Categories:

Public Speaking
Speeches, Interviews and Presentations
Speech and Voice
Non-Native Speakers
Building Confidence and Social Skills

Public Speaking…

As I entered the first sales cycle for my new business, I wanted to improve my presentation and communication skills. From the very first session, Sally ensured that the focus was centred on this goal and that everything we did was discussed in the context of this goal. Sally was keen to understand the exact scenarios in which I was looking to better myself and has tailored the lesson content accordingly.

We built up the foundations of public speaking through a few initial sessions. More recently we have focused on my ability to deliver short pitches on camera, and Sally has helped me massively by reviewing my videos and providing feedback. This has created an iterative process over several sessions, and I now have a short pitch video for my business which I am extremely proud of.

I highly recommend Sally for her helpful teaching style, ability to adapt to the specific issues and goals I presented, and comprehensive knowledge of public speaking!

Finn Elliott

Sally’s friendly, positive approach was excellent.

Sally was able to identify areas of my presentation that needed improvement. She gave me a greater confidence and the breathing techniques have enabled me to present talks and sermons constructively and with a great projection.

I just wanted to let you know that my Vote of Thanks went really well last night- I used all the techniques that you have taught me and as a result I went into the speech feeling relaxed, confident and equipped to deliver an interesting and entertaining short talk.

In only three sessions with you I feel I have acquired a new mindset and approach that has eluded me for 50 years and that is starting to have a positive impact on my personal presence at work and in other walks of life too. Thank you so much!

I now feel I have the tools at my disposal to build on the gifts you have given me, but if in future I’m presented with a bigger speaking challenge I shall be in touch to see if you can give me some more tuition and guidance.

Thank you again- what you do is transformative, positive and wonderful!

Several of our employees worked with Sally on a range of different skills – speech speed, making presentations much more engaging, clarity of speech, breathing techniques, and how to better communicate information to clients.

Over a series of sessions, she helped us understand how to keep people focused, sound more upbeat, and keep an audience fully engaged. Not only did she give practical advice, but we all came away with a toolkit of tips tailored to each individual. Now we have everything we need to speak to clients with confidence and competence.

Everyone involved spoke highly of Sally, and we can’t recommend her enough.

I cannot recommend Sally enough. I wanted help with overcoming my fear of public speaking. Sally tailored the sessions to prepare me for a presentation I was delivering at work. The sessions were positive and I was feeling more and more confident after each one. When I stood up to deliver my presentation all my worries and fears disappeared. The feedback I received was: “Incredible presentation”. Booking in with Sally was one of the best investments I’ve ever made.

I gave my first presentation since our sessions just a week ago. I already knew I felt more confident by the end of our work together but I couldn’t believe how ‘cured’ I am! I did everything you taught me, including the exercises, chewing, breathing into the room etc and gave a 40 min talk. Not only didn’t I shake or dread the event beforehand, but I barely thought about the talk at all during it. Raised a few laughs, incorporated Power Point, adlibbed a bit. At the end, a lady who works in the City came up and told me it was the best presentation on figures she’d had.

So, many many thanks for waving your magic wand over a life-time’s stage fright. I have many more talks to give and they hold no dread at all.

Thank you so much Sally for your patience and skilled coaching to help me be my best at doing a keynote speech at the conference. I had some very good feedback after the keynote in which delegates said my speech was professional and yet friendly and personable. You helped me do this by really understanding what I wanted and become confident in speaking to a large audience. In working with me you have been kind, supportive and challenging I would recommend you to anyone wishing to make the best of their speech

I just wanted to say a huge thank you for all the help and support you gave me with my presentation. We did the presentation yesterday to our group management board and it was hugely successful. The immediate feedback from the various directors was so very positive and I have to say that with all the hints tips practice and feedback that you gave me I barely felt any nervousness on the day and delivered a seamless presentation without referring to notes once. When I think back to my starting point just a few weeks ago I’m delighted with the end result.

