Impactful Communication: Public Speaking Coach Loren Raye On 5 Essential Techniques for Becoming an Effective Communicator
An Interview With Athalia Monae
Technology can be your friend. As you work on your skills, record yourself so you can see what you’re doing right and what you need to improve on. You can learn a lot about your strengths and shortcomings!
In an age dominated by digital communication, the power of articulate and effective verbal communication cannot be understated. Whether it’s delivering a keynote address, leading a team meeting, or engaging in a one-on-one conversation, impactful speaking can open doors, inspire change, and create lasting impressions. But what truly sets apart an effective communicator? What techniques and nuances elevate a speech from mundane to memorable? As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Loren Raye.
Loren Raye is a former radio host turned public speaking coach whose career in media began at age 16, when she hosted a high school fashion show and discovered her passion for connecting with audiences. A graduate of Penn State University, she interned at Z100 New York’s “Elvis Duran and the Morning Show” and later co-hosted “The TJ Show” in Boston for seven years. After the pandemic ended her radio tenure, Raye transitioned into entrepreneurship, founding I Teach Speaking, a coaching business that draws on her speech and debate background and broadcast experience. Her work emphasizes clarity, audience awareness, and dynamic delivery, and she has coached both students and professionals to become more confident communicators. Through personal storytelling and accessible instruction, Raye has carved a niche in helping others develop their voice and presence both online and in person.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion about communication, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?
Thanks for having me! Sure. When I was 16, I hosted a red carpet event for my high school’s junior class fashion show and I realized then that I loved connecting with people through a mic. It’s a bit cheesy, but that’s how it all started. I studied hard at Penn State and landed an internship at Z100 New York’s “Elvis Duran and the Morning Show”, which was the radio station I grew up listening to. It was a dream come true! I learned everything I could, stayed in touch with my bosses, and eventually was hired to answer the phones and do production. Six years later, I took a job co-hosting morning radio for “The TJ Show” in Boston and stayed for seven years until the staff was let go due to COVID-19. I suddenly found myself a stay-at-home mom to a 15-month-old, which I had a very difficult time dealing with. Truth be told, I went into a depression and fought like hell for three years to find work that was meaningful, impactful, and made me happy. Before moving to Boston, I had been doing some voice-over work on the side narrating an MTV show. So, after Covid, I decided to combine my award-winning high school speech and debate experience with my love for connecting with people on the radio to create I Teach Speaking. I transform students into confident, charismatic, and compelling speakers through small group and one-to-one coaching. I absolutely love it.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
I have been incredibly fortunate to experience some amazing moments as a radio host. I’ve interviewed Britney Spears, Ed Sheeran, JLo and others. I’ve seen almost every major pop artist in the last two decades perform live, sometimes mere feet in front of me. But the most interesting thing that has happened to me was going into labor just six hours after introducing the pranksters from the TV show “Impractical Jokers” on stage at Boston’s TD Garden. It is a night I will never forget!
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
That’s kind of you, thank you. Before anything else, I’m the daughter of a teacher and have always had a passion for learning. I am a lifelong learner, you could say! Always being open to new opportunities and constantly wanting to learn new things has been instrumental to me not just as an employee, but now as an entrepreneur. As an intern and employee, it showed my bosses that I was a utility player — that I was able to adapt and take on various roles. Now as an entrepreneur, I’ve proven that I can be my own web designer, marketing professional, bookkeeper, and more.
Next, I’m incredibly resilient. I once had to finish a radio show live on-air after finding out that my brand-new car was on fire in the parking lot and burning to a crisp outside our studios. Despite the chaos happening at that moment, my priority was to keep cool and stay focused on my work. I knew the fire department had everything under control from a safety standpoint so I didn’t let my emotions get in the way of my job. Setbacks happen in life all the time — like losing a breadwinning job during the pandemic — but the important thing is to remind ourselves that we will survive. Just take it one step at a time and focus on doing the next right thing until we’re out of the woods.
Finally, I’m a total workhorse. When I set my mind to something, I get super focused and won’t stop until it’s done right and to my standards. (My therapist will tell you that’s unhealthy, but that’s a discussion for another time!) As an employee this has been a blessing since my bosses noticed — and rewarded — my work, thus offering me incredible experiences and bringing me to where I am today.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Let’s begin with a basic definition so that we are all on the same page. How would you define an “Effective Communicator?” What are the characteristics of an effective communicator?
An effective communicator is someone who can clearly articulate their message in a way that’s easy for their audience to understand. They’re relatable, personable, and able to think on their feet.
How can one tailor their communication style to different audiences or situations?
That is such a great question. Most importantly, KNOW your audience! I tell my students all the time: if you’re a mathematician speaking with another mathematician, you both speak the same language. But if you’re talking to someone like me who isn’t good at math, you need to explain your concepts in simpler terms — break them down — for me to understand. The literal language we use makes a big difference in how well we can communicate with different people. So, it’s essential to choose your words according to your audience’s age, interests, and level of basic understanding.
