Category: Uncategorized

Public speaking has always ranked among the top workplace fears, but the shift to virtual meetings has introduced a new layer of anxiety. The stakes are high: clear, confident communication drives business results, team cohesion, and career growth. Yet, for many, the thought of unmuting on Zoom or leading a virtual presentation triggers a racing heart and sweaty palms. The good news? You can move from anxious to assured with the right resources and training.

In today’s professional landscape, the ability to communicate effectively can be the difference between career stagnation and advancement. Whether you’re presenting to colleagues, pitching to clients, or speaking at industry conferences, your communication skills directly impact your professional trajectory.

Transformative Online Speaking Programs. Public speaking remains one of the most valuable professional skills, yet traditional training often falls short by focusing on memorization rather than authentic communication. In a world where virtual presentations have become the norm, the ability to speak confidently and clearly without relying on scripts has never been more crucial. This article explores how online speaking programs are transforming the way professionals develop their communication skills, with a particular focus on experience-based methods that create lasting change.

Have you ever sat through a presentation where the speaker did everything “right” but still failed to connect? Perfect posture, flawless delivery, zero filler words—and yet something essential was missing.

This disconnect highlights the fundamental problem with most public speaking training: an overemphasis on external techniques rather than internal comfort.

At Ultraspeaking, we’ve built our entire approach around a revolutionary idea: true speaking power comes from psychological comfort, not mechanical perfection. When you’re genuinely at ease speaking, the techniques take care of themselves.

Let me share why this matters—and how it could transform your relationship with public speaking forever.

February is the shortest month of the year…so why does it feel so endless?

• Your inbox is overflowing.
• Your Slack is lit up like a Christmas tree.
• Your calendar is packed.
• The pace isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

You have had the Ultraspeaking app open on your browser for the whole month of January. It is on your new year’s resolution list to solve your pesky public speaking anxiety once and for all.

With all that, what’s the first thing to drop off your list when you get busy? Your public speaking course.

You are far from alone in this. We hear this every.single.day.

Just ask Cathryn Lavery, founder of BestSelf Co. You might know her as the woman who created the daily journals and planners that have become a game-changer for so many people around the world. She built that into a multi-million dollar business—but even she felt the same way. In her unfiltered review of Ultraspeaking, she shared:

“My screen was already drowning in urgent messages from the BestSelf co. acquisition I’d closed just the day before. I had a company of one (me), a mountain of contracts to review, and a team to rebuild from scratch. A communication course felt like the last thing I needed to focus on right now. But something in my gut said to try it anyway.”

What happened when she prioritized improving her public speaking?

• She stopped overthinking and started trusting herself to speak in the moment.
• She gained confidence that carried over into meetings and negotiations
• She felt a shift in her mindset—realizing that speaking isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence.

You don’t have to wait for the “perfect” time. There isn’t one. And truthfully, real growth happens in the middle of the mess.

Ultraspeaking makes it easy to start. No prep. No scripts. Just fast, effective training designed to unlock your best speaking self.

Ready to take the leap? Take our 30-day live, cohort-based program that tackles the root cause of your speaking challenges, so you can transform anxiety into confidence, overthinking into spontaneity, and speaking into your superpower. 

Reserve your spot for March…before they sell out again.

You’re in the middle of a debate. It’s at a standstill. You’re not getting buy-in and the discussion is getting less and less productive. 

You’ve likely fallen into two common pitfalls — here’s what you can do instead.

1. Instead of starting with your solution, start with the problem you’re trying to solve.

At a company-wide meeting, Taylor, the CEO, shares that the board is considering a switch from remote to in-person work. 

She immediately experiences push back with team members citing numerous concerns.

In this example, it’s common for both sides to get stuck in defensiveness. But what if Taylor started with sharing the problem the board was trying to solve?

Turns out, the board received strong indicators that venture investors were taking stances against remote startups and the company was running out of cash.

Hearing this first could make Taylor’s audience more empathetic toward the problem at hand, as well as more considerate of the solution she will propose.

2. Instead of arguing for your solution, argue for the why behind your solution.

Jonathan pitches the idea of going to Hawaii for vacation with his wife, Veronica. But Veronica starts to make a case for Canada — they already went to Hawaii last year, but they haven’t been to Canada yet.

In this example, it’s common to get stuck at the solution level, debating back and forth between two solutions: Hawaii vs Canada.

Instead, what if they started with the why behind the suggested solutions?

• Jonathan’s Why: Relaxation
• Veronica’s Why: Novelty

Now the conversation can be more collaborative. Rather than debating Hawaii vs. Canada, the couple can brainstorm vacation ideas that can offer both a novel and a relaxing experience.

The takeaway? Share your motivations and intentions prior to suggesting the solution.

If you are ready to influence, present, and communicate like a leader, consider our Professional L1 course today. Spots are limited.

Quick fixes won’t make your public speaking anxiety disappear, or turn you into a confident communicator overnight. To do that, you have to deal with what’s causing your anxiety – not just the symptoms. This is at the core of the Ultraspeaking methodology.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t get started with some quick wins and practicing today.

