Frequently Asked Questions – Public Speaking Coaching & Training
Key answers about Patrick JAY’s individual and team coaching services in public speaking, professional presentations and international English-language communication – in Paris, across Europe and worldwide.
Facing The Audience is dedicated to public speaking in all its professional forms: keynotes, conferences, internal meetings, sales pitches, panel discussions, investor presentations and academic defences.
Patrick JAY coaches and trains leaders, managers and experts to speak with clarity, impact and confidence in English and in French.
The approach combines one-to-one coaching, tailored training sessions, master-classes and task-forces on site during trade fairs or corporate events.
Each programme is designed around your real business situations: a specific presentation, an upcoming event or a strategic communication challenge.
The objective is always the same: make every word support your message, every gesture reinforce your credibility and every presentation serve your business goals on the international stage.
Patrick works with corporate decision-makers, managers, high-potential talents and expert contributors who must speak convincingly to internal and external audiences.
The services are particularly suited to leaders who present in English on behalf of their company in international contexts: conferences, board meetings, investor roadshows or industry events.
Teams preparing collective presentations, demos, round tables or booth talks at trade shows also benefit from a structured, hands-on approach.
Individual professionals who feel they “do not measure up” in public speaking, or who have had a bad previous experience, find a safe space to rebuild confidence and skills.
The common point between all clients is simple: they cannot afford poor performance when they stand in front of their audience.
Professional coaching in public speaking directly improves the perceived quality of your messages and the credibility of your brand.
Your speakers become more concise, structured and persuasive, which saves time in meetings and raises the level of discussion with clients, partners and stakeholders.
In English, better fluency and confidence allow your teams to participate fully in debates rather than remaining in the background.
Preparation for high-stakes events secures your investment in conferences, seminars and trade shows: your people are able to deliver, not merely to appear.
In the longer term, your organisation builds a pool of speakers who can represent you internationally, reinforcing your corporate image and your capacity to seize opportunities.
Individual coaching is built around your real-life presentations and deadlines.
After an initial discussion of your objectives, constraints and audience, Patrick helps you clarify your key messages and structure your speech in a way that serves both content and impact.
Sessions mix analytical work on your slides and storyline with practical rehearsal, including camera work when appropriate.
You receive precise, constructive feedback on clarity, language, body posture, voice and interaction with the audience.
Coaching can take place in Patrick’s studio in central Paris, at your premises or online, for maximum flexibility if you travel frequently or work across several time zones.
Facing The Audience covers a very wide range of situations: investor pitches, client presentations, internal strategy meetings, management conventions, town halls and steering committees.
Patrick also prepares speakers for conferences, round tables, interviews, fireside chats, product launches and award ceremonies.
Specific support is available for thesis defences, viva voce exams and academic lectures, particularly in English for non-native speakers.
Sales teams are coached on persuasive meetings, demos and negotiation presentations.
In each case the starting point is your specific context and the level of pressure: the higher the stakes, the more tailored and intensive the preparation.
Patrick has been working bilingually in English and French for over 25 years and knows exactly how non-native speakers feel when they step onto an international stage.
The goal is not to sound like a native speaker, but to be clear, credible and comfortable enough to focus on your message.
Together you build robust, professional phrases tailored to your level, sector and audience so that you can handle openings, transitions, key arguments and Q&A with ease.
Typical “traps” for French and European speakers in English are identified and neutralised, both in vocabulary and pronunciation.
As your linguistic toolkit grows, your self-confidence increases and your energy can move away from “avoiding mistakes” towards influencing your audience.
Patrick’s background is rooted in journalism and professional communication rather than theatre.
The focus is therefore on clarity of message, structure and usefulness for the audience, not on performance for performance’s sake.
Techniques are chosen because they make your speech easier to follow, more convincing and more efficient, not because they are spectacular.
Instead of teaching you to “play a role”, the coaching helps you express your real expertise with more impact and authority.
This approach is highly appreciated by decision-makers and technical experts who want to be more influential whilst remaining themselves.