Sally facilitated a very rewarding training day focusing on presentation and communication skills. We covered public speaking at planning committees, successfully running meetings, and building a rapport with new leads. It was a very useful day and good team bonding experience.

Sally and I have collaborated to produce a variety of talks. Sally’s engaging style, combined with her judgement on delivering the message has developed my communication skills far in excess of what I could have achieved without her support and guidance.

I always enjoyed public speaking until one day, out of the blue, my voice started shaking during a presentation. This one experience left me with a huge fear that it would happen every time I got up to speak in front of a group. After 18 months of this growing fear I decided I had to seek help and that is when I found Sally.

Sally quickly identified my greatest issue was my breathing. We looked at breathing techniques that would help me calm my beating heart and allow me to deliver my first sentence with confidence. I have since delivered three successful presentations to large groups. I took the time to focus on my breathing before I began, breathing into the room and taking appropriate pauses throughout. I cannot thank Sally enough as the fear had really begun to consume me but I’m back to enjoying the buzz I get from presenting.

Four members of DOS Ltd needed help from Sally and we all had different strengths and weaknesses. We started our training with 1-2-1 sessions and Sally immediately was able to pin point areas for improvement as well as congratulate us on those areas which were already strong.

Our areas of improvement varied from extreme nervousness to learning ‘The P’s’ of presenting. After only two of the 1-2-1 sessions we were ready to present to each other and what a change! Some members of the team, having never presented before, would have been able to take the floor in any lecture hall.

Sally provides a unique coaching experience and has the ability to make anyone feel immediately at ease. This is not only a result of her lovely personality but some really great relaxation tips. I highly recommend Sally as a coach to anyone who needs some guidance as there seems to be no challenge she can’t meet. Thank you Sally for all your help. It has already been put to great use.

As an individual looking to establish a career as a professional public speaker and media personality I was looking for a speech and presentation coach to take my skills to the next level, and that is exactly what Sally has very adeptly achieved.

While I am a relatively practiced and confident public speaker I felt there was still room for improvement with my pitch, pace, presence and even pronunciation. Sally deftly worked on my areas of weakness allowing me to reach a professional level of competency, providing fun and insight along the way.

Thank you, Sally.

Our team spent a very informative day with Sally. Some are experts who cruise when speaking on their specialist subject to likeminded professionals, but it was enlightening for us all to see what consideration and preparation can do for a presentation particularly when presenting to a different audience. It was so helpful not just to get feedback but also techniques to use to improve quality.

I can’t recommend Sally highly enough and it was one of the best training days we have had in a long time.

I have been putting off getting over my presentation fears for the last 15 years, with all sorts of avoidance strategies. But as a trainee instructor (teaching people to train their horses), I HAD to address it because I had to do a formal presentation and be able to stand up and speak to a group.

I knew that if I didn’t get some help my presentation would just be awful and I would go through the rest of my life mumbling. So I found Sally on Google and away we went!

I have always had a small voice and my poor mother was always telling me to open my mouth (to no avail).

Sally helped me to enunciate better, to learn how to open my mouth and say vowels properly, and to finish my sentences. Then she helped me with my presentation, with practical strategies and how to emphasise the right words and get the timing right. How to speak it instead of reading it. I have to say it was more of a success than I could have hoped for.

The feedback I got was incredible, that they could hear every word and it was all very clear, educational and interesting. I even got some laughs!

Once Penguin had published my first book, my agent Andrew Lownie suggested that my services as a motivational and after-dinner speaker would be greatly sought after.

I previously had no real public speaking experience and was pretty nervous. The thought of having to deliver keynote speeches and amusing post-repast anecdotes in a motivational and inspiring way was quite daunting.

I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Sally. Over the course of a few weeks she dispelled all my fears surrounding public speaking. Her approach was professional, innovative, friendly and most of all successful. She has instilled an air of confidence that I never thought would be possible.

Speeches, Interviews and Presentations…

Ben Jones – January 2024

Sally is an absolutely first class voice coach. Her coaching has been transformational in making me a clearer, more engaging and polished speaker.  Through a variety of techniques, I have developed into a confident communicator, learning to speak publicly with authority, credibility and presence.

