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.
You don’t need to be charismatic to be compelling
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You don’t need to be charismatic to be compelling. But you do need to be authentic. And that is scary. One of my clients told me, “Val, I’ll never be a great speaker. I’m too quiet. I don’t have that ‘command the room’ energy.” She was calm, deliberate, thoughtful — everything she thought worked against her. That’s the thing about authenticity — it’s magnetic. Powerful communication isn’t performance. It’s connection. The thing about this upcoming training that I’m doing is not to pretend I have a master key that will unlock the superstar speaker in you overnight; the kind who can connect with an audience before you’ve finished your opening sentence and still be remembered years later. But you ARE capable of that kind of influence. You can spend years collecting tips in random fashion or doing good-enough last minute practice for your next big opportunity, and the one after that… and that is what most people do. The alternative — the way to become MIGHTY on stage — is not an instant fix. It’s stacking the odds in your favor, one deliberate move at a time. → Learn how to slow your heart rate and control your nervous system when you’re under pressure → Prepare and practice sounding like yourself and not like someone trying to spit out something you memorized → Consistently deliver your message without rambling and resorting to filler phrases → Effortlessly use moments from your own life and real emotion to make a genuine connection with your audience Most people won’t develop these abilities, because that takes time. But it’s the only way to transform into an influential speaker. You can’t fake authenticity just like you can’t fake finishing an Iron Man. You need to train, adapt to the conditions, and then ultimately you need to shine when it counts. If you’ve ever told yourself you’re “not a natural speaker,” and if you want the kind of influence that comes from being Mighty on whatever big stage is calling your name, I’m showing you the way inside a free live training I call: From Stage Fright to Stage Might. We’ll go deep into: 🔑 How to connect with your audience You’ll leave this training with a clear pathway you can use to transform into an authentic and compelling speaker and I can’t wait to share it with you 🥳 xx
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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...