Dennis and Paula Becker

Help People Hone Verbal Skills

By Susie Davidson

Advocate Correspondent

BROOKLINE - Many people, whether they know it or not, make their living by talking. Whether they are in the public eye, giving presentations at meetings, championing a certain cause, orchestrating fundraising drives, even just trying to be understood by friends and family, the art of effective communication is invaluable. And in these particular times, verbal skills can play a vital role in a successful job interview or keeping employees focused and productive, and a company subsequently viable. When everyone is economizing, it may be prudent to also streamline and pare down one’s verbal output. For that, a professional can sometimes be of assistance. Since 1964 in Washington Square, Brookline, Dr. Dennis and Paula Becker’s Speech Improvement Company (their son, Ethan, is also a Speech Coach) has helped facilitate the development of spoken ability for their varied clientele. Their award-winning storefront at 1514 Beacon St., under lit trees with its window displays often elaborately and whimsically decorated with Blues Brothers and other life-sized figures, is a neighborhood fixture. Inside the offices, a dozen coaches, some multilingual, all formally educated in communications, help corporate executives, professional sports figures, politicians, radio and television personalities and others polish their verbal acumen.

"In many cases, people feel uncomfortable when it's their turn to speak at a meeting, or perhaps they get flustered when trying to organize what to say. This is why coaching has become so popular," said Dennis Becker, President and Senior Coaching Partner, who teaches Presentation Skills at the Harvard School of Design. "In a year where many companies are downsizing, people have been paying more attention to what they say and how they say it."

The Beckers and their crew assist those who have walked into meetings and experienced anxiety over what they will say, or those who may have ever felt that their listeners were just not getting their message. In an area with a high foreign-born population, clients also include those who may feel that their accents label them.

“It’s a storefront operation,” explained Ethan Becker, “inviting anyone who has a concern about

their speaking effectiveness to simply walk in and get help.”

"The size of our the firm, depth of education, and sum total of experience are all reasons why we are often referred to as ‘the 800 pound gorilla’ within our industry," said Dennis Becker, who helped coach nearly 300 IBM speakers last year in locations as far away as Belgium. "We support the new trend of business professionals who use a speech coach in order to ensure their spoken effectiveness during these difficult times.”

The Beckers have deep roots in the Judaic community. Paula Becker’s grandfather Morris Borkum was an original founder of Brandeis University as well as the Maimonides School. Her family members were longtime members of Temple Emmanuel in Newton, and her cousin Michael Leibenson, now retired, was a Dean at Hebrew College for many years. They have helped coach speakers on behalf of Israel Bonds, CJP and the ADL. Recently, Director of Executive Coaching Laurie Schloff trained 30 members of the ADL Speakers’ Bureau, pro bono, to be more comfortable speaking to community groups. (A future coaching videotape for ADL members or other groups is in the development stages.) They are frequently asked to help children and their parents prepare for speeches before b’nai mitzvot, and synagogue board members often call in as well before important messages are delivered to congregations.

"My first hint that I was meant for this field," said Schloff, "was as a teenager, when I won oratory contests in B'nai B'rith Girls."

For more information on the Speech Improvement Company or how a speech coach can be helpful to you or your firm, visit www.speechimprovement.com or call 617-739-3330.