My name is Val, and I’m a public speaking strategist and coach helping leaders, professionals, and purpose-driven speakers show up with confidence, clarity, and impact—without the fluff, filler, or panic sweats. Inside Off the Cuff, my weekly email, you’ll get exclusive tips, sneak peeks at new trainings and resources, and first dibs when new programs or workshops open up. Join now—because confident speaking doesn’t happen by accident–It happens Off the Cuff... and On Purpose.
NEW QUIZ! Get Clear on What Speaking Saboteur is Undermining Your Success!
Don't know about you, Reader...… but I love a good quiz 🤗 Whether it’s, “What does your Starbucks order say about you?” or, “Which Taylor Swift song suits your personality?,” we all LOVE to learn about ourselves! But the questions that really matter when it comes to turning your dream public speaking presence into a reality have little to do with piccolo lattes and pop stars. They have to do with how you prioritize, practice, and make real progress on your public speaking skills. And, after helping hundreds of people up their speaking game (and counting), the best way I’ve found to do all of the above is to help you identify the self-sabotaging barriers getting in your way and create a personalized strategy to reach your goals. Your speaking journey is as unique as you are, but there are some commonalities you have with others walking the path towards speaking prowess. So if you: 👉Are just trying to manage your nerves and anxiety 👉 Struggle with getting back on track if your mind goes blank mid-speech 👉 Know that you want to give presentations that WOW but aren’t sure of exactly what steps to take 👉 Feel like whatever you do is just not good enough You’re definitely not alone, Reader. Ask yourself… What might happen if you inquired into what is specifically undermining your confidence and success as a speaker—And then built a game plan from THAT place to reach your ultimate goal? You might learn that the obstacles you’re facing are common, well-understood, and not as insurmountable as you think. You might find yourself succeeding, rapidly. And you might find that you love speaking more than ever before. Lucky for you, I’ve made just the thing: Take my 2-minute quiz to find out! Here’s just some of what’s waiting for you inside your quiz results: ✅ A clear explanation of how you self-sabotage in real speaking situations (think: interviews, meetings, keynotes, life’s special moments) ✅ A personalized confidence game plan with simple, actions you can take to crush self-doubt, hesitation, or procrastination. and… ✅ Immediate (and FREE) access to my confidence-boosting email course that will save you time and energy in creating and delivering your next big talk. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned speaker looking to raise the bar, I have made something just for you! Cheering you on, |
Val Erickson–Public Speaking Coach
My name is Val, and I’m a public speaking strategist and coach helping leaders, professionals, and purpose-driven speakers show up with confidence, clarity, and impact—without the fluff, filler, or panic sweats. Inside Off the Cuff, my weekly email, you’ll get exclusive tips, sneak peeks at new trainings and resources, and first dibs when new programs or workshops open up. Join now—because confident speaking doesn’t happen by accident–It happens Off the Cuff... and On Purpose.
Hi Reader, Most people move more when they feel unsure. In fact, nervous speakers speed up, fidget, and fill every gap with words — because silence feels risky. What confident communicators do is the opposite. They pause.They stay grounded.They don’t rush to fill the space.They’re not scrambling for the next thought. That’s self-trust — the willingness to pause without panicking. This is true whether you’re speaking in person or online. Stillness tells people: nothing needs to be proven right...
Hi Reader, Most people add words when they feel unsure. It shows up as one more sentence, extra explanation or clarifying something no one asked for. But in presentations that matter, something different shows up. People who know what’s at stake speak less. They stop sooner and trust the point to land. Not because they have nothing more to say — but because they know what actually matters. Authority isn’t volume. It’s knowing what matters. If you want to see what this sounds like in practice,...
Hi Reader, Last week, Emily S. asked if confident speakers are just naturally polished. My response: "No!- they're disciplined" A lot of work looks effortless from the outside. Confident speakers, polished creators, people who seem calm and clear every time they speak put the work in and ... What we usually don’t see... is the discipline underneath it. Clarity shows up as subtraction and confidence shows up as restraint— fewer words, clear and strategic silence (a.k.a pauses), and solid...