert. A pro. Her coaching engrained new behaviors that go beyond just preparing for the capstone. She taught me how to get to the point, conduct concise phone calls, and even where to put my hands when speaking. Lisa had the expert ability to build on my strengths and find those areas of opportunity where I could grow. Spoken with Authority went above and beyond in their coaching and I could not be more thankful. The skills I learned in my coaching engagement are skills that I can incorporate in my every day practice.”
02
In-Person Workshops
Spoken with Authority workshops are dynamic, interactive, and inclusive learning events that conveniently take place in your environment or at any other desired location (e.g. retreat, conference, expo, etc.).
Develop Your Executive Presence
Description
Whether you’re in a meeting, on the phone, around the proverbial “water cooler,” at a conference, or anywhere else: your ability to speak with confidence will drive your career forward — just as a lack of confidence will frustratingly hold you back.
- Explore the five elements of executive presence
- Assess personal strengths and weaknesses with regard to body language, vocal quality, facial expressions, filler words, and eye contact
- Start enhancing strengths and mitigating weaknesses with interactive exercises
- Mixed groups of professionals at all experience levels
- Early-career professionals and interns
- Summer associates, first-year associates, and staff at law firms
- Program length of 60 to 90 minutes, can accommodate large groups
- High: participants will record and review their speaking to assess strengths and weaknesses for each of the six elements of online presence
- Very high: organizers may select an optional multi-sensory experience, where each participant will have the opportunity to see, touch, taste, and smell one type of candy for each element of executive presence to increase engagement and recall of concepts explored
Say It Right the First Time
Description
How often do you fall short when trying to clearly, convincingly, and confidently get your message across “in the moment” — such as when someone asks you a question in a meeting, during a chance encounter, or in any other situation where you want and need to be at your most articulate?
- Appreciate the importance of readiness and polish in daily interactions, casual conversations, and routine meetings
- Learn a strategy for responding concisely and confidently to questions in meeting and conversations
- Gain experience and confidence speaking off the cuff
- Ideal for:
Early- and mid-career professionals who routinely participate in meetings - Summer associates, junior associates, and staff at law firms
- Program length of 90 to 120 minutes, up to 20 participants
- High: participants will record and review speaking exercises, will practice in small groups during the program, and will assess progress
Craft Memorable and Engaging Presentations
Description
Let’s face it: for many people, the only thing worse than being asked to give a presentation is being invited to sit through one. But it doesn’t have to be that way!
- Explore best practices of presentations and visual aids
- Learn and apply the Sandwich Structure Method of preparing presentations
- Identify ways of incorporating storytelling and visual aids to make presentations more understandable and memorable
- Practice new skills in a supportive learning environment
- Mid-career and seasoned professionals who deliver presentations, briefings, or pitches
- Mid- to senior-level associates, partners, and leaders at law firms
- Program length of one or two two-hour sessions, up to 10 participants
- High or very high: participants will develop a sample presentation, refine it in breakout groups with fellow participants, and (in the two-session format) deliver their presentation and receive encouraging feedback
Powerful Visual Presentations
Description
While there are plenty of things that audiences can dislike about a presentation, their #1 pet peeve is when presenters read off slides. There’s simply no faster way to turn off an audience and get them eyeing the exits.
- Become aware of common preparation mistakes that result in lackluster presentations and slides
- Discover habits that support the development of powerful visual presentations
- Learn and apply principles of effective presentation and slide design
- Senior professionals and thought leaders who deliver high-profile presentations
- Partners and leaders at law firms
Program Length:
- Program length of one or two two-hour sessions, up to 10 participants
- Medium or very high: participants will experience sample presentations (including ones from colleagues at their own organization whenever possible), analyze strengths and areas for improvement, and (in the two-session format) apply lessons learned to their own practice presentation and receive encouraging feedback
The Power of Voice
Description
We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s not what you said, but how you said it.” Our voices are powerful instruments. Used effectively, voice can help convey clarity of intent and undeniable confidence.
This session will give you strategies to project with robust vocal intensity, enhance vocal quality, and improve articulation.
