Someone who listens to your opening and asks what you most want people to understand. A person who can help you explore how a story sounds aloud. Public speaking begins before the room fills. A conversation over coffee gives you somewhere to bring the moment you are preparing for.
That moment might be an interview, an introduction at work, or a presentation you have been asked to give. You might know your subject well and still be deciding how to begin.
Julie Campbell is joining SEYA’s beta with subjects including public speaking, speaking with confidence, interviewing, and voice and breath work. Jess Goldsmith also brings speaking as a subject, alongside her creative work. They offer different perspectives to consider when choosing a session, a bookable conversation.
SEYA calls someone worth meeting for their perspective, knowledge, taste, craft, stories, experience, or personality a Source. Read the person’s session to understand its focus, then choose a specific situation you would like to discuss.
These subjects come from people joining SEYA’s beta. They describe possible conversations; individual session details and availability will be confirmed during the beta.
The introduction that sounds like you
An introduction has a small job with several demands. You want to explain who you are, make the relevant part of your work clear, and give the other person something to respond to.
Bring the version you currently use. Say it aloud at a normal conversational volume, if that fits the session, and explain where you use it. Introducing yourself to a new colleague and opening a presentation call for different choices.
A question to bring
“What do you understand about me from this introduction, and where would you want me to be more specific?”
You can talk about the words as well as their delivery. A phrase that looks clear on paper may feel cumbersome when spoken. An example from your actual work may be easier to say than an abstract description.
For the written side of that question, our article on branding and storytelling explores profiles, personal narrative and visual work.
Preparing for an interview
Julie lists interviewing among her subjects, while Gab Saper brings interview coaching. You could explore how to describe a project, explain a change in direction, or respond when a question asks you to think on your feet.
Choose one answer to work with. Tell the Source what role or situation it is for and what you want the listener to understand. Ask whether practice and feedback fit the session, and how much preparation they suggest.
A question to bring
“When I give this answer, which part is clear and which part leaves you wanting an example?”
Keep the discussion grounded in experience you can describe accurately. You might talk about the decision you made, what you contributed, or what you learned. The conversation can help you explore how to express that experience in your own words.
If your question extends to choosing a role or negotiating an offer, career conversations over coffee covers those subjects too.
Finding the shape of a presentation
A presentation can begin with a long list of things you want to include. Over coffee, you could discuss what the audience needs first, which example carries the main point, and where you are asking people to make too large a leap.
Bring the situation and a short outline. Explain who will be listening, how much time you have, and what you want them to understand by the end. If you want to show slides, agree that in advance and choose a small section.
A question to bring
“This is what I want the audience to take away. Where would you begin, and what would you ask me to make clearer?”
You might spend the conversation on the opening alone, or on the transition between a story and the point it supports. A focused subject gives the Source room to ask questions about your intention and the audience’s perspective.
Voice, pace and the experience of speaking
Julie’s voice and breath subjects offer another possible direction. You could talk about what you notice when you speak, such as rushing through an introduction or losing your place after a pause.
Ask how she would approach that situation within the session. A café suits discussion and quiet, conversational practice. Agree any exercises beforehand and choose a format that respects the setting and your comfort.
A question to bring
“I tend to speed up when I reach this part. What would you want me to notice as I say it?”
Keep the goal specific to the occasion. You might want to leave more space between ideas or feel better prepared for a question. The aim of the conversation is to explore your approach, with room for your own voice and pace.
The story you want to tell aloud
You may be preparing a talk, or simply trying to explain an experience in a way another person can follow. Begin with what makes the story worth sharing and who you are telling it to.
A Source interested in speaking can listen for the details you emphasize and ask about the ones you pass over. You could explore where the story begins, how much context is useful, and what happens when you tell a shorter version.
A question to bring
“Which part of this story made you curious, and where did you lose the thread?”
There is room to discuss the person’s own speaking experiences too. Ask how they prepare, what they have changed through practice, or what they notice in a speaker they enjoy listening to.
Questions people ask
What public speaking topics could I explore with a Source?
Possible subjects include introductions, presentations, interview answers, storytelling, and aspects of voice and pace. Choose a Source whose published session covers the area you want to discuss.
Can I practice something during a café session?
Ask the Source whether quiet practice and feedback fit the session. A short introduction or answer may work well at conversational volume. Agree the scope and keep the café environment in mind.
What should I bring to a public speaking conversation?
Bring the occasion, the intended audience, and a short example of what you want to say. An outline or a few notes can be enough. Confirm any material you want the Source to review before meeting.
What if I feel nervous about speaking?
Tell the Source what situation you are preparing for and what feels difficult. You can begin by discussing a small part of it and agree how much practice you feel comfortable trying.
Bring the moment you are preparing for
An upcoming conversation or presentation can be a reason to meet someone who pays close attention to how people speak. Start with the words you want another person to understand.
SEYA curates purposeful face-to-face conversations with remarkable people in the city’s most vibrant coffee shops. Discover someone remarkable, see the subjects you could explore together, and meet over coffee in a trusted local place.
Explore SEYA with a speaking moment you would like to talk through.