To speak from a place of calm strength requires strategies that orient us away from ourselves towards our audience, be it a single client or a room filled with people. Folks listen when you have something to offer. Penetrating – memorable – public speaking is rooted in your belief in what you have to give. Serving others channels your energy outward, leaving little room to worry about how you look or sound.
Powerful, poised speaking is a result of both the practiced execution of what you want to say and the structure that undergirds it. Just as successful marketing rests upon a succinct value proposition, so do the best speakers revolve their messaging round a simple central point, whether that speech is a formal presentation or a ‘spontaneous’ contribution at a meeting. All public speech that resonates depends on well-structured messaging & the practiced delivery to make it sing.
Jon’s approach really resonated with me, in terms of the audiences I was looking to engage and how I wanted to make an impact. I was an effective communicator one-on-one but struggled to be successful when speaking to larger groups in more public forums. Jon immediately put me at ease and created a sense of trust, and focussed on how to build connection with audiences, sharing his knowledge about how to leverage the strengths I have and develop my unique voice and presence, as well as coaching me on specific public speaking techniques. This was just what I needed to become more confident and effective in my speaking engagements.
Jon’s expertly designed program and the professional support significantly improved my speaking skills and confidence. The techniques and insights offered have been invaluable, making me a more effective and persuasive communicator. Jon’s approach is highly recommended for anyone seeking to refine their public speaking skills in a professional setting.
What impressed me most with Jon was how little direction he needed. His ability to adapt and be responsive to our needs was immediate and ever-present. He delivered a series of complex messages and worked well within our deadlines. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to others
Jon is a great listener. The listener part might sound odd, but it’s a strikingly key part of Jon’s personality as he intently listens before starting each assignment. He asks all the right questions, he thinks, he pauses and he digests. This results in him “just getting it.” It makes the process smooth and successful. Honestly, he’s taught me how to be a better listener and soak up the assignment as I work with my clients.
Jonathan is excellent at strategic messaging. With nearly no background knowledge of our organization, he was able to immediately produce targeted and high quality work. He is punctual, great at keeping his clients in the know and managing projects. He is an absolute pleasure to work with.
Jon did a number of things, big and small, that made a huge difference for me and my project. He was a great sounding board. The work he offers, I came to appreciate, isn’t just about dotting your i’s and crossing your t’s. It’s about thinking deeper, asking questions and ultimately clarifying whatever message you want to get across, and how to do that most effectively. I learned from him. I came to appreciate that writing was craft that, yes, even I could learn.
He’s smart, talented and, more importantly from my perspective, he is a good person. That mattered. I needed someone who had empathy and talent. Someone who cares about people and was passionate about the project. I cannot recommend Jon highly enough.
I was in a pinch and Jon came in exactly when I needed him. He was not only able to create a business proposal that flowed and communicated exactly what it needed to say to deadline, but he could change tone according to my exact specifications. This is a guy who has the ability to write both highly creative work as well as the more formal business kinds of things I need in my firm. If you need someone to help out with writing needs in your business, this is your guy. Highly recommend.
Jonathan Mendelsohn has worked in communication for over 20 years, working with managers, directors & executives in companies as varied as The Royal Bank of Canada, Engineers Without Borders and The Battery Ad Agency in Los Angeles. As a university instructor, Jonathan has taught oral communication and writing courses at universities including The University of Toronto, York University and Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan. He has presented at conferences across the globe.
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