The impact has been immense; I have received great feedback from presentations as a result of her guidance.  I highly, highly recommend Sally to any speaker wanting to perform at their very best.

Sheila – January 2024

Sally is an exceptional voice coach who truly embodies the essence of support and confidence-building. Her dedication to helping me prepare and practice questions and answers is unparalleled. Sally’s nurturing approach not only refines vocal skills but also fosters a strong sense of self-assurance in her students. Her guidance isn’t just about perfecting the voice; it’s about cultivating confidence that resonates in every aspect of communication.

With her expertise in breathing techniques, Sally empowered me to harness my voice’s full potential, enabling me to communicate with authenticity and conviction. I successfully interviewed and secured the position. Sally is undoubtedly the go-to mentor for anyone seeking to elevate their communication skills while gaining the confidence needed to shine.

I visited Sally in her home three times in the summer of 2022, to help me  to read a poem at my daughter’s wedding.   

She helped me to control my nerves, was efficient, calming, gave me excellent advice, encouraging and kindly direct when needed!  We practised with a microphone too. 

I managed to read the poem well and I would certainly recommend Sally.

Just wanted to Thank Sally very much on helping with my interview techniques, Sallys patience and calmness helped me control my anxiety and communication skills.

Successfully gaining an apprenticeship in my chosen career path.
Sally has been a huge help, can’t thank her enough.

I’m applying for promotion and get very nervous at interview.  I went to Sally for interview help, she was able to give me two mock interviews online, which was ideal during the Coronavirus pandemic. 

Sally gave me some vocal exercises, practice at interview questions and some tips on how to better present myself.  Sally was easy to get along with and very supportive. 

Thank you Sally, I shall be back before my next interview!

I had a couple of sessions with Sally before my Oxford University interviews as I had never had a proper interview before and I was incredibly nervous and stressed about the experience.

Sally was fantastic, by providing me with the basic techniques of an interview – sitting forward, maintaining eye contact, smiling and talking slowly and clearly – as well as lots of useful and helpful tips, I felt much more confident and relaxed in an interview environment. She was persistent even when I continued to refuse to make eye contact with her, and I had Sally’s voice in my head during the real interviews reminding me to maintain eye contact with my interviewers!

Her wise words were no doubt influential in my successful application to Oxford, and I can’t recommend her enough to those who have important interviews, university or otherwise, on the horizon.

Sally helped me enormously to give me the confidence to deliver the Father of the Bride speech at my daughter’s recent wedding. The pointers to improve the speech and my delivery were very useful but more than anything it was the practice and her advice which gave me confidence.

Many thanks Sally.

Public speaking has always been my biggest phobia and I would do anything to avoid it. A lack of good communication skills has affected my social skills as well.

This year my best friend asked me to be his best man and my first response was ‘yes but no speech!’

At the first session Sally immediately calmed my nerves and fears, and soon my family and friends commented how much more at ease I was socially.

I did the best man speech last weekend. I was still a little nervous but the techniques Sally taught me really helped.

Many people commented on how well the speech went afterwards, how clear and calm I stayed, and I even shocked the groom who thought I wouldn’t pull it off!

This is something I never thought I could do. I literally couldn’t thank her enough – she’s changed my life in such a big way.

The skills I had learned with Sally were particularly useful during the university interview. An additional benefit has been that I am again able to have conversations with my Grandfather, who is hard of hearing, whereas before this had been difficult. Sally’s enthusiasm is contagious, and she isn’t afraid to push you out of your comfort zone and get you to stretch your limits in ways you would never have believed yourself capable.

I cannot thank her enough for the help she has given me, it has been truly life changing. I am now on the path toward my chosen career and my social interactions with family and friends have been improved enormously. I would advise anyone considering

coaching with Sally to book an appointment. You will be glad you did!