Objectives:
- Understand behaviors that impact voice performance
- Assess personal strengths and weaknesses relative to vocal quality
- Develop a tool kit of vocal exercises that allow you to use your voice to its full potential
- Mid-career and seasoned professionals who deliver presentations, briefings, or pitches (especially in rooms with difficult acoustics)
- Women’s affinity group members
- Mid- to senior-level associates, partners, and leaders at law firms
- Program length of 90 to 120 minutes, up to 20 participants
- High: participants will record and review speaking exercises, will practice vocal exercises and measure sound output in breakout groups, and will assess progress
Upgrade from How are you?: Get better at small talk
Description
Feel rusty after limited opportunities for small talk due to the pandemic? Or maybe being memorable and engaging at networking events, in conversations, over coffee or lunch, and during chance encounters has never been a strength. This session will teach you the anatomy of small talk so you can more successfully initiate, maintain, and end casual conversations. Additionally, it will offer suggestions for questions you can ask that are more inclusive and that demonstrate empathy when conversational partners open up to you. Get ready to feel more comfortable, to make deeper connections, and to cultivate your professional network every time you engage in small talk.
- Identify the three stages of small talk and common culprits of communication breakdowns
- Practice how to initiate, maintain, and end conversations
- Brainstorm thoughtful questions to ask and to avoid, especially if your conversational partner has experienced trauma or loss
- Demonstrate more empathy when a conversational partner opens up
- Use and read verbal and nonverbal cues to improve connection
- Respond with resilience when the unexpected happens and manage inner chatter that sabotages confidence
- Mixed groups of professionals at all experience levels
- Early-career professionals and interns
- Summer associates, first-year associates, and junior associates at law firms
- Program length of 90 minutes to 2 hours, can accommodate large groups
- High: participants will record and review their speaking to assess strengths and weaknesses as well as engage in multiple practice scenarios
Testimonials
“Spoken with Authority’s training was engaging, well paced, informative, and entertaining. In the weeks following our sessions, their value became apparent. I watched my team grow comfortable interfacing with their more senior client-side counterparts, and saw evidence of improving presentation skills. I found myself being more intentional with my body language and tone as well – a post-training phenomenon acknowledged by other trainees as well.”
“Christine gave a presentation on Developing Your Executive Presence to the Washington, D.C. chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and it was excellent! Her engaging manner put everyone at ease and her practical tips and advice allowed us to leave the session with valuable ideas for improvement. The chapter wants her back! Working with Christine in preparation for the event was a breeze — she is so organized and such a professional on every level.”
“Even in just one short workshop, Spoken with Authority was able to provide effective tips and habits to improve speaking skills beyond the workshop by providing reading materials and other exercises. Our facilitator was particularly great at working with people that had differing levels of comfort with public speaking in a professional setting and ensured that even those who found public speaking to be a strength benefited from the workshop in some way.”
03
Recorded Virtual Training
Christine Clapp, founder of Spoken with Authority, is a collaborator with other nationally renowned law-firm experts on an asynchronous virtual learning platform called Power Training. First launched in spring 2020 to support firms during the COVID-19 pandemic, the platform offers a robust, one-stop, user friendly, virtual training experience for summer associates and another for associates.
Frequently Asked Questions
ARE YOU CURRENTLY DOING IN-PERSON TRAINING?
No, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Spoken with Authority is conducting all training online. Learn more about our live webinars and recorded virtual training. If you would like to plan an in-person workshop in the future, please schedule a time to discuss your goals, timing, and safety precautions to see if we can safely facilitate a program.
WHO FACILITATES PROGRAMS?
Spoken with Authority training facilitators include Christine Clapp, Jean Costanza Miller, Michele Morrissey, Bjørn Stillion Southard, and David Henderson.
HOW LONG ARE YOUR TRAINING PROGRAMS?
HOW MUCH DO YOUR PROGRAMS COST?
Live webinars start at $3500. Recorded virtual training starts at $899 per participant. In-person workshops start at $4000 plus travel. If you would like a cost estimate for a training program tailored to your needs and goals, please schedule a time to discuss further.