Next, read the room. Understand the tone or the vibe, and what your purpose is being there. Do you need to hype people up? Motivate or energize them? Or, do you need to simply impart information, take a back seat, and allow others to shine and take the lead? Pause for a moment to assess the situation and adjust your approach, either by stepping back or amping up.
Finally, be a good listener. Feedback from your audience is crucial. They will be sending you cues the entire time. Be sure to observe whether or not they’re engaged, and what they might need from you, and respond accordingly.
Can you provide an example of a time when you had to adapt your communication style to reach a particular audience successfully?
Part of my job is pitching my services to clients. Keeping in mind some of my programs are geared toward students, I need to create buy-in not only from the parents but also from the kids once class starts. The language I use with parents can be more professional than the language I use with the kids. For example, I tell the parents I can help their students become more confident, charismatic, and compelling speakers. When I speak with the kids, I can be less formal and use words like confident, outgoing, and interesting so that they’re not as intimidated. Additionally, when I need to relate to the students, I share with them that I’ve met Taylor Swift if they appear to be Swifties and that I’ve interviewed Rob Gronkowski if they appear to be sports fans. Creating that buy-in from your audience is huge, and goes a long way.
How do you handle difficult or sensitive conversations while maintaining open and effective communication?
This is tough, there’s no denying it. Handling difficult and sensitive conversations while maintaining open and effective communication can be challenging. To overcome this challenge, I choose my words very carefully. I’m extremely sensitive to my audience and how my words may impact their feelings about the topic we’re talking about. It’s also crucial to listen attentively, take a pause, and respond without letting emotions get in the way which is not an easy task, and something I myself continually work on. Keeping your cool, and remaining calm and composed will not only allow your audience to trust that you’re someone they can interact with, but that they’ll be heard by you, too. I think most people in life are just hoping to be heard, so it’s important to give them a chance. If you need a little extra help before heading into a tricky conversation, I suggest writing out your talking points and practicing them ahead of time. This way, you’ll have less “work” to do during the conversation itself and more opportunity to be a present and effective communicator.
In your experience, how does storytelling play a role in impactful speaking? Why do you think stories are effective in communication?
Stories are crucial! There’s this “old-school” idea in radio called “Theater of the Mind,” where you’re using only words to create dramas that your audience can visualize in their minds. Effective public speakers do the same thing. Various elements such as the words we choose to use, the variation in our pitch, pacing, and volume to differentiate people or ideas, and our non-verbal communication which includes hand gestures, poise/posture, facial expressions, and eye contact … all work together to create a setting or a feeling that bring our audience along for a journey and keep them engaged. And, if you add in a personal story in which you are vulnerable enough to share your feelings, you’re golden. Any time an audience can relate to what you’re expressing or visualize what you’re creating, you’ve created trust and buy-in that is essential to your success.
What are your “5 Essential Techniques for Becoming an Effective Communicator”?
1. Preparation is key! Yes, many of us who are comfortable with public speaking can “wing it.” But remember: we’re winging it after having spent countless hours preparing and practicing for other events, speaking engagements, and presentations in the past. And if we’re being really honest with ourselves, the outcomes from winging it are never as great as when we prepare ahead of time. So I advise you to always PREPARE AND PRACTICE! That means writing out your thoughts or familiarizing yourself with a presentation, then boiling it down to shorter talking points — never read from a full script, it’s not natural! Finally, practice at least three times to build confidence and ensure that your delivery is smooth and effective.
2. Vary your delivery! You cannot be an effective communicator while being monotonous. To make your delivery engaging and conversational, it is important to practice varying your pitch, volume, and pacing. I often give my students a roller coaster analogy: when you’re on a roller coaster, the speed varies, the height varies and there are twists and turns along the way. Think of your words as a roller coaster. You want to bring the words to life by varying your pace, your volume, and your pitch. The alternative is being like a train, where we’re riding along the same plane at the same pace the whole time. It’s boring. We don’t want that. Be a roller coaster!
3. Use your body! First and foremost, find a comfortable “home base” for your hands. If that’s down by your side, that’s fine… so long as you don’t fidget, and you remember to bring your hands up for gestures, generally, below your shoulders and above your waist. Palms usually shouldn’t be facing down, either, because we want to look open and inviting. Home base can also be in front of you, resting your hands at the bottom of your rib cage with your elbows at a 90-degree angle, with your hands either a little apart in a “basketball hold” (think: you’re holding a ball) or in a “triangle hold” (think: thumbs and pointer fingers are touching their counterparts). Remember that your face is part of your body, too! For better or worse, eyes and brows can say it all…so be sure your facial expressions are engaging and match your tone, and that you’re making eye contact with your audience. Finally, stand tall with your shoulders back. Keep your feet under your hips, which should be under your shoulders.
