Will working with you make me a professional communicator / presenter / writer?

You’ll be on your way! Being a skilled communicator is like working out or playing an instrument: the more you do it, the better you’ll get. Our work together will involve creating a framework you can use for yourself going forward. 

Will working with you cure my anxiety / stage fright around public speaking or presentations?

There is no magic cure for public speaking anxiety and many top speakers (and performers in general) still feel a little anxiety before their events. The difference between a confident, experienced speaker and someone new to speaking is that experienced speakers have a set of tools they have built through practice for managing this anxiety. This allows them to channel that anxiety into excitement. For example: knowing and practicing the material front-to-back minimizes the risk of completely forgetting your content. Practicing error recovery (what happens when you forget a line or your demo breaks), means you’ll be able to get out of a tight spot when something does happen. These are all skills we will practice together.

What’s the difference between a speaker coach and a communication coach?

While I do offer speaker coaching services, I prefer to think of myself as a communication coach. Professional communication encompasses more than just speaking to an audience. It also involves two-way exchanges expressed verbally and in writing. You will be perceived based on how you speak, write, present, and go about your daily business in the office, at school, or out in the world. I coach all of these factors — not just your speaking — to ensure that we are setting you up to be the most confident and comfortable communicator you can be.

What can I expect when we meet for the first time?

Every communications activity –  whether in-person, online, or written – involves two parties: the communicator (you) and your audience. In order to help you with your content, we’ll work to understand both sides of the equation. We’ll talk about your communications experience, what you’re hoping to achieve, and the details around your event or deadline. Then we’ll talk about your audience: who you’re speaking to or writing for, their background, and what you want them to take away from your content. All of these factors will contribute to a framework that will shape how we approach our work together going forward.

How long is a session?

Sessions are planned for 50 minutes of focused collaboration with you. This allows me 10 minutes between sessions to prepare for our meeting or the meeting after yours.

How much does a session cost?

The cost of a session can vary based on a number of factors including the time we have until your event/deadline, your comfort level with preparing for sessions independently, and the number of sessions you have booked. A one-on-one session (50 minutes), not accounting for these factors, can be estimated at $300. Let’s talk about it! Please complete your registration form and then send a booking request email to start the conversation. You don’t have to pay anything until our session.

How many sessions will I need?

The length of time we work together is determined by your goals, your experience with professional communication, and how much time you can invest in your content outside of your session(s). You can likely expect at least three sessions: one to understand your needs and make the schedule for creating your content, a session to provide feedback on a draft of your content, and a follow-up shortly before your event or due date to ensure your content is ready to go. The gap between these sessions depends on how much time we have to prepare before your event or due date.

When should I book our first session?

We can meet as soon as you know what you are preparing for, your audience, and when you need to be ready. Ideally, this will be at least 3 to 4 weeks before your event or due date. At the same time, I know that communications opportunities sometimes come up quickly. We can certainly condense the time between sessions to meet your needs. The more time you have to prepare, revise, and rehearse; the better the end result will be.

Are sessions held in-person?

For the most part, yes.  As many corporate and educational communications experiences take place in-person, I believe working together face-to-face will help better set you up for success. It is not just about what you say, but also how you present yourself: your posture, how you use your space, where you stand. These are things that cannot easily be evaluated or practiced online for most scenarios. If we need to schedule something virtually, we can talk about it. Just send me an email! conrad@countdowncommunication.com

In the event I am helping you with written material, this is a little more flexible. In my experience, written collaboration is typically faster-in person as there is no delay to follow-up questions or risks of misunderstanding an email. But I am happy to assist you asynchronously if required. Please note that the back-and-forth of written communication may increase the time required to help you.

I can’t make it to your office. Can you come to me?

Yes! I am happy to travel to you if you live, work, or study in the San Francisco Bay Area. Please note that traveling sessions will incur additional fees to account for the time out of the office.

Will you travel out of the area for coaching?

Yes, though I may have blocked out dates due to the fact that I am still actively working in the tech industry. This will also incur travel expenses, which will need to be considered. Please send me an email and let’s talk about it: conrad@countdowncommunication.com. Thank you for trusting me with your big event!

How can I get started?

It’s easy! All you need to do to schedule your first appointment is complete your registration form and then use the Book a session button below or in the site navigation. This will allow you to start an email thread where we can schedule a time that works for both of us! Have a question before you book? Prefer to write the email yourself? Just reach out to booking@countdowncommunication.com!