Here are 3 simple techniques we recently shared on Lenny’s Podcast, each designed to help you:

✅ Look better
✅ Sound better
✅ Feel better

…all while tackling the root causes, not the symptoms, of speaking anxiety.

Look up to look confident

Pausing is one of the best tools we have in our speaking toolkit. A pause can help clarify what you want to say, giving you time to gather your thoughts before answering a question, or moving on to your next point.

For many people, it feels natural to look down when taking a pause. But looking down can send the wrong message, especially in virtual environments like Zoom meetings. Your audience might think you’re looking at your phone or just zoned out.

That leads us to our first technique: look up.

Instead of looking down, turn your gaze upwards to the left or right. You’ll look thoughtful, not disengaged. And thoughtful people seem naturally confident and at ease with themselves. It’s an easy switch with a big impact.

Quick tip: Looking up might feel a little bit awkward or unnatural the first time you do it. Write “Think Up!”, on a Post-it and put it on your computer as a reminder. Once you’ve done it a few times, it’ll become second nature.

End strong with summary prompts

Wrapping up a presentation or speech can be one of the hardest parts of speaking, even for seasoned communicators.

Maybe you tend to taper off at the end, because you run out of things to say.

Or you’re not sure how well your answer is being received, so you qualify it with: “I don’t really know if that makes sense.“

Without a strong ending, it doesn’t matter how well your presentation went – you’re telling your audience that you weren’t confident about it. That’s the last thing they’ll take away.

Luckily, there’s an easy way to end strong, even when you’re not sure how you want to conclude your speech: use a summary prompt.

When you get to the end of your speech or presentation, instead of tapering off, try one of these:

• “So to wrap up…”
• “My point here is…”
• “What I want you to remember is…”

When you start a sentence with a prompt, your brain will help you out by naturally filling in the blank. It’s almost like you’re tricking yourself into giving a quick, polished conclusion.

Quick tip: Practice each of these summary prompts the next time you’re speaking in a meeting. Which one feels most natural to you?

Stay in character

When we’re speaking, we’re hyper-aware of what we’re saying. We notice every little mispronunciation and mistake, no matter how small.

The thing is, little flubs and errors happen all the time, even to the most talented public speakers. To your audience, you still look like a normal, competent and confident speaker. But internally, you might be feeling like that one error is the only thing people will remember.

What most people do when this happens: they break character and start “leaking,” shining a spotlight on their anxiety.

They’ll say, “Oh, man, I’m not making sense right now,” or they’ll laugh nervously after mispronouncing a word.

In reality, when you reveal those feelings to your audience, you’re putting a magnifying glass on something they probably didn’t notice. It’s like saying, “hey, check out this mistake I just made.”

And the good news is, the solution is very, very simple: no leaking!

Don’t share your insecurities with your audience. Act like they don’t exist.

Think of it as faking it til you make it: act confident, and that’s how your audience will see you. Eventually, you’ll realize that if you don’t show your insecurities, they won’t see them. The instinct to leak will fall away.

We shared these techniques and more on Lenny’s Podcast – check out the episode for a top-to-bottom guide to becoming a more effective, confident communicator. Plus, watch Tristan and Lenny play through Ultraspeaking’s exercises live on camera.

There’s a hard-to-describe, “you know it when you see it” quality that makes strong leaders stand out from the rest. They can command a room, rally the troops, and build collective buy-in – all while appearing to be completely at ease.

In the business world, it’s often referred to as “executive presence.” As you advance in your career, not having it can be a barrier to professional growth.

Think about the most impressive leader you’ve ever met. Chances are, they weren’t rigid or overly formal. They probably cracked a joke, interrupted others when needed, and seemed surprisingly… relaxed. That’s because true executive presence isn’t about following a script. It’s about being comfortable enough, and confident enough, to be yourself. These leaders have found their authentic voice and aren’t afraid to use it.

So, how do you discover your own authentic voice? Here’s Ultraspeaking’s executive presence cheat sheet to help you shape what executive presence looks like for you.

1. Remember: the wacky science teacher has executive presence too.

While we often think of executive presence as serious and composed, passionate and energetic individuals can command a room just as effectively. Executive presence comes in many forms, from the exuberant, energetic type to the warm, empathetic speaker. Ask yourself: what feels authentic to me?

2. Imposter syndrome and executive presence don’t mix.

Trying to fake executive presence when you don’t feel you deserve respect is a sure-fire way to sound like you’re reading from a script. If you’re dealing with imposter syndrome, building up your confidence will go a long way to gaining executive presence.

3. …but overconfidence can be just as detrimental as under-confidence.

The key is to find a balance. Self-awareness about your tendencies (whether you tend to overestimate or underestimate yourself) is crucial for developing genuine executive presence.

4. Sometimes, you have to draw attention to yourself.

This might seem counterintuitive, especially for those who feel most at ease with a thoughtful, reserved approach. However, “drawing attention” doesn’t always mean you have to be the loudest voice in the room. Techniques like pausing for emphasis when speaking actually work by focusing more attention on you.