Delivering a eulogy can be particularly difficult, given the unusual combination of formality and emotion which often exists at a funeral. Sally helped me prepare by advising on the content and on the delivery of my eulogy so that I could get across my message in the best possible way. She is a good teacher, very knowledgeable, and provided me with a huge amount of advice in a very friendly and informative way. I would have no hesitation in recommending her.

Speech and Voice…

“My grandson, who was 14, had developed over several years a lack of clarity in his conversation which meant that often he was incoherent and there was a need to constantly ask him to repeat himself. We decided to engage Sally, and over several sessions, his speech and oratory became much clearer and distinct without the need for repetition.

Overall, quite a transformation.”

I recently found out that I shall be the new head girl at school, and I am certain that the skills I learnt in Sally’s lessons were a big contributing factor to me getting the role.

The sessions have equipped me with new and improved skills that have proven to be very extremely useful, and I just want to say a massive thank you for all the hard work and dedication you put in.

Sally helped me develop my articulation skills to enhance my voice projection whilst doing presentations for trainees. She was both professional and concise with her teaching method which enabled me to learn swiftly but also efficiently. I am now able to project my voice to enable a larger group of people to hear my voice clearly. I would undeniably recommend Sally for her services, as I have gained a mountain of confidence and she was wonderful!

I went to see Sally because I wanted to modify / lose my Gloucester accent. Sally quickly identified what I needed to do and gave me speech exercises etc. to practise.

Within a couple of sessions, I realised that she is an excellent teacher and although hard work, I was enjoying what I was learning. Initially, I gave myself six months but two years later, [through my own choice] I still visit her, although not on a weekly basis. This is because I want to keep improving my speech and voice skills.

Although it was just for my own improvement, Sally gave me the full benefit of her knowledge and experience and has increased confidence in my every day life.

Tewkesbury Borough Council have been very pleased with the results and development of a staff member that required coaching in voice projection. Colleagues remarked on her increased confidence and ability to communicate at all levels after only a couple of sessions with Sally. Tewkesbury Borough Council would have no hesitation in using SpeechSkills again if a similar situation was to arise.

I have been in public speaking and coaching for most of my career and have always regarded myself as someone with knowledge and insight on how to use my voice to achieve the best possible outcomes, meeting Sally however was an absolute revelation as she provided insight to me on the use of my voice that has really taken me to the next level, she really is VERY good.

Sally’s no nonsense approach to getting the very best out of you as a speaker and presenter is incredibly refreshing, I guarantee that after 90 minutes with Sally you will approach conference calls, video conference calls and or face to face meetings (of any scale) in a profoundly more professional and effective way.

If you value your voice and want it to be the best it can be, go and see Sally, she is first class.

Sally was an inspiration and drove me – in a great way – into not only presenting my talk in the best way possible, but also helping to put the contents together in a logical fashion. The proof was in the pudding when a friend in the audience said they could tell I had been to a professional coach for public speaking.

After many years of teaching, I began to lose my voice on occasions and struggled to address larger groups.

I approached Sally Whittal, who very quickly identified the ways in which I was straining my voice and taught me simple techniques to improve my enunciation and projection.

I would recommend Sally to anyone who wishes to improve their skills in this area.

Non-native Speakers…

I have been trying to get a promotion within my firm for the last 3 years. In spite of the fact I had the technical knowledge, the experience and the right attitude I failed uncountable times and the feedback was always the same “you need to improve your communication skills.

I tried a lot of different ways to improve it but nothing really worked so then I decided to try something different and that’s why I contacted Sally. The first time we met I realised that there was a lot to do and long way to go to reach my objective. This objective was to be able to deliver a great presentation at conferences confidently.

I’m from Spain and I learnt English when I was an adult which means my pronunciation was terrible, I didn’t always use the right words for each situation and I was scared of not being able to deliver a clear message to my audience and then having to answer awkward questions at the end of my presentation.

Sally has taught me to me a lot of tools, tricks, rules to help me to improve my pronunciation, my accent, my confidence and my body language. On top of that I enjoyed a nice conversation with a very charming, friendly and wise person. This improvement on my communication skills has been noticed by my manager and colleagues making a huge difference in my career.

