Executive coaching

Public speaking and communication skills training for leaders

Become a better, more persuasive presenter and communicator.

You can’t be a great leader without being a great communicator

Great leaders know how to inspire and motivate an audience.

I work with a wide range of leaders, including general managers, CEOs, board directors and spokespeople, to help them with:

  • public speaking and presenting
  • communicating to different audiences, including staff, the public and the board
  • dealing with the media
  • using rhetorical techniques to become more persuasive and influential
  • listening
  • giving and receiving feedback
  • motivating staff
  • writing for a wide range of mediums, from email to social media.

I also help leaders overcome their fear of public speaking so they can feel calmer and more confident when talking in public.

Presentation and communication skills training options:

One-on-one training for leaders

Everyone’s needs and situation are different, which is why I tailor each and every session for my clients.

Sometimes I primarily act as an adviser; other times, I’m more of a sounding board who can offer an external (and neutral) perspective on how your communication comes across.

If you’re preparing for a specific event, whether it’s delivering a keynote speech at a conference, presenting to investors, or talking at an AGM, I can also help you workshop your speech to make it work with your own communication style.

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Group training for managers and leaders

Sometimes you want to get everybody on the same page.

I often come across situations where leaders within the same team have completely different views of how to communicate with the public and stakeholders, even though the organisation has a specific voice and reputation to uphold.

Taking your organisation’s brand and values into account, I can run group sessions to help everyone understand which communication styles work best in different situations.

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“Your media training session was exceptional in the sense that it was tailored to my innate style of communication. That in itself ensures effective communication, ensuring clarity of my messaging and higher degrees of engagement by the target audience.”
George Gadallah
CEO of Princeton Financial Services
“Dan provided a lot of helpful tips to improve my public speaking. I felt comfortable to try new techniques, which built confidence. Dan adapted our sessions to work on specific things I wanted to achieve.”
Nicole Barwick
“Dan took the time to understand us and how we work. His advice was spot on, practical and easy to apply.”
Justin Marmot
Ganton
“Dan was a great sounding board while I was planning my website's content. I've been very appreciative of his skill at guiding me through website development, building my confidence and translating tricky concepts/approaches into easy to understand and implement bites.”
Julie Paraskevopoulos
Ecolix
“Highly recommended. Thorough, well-presented and essential information.”
Odette Waanders
CEO, Palliative Care Victoria

Discreet and confidential communication skills training for leaders

It’s common for my clients to workshop upcoming speeches, proposals or articles they’re working on – and as such, I often look at confidential material.

I can guarantee that everything I look at remains confidential, and I’m also happy to sign non-disclosure agreements.

This privacy also extends to my clients themselves: I never reveal their names or anything that is discussed in our sessions with anyone.

In other words, whatever issues or problems you’re working on will remain completely private, allowing you to openly discuss your needs and areas you want to develop.

About the trainer

I’m a former Sydney Morning Herald editor and journalist who helps executives across a wide range of industries improve the way they communicate.

Journalism taught me the importance of understanding your audience, connecting with people to gain their trust, and communicating clearly and in plain English.

When I left journalism and began teaching at UTS and the University of Sydney, I began focusing on verbal and non-verbal communication: from learning how to make speeches persuasive to understanding the skills and techniques behind engaging presentations. This involved immersing myself in a wide range of disciplines, from body language to the art of rhetoric.

Over the past 15 years I’ve helped a wide range of leaders hone their individual communication styles and become inspirational and influential speakers.

I also specialise in helping people overcome their fear of public speaking (which is common even for those in leadership positions).

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Who is this public speaking and communication skills training for?

I’ve worked with clients from almost every type of organisation and industry, including:

  • education (private schools, universities and colleges)
  • finance (mainly banks and superannuation firms)
  • hospitality (hotels, bars and restaurants)
  • technology (startups as well as small to large IT companies)
  • councils
  • government departments and agencies
  • health authorities
  • not for profits (especially ones that focus on climate change).

Most of my clients tend to be:

  • CEOs and other C-suite executives
  • founders
  • spokespeople
  • general managers
  • board directors
  • team leaders.

However, I’m happy to work with anyone who wants to improve the way they communicate, whether it’s to the media, the public or staff.

Need more information about communication skills training?

Let me know if you have any questions or would like a quote.

Find out more about how I can help you