5. Musicality is a hidden component of executive presence. 

Think of executive presence like music. It’s not just about the notes you play (what you say), but the rhythm, tempo, and dynamics (how you say it). Sometimes you need to pause for emphasis, other times you need to speak with conviction. The magic lies in the variety and contrast.

Finding your authentic voice isn’t something you have to do on your own. It’s one of the most valuable outcomes of Ultraspeaking’s 5-week speaking  fundamentals course, which gives you concrete strategies to influence, present, and communicate, no matter who your audience is. Registration is now open for the next cohort!

Every time you speak, you’re doing more than just getting your message across. You’re creating opportunities to level up your speaking skills – and that applies to everyone from beginners to seasoned presenters.

Getting better at speaking doesn’t require complicated frameworks or memorization. It starts with five simple questions.

Ask yourself:

1. What do I like about my speaking?

Confidence is an essential part of speaking. In fact, it’s one of the highest-leverage skills we focus on in our Fundamentals course.

It’s easy to ask “What do I do badly?” or “What can I improve from the last time I spoke?” Instead, nurture your mindset by actively noticing what you like about your speaking. Maybe you’re a master of analogies, or you know how to respond when you’re put on the spot. Acknowledge it, and you’ll put yourself in a more confident mindset.

2. What’s my main message?

If you aren’t clear on your main point, your audience won’t be able to understand it either. Start by picking one thing you want your audience to take away, and use that as a guide throughout your speaking.

3. How can I say this in another way?

When you practice expressing your idea in different ways, you’ll be able to navigate it with more flexibility and help your audience understand it, too. Experiment with a variety of methods and formats, like:

• Using an analogy
• Giving yourself less time or more time
• Starting at the end and working your way backwards
• Starting with the high level and going into detail…

4. What’s an energy I am comfortable in?

We all have an energy that makes us feel confident and at ease, whether it’s calm, thoughtful, excited, passionate, or playful. Start by finding yours.

Then, challenge yourself by identifying the opposite energy, and try to incorporate that into your speaking too: if you like being playful, introduce a few contemplative moments. If you’re typically relaxed, try to incorporate a more enthusiastic energy. The contrast will make your natural energy shine.

5. Where did I learn what I’m sharing?

People don’t always want to hear someone giving them advice, but they can’t help but listen to stories. When you share your learnings through storytelling, your audience will be more engaged and receptive to the lessons within those stories.

Speaking isn’t part of your typical high school curriculum, like geometry or biology.

(It should be… but that’s an argument we’ll make on a different day.)

So what happens when speaking in front of other people suddenly becomes part of your job?

Steph Smith can tell you that the answer isn’t straightforward.

Today, Steph is a host for The a16z Podcast, but she wasn’t always a speaking pro. 

Before she became a podcast host, she was a marketer in tech. Her journey towards becoming a better public speaker began the same way it does for many of us: she got some not-so-great feedback. 

“The first thing that got me thinking that I needed to be a better public speaker was someone calling out my uptalking,” she told us. 

“Hearing that someone had noticed something that I hadn’t picked up on in the way I speak was the trigger for me to realize that speaking is a skill… And as speaking became more of a part of my job, I realized that I had never been trained for this.”

So Steph did what a lot of people do in her shoes. She looked for help, working one-on-one with coaches and signing up for a speaking bootcamp. 

But she quickly learned that not all public speaking programs are created equal. In fact, common coaching techniques lead to new challenges of their own.

“A lot of the speaking coaching I had done before was around specific tactics: avoiding filler words, making sure that you summarize what someone says, having good pivot points… It was too analytical, and ultimately led to a lot of nervousness for me,” Steph shared. “It led to stumbles, because I was trying to follow five different tracks at the same time.”

Then, Steph decided to sign up for an Ultraspeaking cohort. The differences were obvious at the start. 

“There were no slides. There was nothing where you sat there and you learned some framework for 20 minutes and then applied it… The program let me actually do the speaking and then get live feedback, instead of all of these hypotheticals that honestly just made my brain spend more energy than it needed to.”

 Over the course of her cohort, Steph spent hours practicing speaking in real time with zero prep. Ultraspeaking games like Rapid Fire Analogies and Triple Step helped her learn to speak with confidence, stay on track and trust her speaking abilities. “Ultraspeaking’s real-time exercises let me become confident in my ability to speak, instead of thinking too much about how I was speaking,” she shared. 

When all was said and done, Steph’s big takeaway was quite simple: “I can’t believe that more speaking programs don’t focus on actually speaking in a session.” 

“Ultraspeaking helped me feel more confident that in a conversation, I can be present and I can have something interesting to say, even if it’s not prepared or written down. I think I come across more relaxed and more like myself when I’m speaking.”

And now, Steph is a full-on convert to the importance of speaking spontaneously, confidently and conversationally. “Interviewing for a job? You’re speaking. Negotiating a raise? You’re speaking. Going on a date? Most of that is speaking. And that hinges on your ability to make them like you, be compelling. Everyone should invest in improving their speaking… even if you aren’t a podcast host.”