Before I began to meet Sally my aspirations were only to get a sales job but all this new knowledge and skills has opened new doors for me. When I met Sally I was working as a Team Leader for a small Research & Development team and now I have achieved a senior position with another company as a European Project Manager.

Thank you very much Sally I couldn’t have achieved it without you.

The lecturers at the University have greatly valued and enjoyed the group workshops and one to one sessions Sally has provided.

Sally’s broad range of expertise, covering useful tips and tricks with presentations alongside specialist support in pronunciation and modulation has given the lecturers greater confidence in their delivery.

Being teachers themselves, our staff have recognised in Sally an outstanding teacher whose professional and friendly style has been engaging and inspirational to work with.

I’m Dutch speaking and have taken speech lessons from Sally. She is very professional and helped me correct many pronunciation problems that are common to Dutch speakers.

I can now pronounce words that I was unable to before my speech lessons. Sally’s teaching style is also very encouraging, which gave me lots of confidence and enjoyment.

I would recommend Sally to anybody wanting to improve their speech skills.

As a Chinese speaker I attended Sally’s speech tuition classes on a one to one basis for six months.

I have been extremely pleased with the teaching that I received. I found Sally kind, understanding, caring, efficient and fabulous at instilling in me the rudiments of the English language and importantly giving me confidence in speaking English.

I would like to take this opportunity to say that I would certainly contact Sally again in the future should I feel the need for additional help.

Building Confidence and Social Skills…

Sally is insightful and encouraging tutor. I felt heard and understood from the initial session. Her knowledge and useful tips were always on point.

I’m spotlight shy but Sally, seemingly effortlessly, got me out of my shell in no time. I couldn’t recommend her enough. My time with Sally was never mundane and i’m very impressed with my accomplishments.

Sally was absolutely brilliant! She gave me all the skills I needed to execute my best man’s speech at my best friend’s wedding. Sally helped me to not only prepare my speech, but to also give me the confidence to deliver it in front of 170 people, something I wouldn’t have dreamed I would have been able to do before receiving her help.

Thanks to Sally I was so well prepared for my speech; I actually enjoyed the experience of public speaking. If I ever need to prepare for another speech like this, I won’t hesitate to get back in touch with Sally for her support again. 

I just wanted to let you know that my Vote of Thanks went really well last night- I used all the techniques that you have taught me and as a result I went into the speech feeling relaxed, confident and equipped to deliver an interesting and entertaining short talk.  In only three sessions with you I feel I have acquired a new mindset and approach that has eluded me for 50 years and that is starting to have a positive impact on my personal presence at work and in other walks of life too.  Thank you so much!

 I now feel I have the tools at my disposal to build on the gifts you have given me, but if in future I’m presented with a bigger speaking challenge I shall be in touch to see if you can give me some more tuition and guidance.

 Thank you again- what you do is transformative, positive and wonderful!

Feeling like I don’t have time to fit everything into my working day became a problem, my work/home life balance was way off, working longer hours every day becoming fatigued which impacted my home life significantly.

My employer had noticed this and introduced me to Sally.

After a few sessions with Sally she taught me how to manage my time in a way that I was able to fit my daily work activities in and finish at a reasonable time so it would not impact my home life, these simple adjustments to how I now manage my time makes a huge difference to my work/home life balance which is now in a much healthier state.

Sally also coached me on vocal delivery for my meetings and presentations, this was a great confidence building tool, this was extremely beneficial for me as it added depth, colour and meaning to my quiet monotone voice.

I now have the confidence to speak up and be heard without any problem.

After struggling with my public speaking I visited Sally and I can’t praise her expertise and help enough.

With her time and incredible techniques I was able to confidently perform a presentation for my final year exams at University.

I can’t recommend her highly enough, for any level or problem Sally’s help is invaluable.

Sally thank you so much for all your help in preparing my best man’s speech. I really couldn’t have done it without your help.

Your patience really gave me the confidence I needed to deliver a speech that went well and even got plenty of laughs.

Thank you.