For high-stakes events, preparation starts well in advance with a precise analysis of the event format, target audience and expected impact.
Patrick helps you refine the core message, adapt it to the event’s culture and build a storyline that works within the allocated time.
Slides are simplified and aligned with best practices in visual communication so that they support your speech instead of competing with it.
Rehearsals simulate real conditions as closely as possible, including stage movements, use of microphone, timing and interaction with moderators or other speakers.
Specific work on managing stress and handling difficult questions ensures that you remain in control of your message on the day, even under pressure.
Yes, Patrick often intervenes as a coach during trade shows, conventions and corporate seminars to support teams in real time.
This may take the form of short, targeted sessions to fine-tune a booth pitch, rehearse a demo or prepare a panel intervention.
Task-forces can be organised around high-visibility moments of your event to ensure that key spokespeople are ready and aligned.
Working directly on site allows rapid adjustments to messages according to the context, visitors’ reactions and last-minute changes.
This combination of strategic preparation and instant feedback makes your presence at events more coherent, more dynamic and more profitable.
Team programmes combine collective workshops with targeted individual coaching when needed.
A typical intervention may start with a group session to establish shared principles of effective public speaking and presentation design.
Then, smaller groups or key speakers work on specific presentations, applying those principles to real slides, scripts and scenarios.
Patrick pays particular attention to coherence within the team: everyone must convey aligned messages whilst keeping their own personality.
This approach is especially effective for sales forces, project teams, management committees or expert groups who present together to clients, partners or staff.
The process is deliberately simple and responsive.
First, you share your project and constraints: objectives, target audiences, formats, languages, dates and any specific challenges.
Patrick comes back quickly with an initial reaction, followed by a detailed proposal within a short timeframe.
Once the approach, schedule and budget are agreed, the content is tailored and finalised so that the programme is ready to run.
During and after the intervention, you receive clear feedback on progress, next steps and how to continue practising internally.
Coaching can be held in Patrick’s public speaking studio in the heart of Paris, offering a confidential and comfortable environment for intensive work.
He also travels to your offices, hotels or conference venues across France, Europe, EMEA and beyond, depending on your needs.
Online coaching via video platforms is available for international teams or busy executives who cannot travel easily.
All services are delivered in professional English and French, with the possibility to switch from one language to the other during sessions when useful.
This flexibility means you can train your local, regional and global teams with the same coach and the same method.
Impact is measured through observable changes: clearer messages, more structured slides, improved delivery, better handling of stress and stronger interaction with audiences.
Before the intervention, Patrick encourages you to clarify the strategic purpose of each presentation so that results can be assessed against concrete objectives.
During sessions, participants are invited to record, replay and comment on their own performances, which makes progress visible and tangible.
Practical checklists and personalised action plans are provided so that speakers can continue practising on their own after the coaching.
When organisations request it, Patrick can also debrief with managers or organisers to discuss outcomes and future development paths.
Every company has its own way of speaking, deciding and interacting, and this context is taken very seriously.
Before designing the programme, Patrick takes time to understand your sector, your internal codes and your expectations in terms of tone and positioning.
Examples, case studies and role-plays are chosen from situations that your teams actually face with clients, partners or internal stakeholders.
The level of formality, humour and storytelling is calibrated so that speakers remain aligned with your brand and regulatory environment.
The result is a coaching experience that feels tailor-made rather than generic, and that your teams can immediately recognise as relevant to their day-to-day reality.
The easiest way is to share a short description of your project: type of event, number of speakers, languages involved, dates, location and your main concerns.
You can then discuss by phone or video the stakes, the audiences and the level of ambition for your coaching or training programme.
Based on this, Patrick will suggest one or several options, from focused one-to-one coaching to broader team workshops or on-site support at your event.
Budget and logistics are addressed transparently so that you can make an informed decision in line with your constraints.
Once you validate the proposal, the preparation starts immediately so that your speakers are ready in time and your event or presentation delivers the impact you expect.