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Spoken with Authority

Training by the Numbers

Spoken with Authority has helped many professionals grow in their confidence and public speaking skills through our live webinars,  in-person workshops, and virtual training,

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!

Objectives:
  • 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
Ideal for:
  • 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:
  • Program length of 60 to 90 minutes, can accommodate large groups
Interactivity Level: 
  • High: participants will record and review their speaking to assess strengths and weaknesses for each of the six elements of online presence
N

Videoconferencing 2.0: Lead More Effective Meetings

Description

Since early 2020, you’ve gone from a videoconference neophyte to a Zoom ninja. Because online communication has become part of the business-communication landscape, it’s time 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 virtual environment. 

Objectives:
  • 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
Ideal for:
  • 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 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.

Objectives:
  • 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
Ideal for:
  • 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
Interactivity Level: 
  • Medium: participants will answer poll questions, respond with reaction buttons, engage in the chatbox, and participate in small-group discussion
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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.

 

Objectives:
  • 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
Ideal for:
  • Early- and mid-career professionals who routinely participate in online meetings
  • Summer associates, junior associates, and staff at law firms
Program Length:
  • Program length of 90 to 120 minutes, can accommodate large groups
Interactivity Level: 
  • 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.

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 online, whether you are at home or at the office.

Objectives:
  • Learn six habits that boost energy and combat Zoom fatigue in online meetings
  • Become more enthusiastic and engaged in virtual situations
Ideal for:
  • 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
Interactivity Level: 
  • 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.

Objectives:
  • 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:
  • Program length of one or two 90-minute sessions, up to 10 participants
Interactivity Level: 
  • 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
Interactivity Level: 
  • 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.”

Paige Sholar

Program Analyst, Big Win Philanthropy

“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!”

Jon Whiten

Director of State Communications, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

“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!”

Kelly Auld

Marketing & Communications Manager, DBVW Architects

“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.”

Matt Williams

Associate, Perkins Coie LLP

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.).

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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.

This session will give you a set of powerful insights and practical strategies that will rapidly enhance your executive presence. Get ready to develop your speaking skills in a way that will transform your career — and even change your life!
Objectives:
  • 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
Ideal for:
  • 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:
  • Program length of 60 to 90 minutes, can accommodate large groups
Interactivity Level: 
  • 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
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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? 

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 under the spotlight. Get ready to go from flat footed to polished, poised, and pointed — the first time, and every time!
Objectives:
  • 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:
  • Program length of 90 to 120 minutes, up to 20 participants
Interactivity Level: 
  • 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! 

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 presentations — even if you don’t have ample time to prepare, or if you’re striving to get through to a tough audience.
 
Objectives:
  • 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
Ideal for:
  • Mid-career and seasoned professionals who deliver presentations, briefings, or pitches
  • Mid- to senior-level associates, partners, and leaders at law firms
Program Length:
  • Program length of one or two two-hour sessions, up to 10 participants
Interactivity Level:
  • 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. 

This session will show you how to design dynamic and engaging presentations and augment them with compelling stories and slides, so that you bring any presentation to life – whether it’s in the boardroom, on stage, or anywhere else.
Get ready to turn your presentations into must-attend events that will have people remembering fondly and talking positively for weeks, months, or maybe even years!
Objectives: 
  • 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
Ideal for: 
  • 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
Interactivity Level:
  • 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
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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.

Conversely, lack thereof may result in a presentation that sounds unsure, possibly leaving your audience wondering whether you are convinced of your own message.

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
Ideal for:
  • 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:
  • Program length of 90 to 120 minutes, up to 20 participants
Interactivity Level: 
  • High: participants will record and review speaking exercises, will practice vocal exercises and measure sound output in breakout groups, and will assess progress
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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. 

Objectives:
  • 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
Ideal for:
  •  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:
  • Program length of 90 minutes to 2 hours, can accommodate large groups
Interactivity Level: 
  • 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.”

Chris Earp

Director of Advertising , Beaconfire RED

“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.”

Betsy Wason

VP Development, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)

“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.”

Ryan Sale

Associate Attorney, Richards, Layton & Finger

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.

Recorded virtual training on a laptop screen

Frequently Asked Questions

ARE YOU CURRENTLY DOING IN-PERSON TRAINING?

Yes, Spoken with Authority is currently conducting in-person training. We have facilitators who are fully vaccinated and boosted. If you would like to plan an in-person workshop, please schedule a time to discuss your goals, timing, and safety protocols.

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?
Live webinars range from 45 to 90 minutes, depending on topic, desired interactivity, and audience size. In-person workshops range from 60 minutes to multiple two-hour sessions, depending on topic, desired interactivity, and audience size. Recorded virtual training modules are around 15-20 minutes each. 
HOW MUCH DO YOUR PROGRAMS COST?

Live webinars start at $4000. In-person workshops start at $5000 plus travel and carbon offsets. If you would like a cost estimate for a training program tailored to your needs and goals, please schedule a time to discuss further.

WHY SHOULD WE WORK WITH SPOKEN WITH AUTHORITY?
Learn about our qualifications and values. Additionally, collaborating with Spoken with Authority on a training program will get you better, faster, and easier results than doing it on your own or relying on someone in house.
After all, we have track record of providing engaging and highly rated training programs to hundreds of law firm, consulting firm, association, and nonprofit clients as well as thousands of program participants. We have a team of dedicated and expert facilitators so can accommodate most scheduling needs, even if you have a last-minute training request. And, we will make your job easy by drafting pre- and post-program messages for participants; scheduling a pre-workshop logistics call to tailor the program to your audience and make sure technology runs smoothly; providing books and handouts to reinforce learning; collecting evaluation data from participants; and scheduling a meeting to debrief the program and evaluation data with you.