Communication At Its Best

with Alexander Massey

– Writing consultant for funding proposals, books, chapters, and articles
– Voice and communication skills trainer and coach
– Writer on voice, communication, psychology and learning

March 2022 – Please note, I am not taking on any new clients. After 40 years of working with people one-to-one I am stepping back, in order to focus on writing and community work. I might redevelop this website to continue to share ideas about communication, and might also decide to offer occasional topic-specific workshops. First of all, it will be time for some rest and reflection!

Background

Over the last 40 years, I have provided one-to-one coaching on a wide range of issues, for both personal development and professional development, helping people with: voice coaching, communication skills (at home, work and in social settings), presentation skills, written communication (such as proposals, successful funding applications for millions of pounds, academic writing, marketing and website content), and job applications (including CV writing and interview practice). I have also helped many practitioners, free lancers and sole traders set themselves up in business, or successfully engineer a change of direction for themselves.

Voice coaching can be applied to: personal and social life, presentations, public speaking, keynote speaking, acting, voiceover work, workplace communication, interviews, media work, overcoming a stutter or mumbling, adding authority and resonance, increasing expressiveness, toning down an overbearing voice, finding optimal pitch, speeding up or slowing down speech.

Communication work can cover: presentations (message, tone, structure, delivery), communicating at work (upwards and downwards), boardroom dynamics, leading teams and meetings, inspiring people, getting agreement, ensuring your contribution is heard and recognised as yours, handling conflict, managing difficult conversations, listening skills, giving or eliciting feedback, personal relationships, family dynamics and social life.

Workshops, and group trainings and facilitation have included: the corporate world, health and education sectors, therapy organisations, intentional communities and faith groups, charities, and the world of theatre and music. I am well versed in a number of well known approaches to group work and change processes. This means that I can draw on tried and tested tools, and also be open to creative, spontaneous and fresh ways of working that respond directly to the needs of the moment, and situations that do not ‘fit’ (your or my) previous experience or models.