4 . Technology can be your friend. As you work on your skills, record yourself so you can see what you’re doing right and what you need to improve on. You can learn a lot about your strengths and shortcomings! Take notes on things like the number of filler words used (“like,” “um,” “uh”), what your posture looks like, and places you can vary your volume/pitch/pace for effect. Remember that the tone of a piece/speech/conversation/presentation can change often and it’s okay to lean into it.
5 . Observe others! There is a plethora of great public speaking examples out there for you to learn from, and it doesn’t have to be “boring,” either. If you have a favorite comedian, watch one of their specials and observe the following: What language do they choose to use? What non-verbal communication skills are they employing (eye contact, facial expressions, hand gestures, posture, etc.)? Where do they vary their pitch, volume, and pacing, and what impact/effect does it have? What’s the overall tone (or tones)? You can also choose speeches from politicians, commencement speakers, or competitors in the National Speech and Debate Association.
How do you integrate non-verbal cues into your communication? Can you provide an example of its importance?
Non-verbal cues are crucial to creating a dynamic, engaging performance. They also can be extremely effective in helping you appear more authoritative. One of the simplest ways to bring your audience in is through eye contact. To take it one step further, if there’s a particular moment where you are rhetorically asking your audience a question, make eye contact with one particular person. That’ll keep them engaged! In addition to eye contact, one of the “sneaky” ways to appear to be a great public speaker, even if you don’t feel like one, is to have a strong posture. I describe it as sneaky because it requires little brain power or thought organization in the moment; all you need to do is stand with your feet under your hips, which should be under your pulled-back shoulders, and you automatically appear more confident to your audience!
How has digital communication changed the way you convey your messages? Are there any specific challenges or advantages you’ve encountered?
Digital communication is simultaneously one of the greatest advancements and biggest detriments to communication in our society. To give credit where it’s due, the fact that we can disseminate messages to mass amounts of people quickly, easily, and inexpensively is fantastic. However, challenges abound. To begin, people’s attention spans are much shorter these days, so it’s essential to grab someone’s interest quickly as a speaker using the techniques I mentioned above. Also, misinformation spreads fast so it’s imperative we use our critical thinking skills, common sense, and double-check our sources.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, people are so used to communicating through text and chatting online that the nuances of communication are often lost in translation. This makes it tough to understand what someone really means, both in the moment and later when you meet them in person. Because the younger generation is no longer practicing eye contact, body language, and dynamic speaking as often as older generations, it’s not as natural to them and more of a “chore.”
Public speaking is a common fear. What techniques or strategies do you recommend to manage and overcome stage fright?
Preparation can help ease your anxiety. The more comfortable we are with the material and delivery ahead of time, the better off we are in the moment. Don’t forget, that preparation isn’t just about knowing what you are going to say, it’s about getting your mouth muscles warmed up too so you can physically get the words out effectively. So, do some tongue twisters like “Toy Boat,” “Unique New York,” or “Flash Message” to get started. I know it sounds corny, but it’s helpful. If you’re feeling fidgety, try to shake it off and focus on your breathing to lower your heart rate and calm yourself down. Breathe in through your nose for two counts, hold for one or two counts, and then breathe out through your mouth for three counts.
What additional resources do you recommend for individuals looking to improve communication skills?
Finding a public speaking coach can be an excellent resource. Many coaches, including myself, offer online or digital classes. You also could find a local Toastmasters group, which is a nice way to practice various public speaking/hosting roles in person. And finally, find an accountability buddy! It may sound cheesy, but it’s true: pairing up with someone else interested in growing their skills will not only help you stay on top of your goals but give you feedback which is crucial to the process.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
In the spirit of speaking, I genuinely believe we all must share our stories with open hearts and listen with open minds. After I gave birth to my daughter, I had a very challenging postpartum recovery both physically and mentally. I was suffering in silence alone from a hospital bed until I began sharing my story openly and honestly on social media. At the time, I was a radio host in Boston and my Instagram was flooded with not just well wishes from others, but stories from other moms who had experienced similar issues. Sharing my story became critical to my perseverance and I am forever grateful to the people who shared theirs with me. My only wish for any sort of movement is that we as people recognize that everyone has a story, and if we remain open-minded enough to understand where those people are coming from, we could find more ways to support each other as human beings.
How can our readers further follow you online?
Please bookmark my website, www.iteachspeaking.com, where I offer in-person and online public speaking coaching and resources. You can follow my Instagram as well, @iteachspeaking, to get updates on future classes and free public speaking tips!
Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
Impactful Communication: Public Speaking Coach Loren Raye On 5 Essential Techniques for Becoming an… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.