DEVELOPMENT communications firm Infinity Integrated Marketing Communications Limited (Infinity IMC) is encouraging professionals in different spaces to improve their public speaking skills to better represent their organisations and brands. The company hosted a free hybrid public speaking and media interviews training recently at the Jamaica Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Participants who were gifted with the session included a mix of athletes, NGO representatives, entertainment industry representatives, small business owners and communications practitioners.

The session included practical ways to address public speaking fears, speech and interview preparation, projection and voice modulation; and the elimination of common speech errors. Participants were also given public speaking activities and mock interviews which allowed them to practise and overcome their initial fears. The presenter was Infinity IMC CEO Shanoy Coombs, a development communications specialist and intercultural communications trainer with over 16 years of experience serving diverse organisations locally, regionally and internationally. Coombs, who proclaims that she used to be shy, also teaches the signature public speaking and media interview course to people in different countries.

Food for the Poor Development and Marketing Manager Marsha Burrell-Rose, who participated in the training, said it was important for her to attend the session.

“My job requires that I’m always in the media, so training to improve my public speaking and media interview skills is always welcome. I’m glad that I was able to join the session because it has opened my eyes to the many ways in which I can improve and become a more dynamic speaker. In fact, I am looking forward to implementing everything I learned in the session,” she said.

Amanda Pickney, captain of Jamaica’s Under-23 netball team who was also in attendance, shared similar sentiments. She noted that the training will help her better represent her country, especially when she has to do interviews. The Sunshine Girl is set to lead the team during the Caribbean Games in Guadeloupe from June 29 to July 3.

“I’ve always been anxious when it comes to public speaking or interviews, but I feel more confident in my abilities after this training session,” she added, “I believe it is important for me to be able to express myself clearly being that I am not only representing myself but also my country, so initiatives like these are greatly appreciated.”

Meanwhile, entrepreneur Patricia Adolphus hopes to take her business to the next level once she overcomes her fear of public speaking. During the training session she opened up about the challenges she faced operating her business, MakeUp by Pat Adolphus. Though she has over 10 years’ experience in the industry and is a hairstylist as well as an expert in bridal, runway, editorial, fantasy and special effects make-up, she admits that her fear of public speaking is limiting her business.

“Our training session was an awesome day. I learned a lot from the Infinity IMC team about effective communication. It really pushed me outside my comfort zone and forced me to address an issue that I have been struggling with. I know the change to being a good speaker will not be overnight but I will put into practice everything I learned because I need to be able to speak about my business confidently,” she said.

Coombs said assisting these diverse groups with their public speaking and media interview skills is the company’s way of giving back because they may not have access to such training on their own.

“Although just a subset of the wider groups, I believe it was important to work with athletes, NGOs, small business owners and people in the entertainment industry on their communication skills. They need to be equipped with the tools needed to not only represent themselves as a brand but to also represent their organisations and Jamaica in general,” she said.

Coombs added that she is happy with the positive response and looks forward to working with more groups who can benefit from essential public speaking and media interview training.

“My hope is to see all the participants putting what they have learnt into action. We have already seen the improvements with persons expressing they can now more confidently represent themselves and organisations in public spaces. I wish to see this continued so their peers can also see the marked difference and be motivated to pursue similar communications training and support,” she stated.

The hybrid public speaking and media interviews communications training session is one of several short and long-term communications courses offered by Infinity IMC Limited. The company runs a full service integrated communications academy and offers other one on one and group programmes around interpersonal communication, cultural awareness, diversity, equity and inclusion, communications 101 for leaders and team members and more.