At Plainly Speaking, we design and deliver communications, plain language, storytelling and media workshops to corporate and government clients.

Why choose us

We offer group training programs and coaching sessions customized to your workplace. We take the time to get to know you. We then tailor our program to meet your needs — using your materials and examples from your field of work. It’s an approach that yields results every time.

Training and coaching options

We deliver training and coaching in English, French or bilingual formats. Programs are offered online or in person in half-day or full-day options. Need a refresher for your team? We can provide that, too.

Contact us for a custom quote for your workplace.

Our workshops

 

Plain Language Writing

Learn how to communicate in clear, plain language to save your organization time, money and effort. This hands-on workshop includes exercises, discussions and writing activities to help participants improve their written communication skills.

You’ll learn how to

  • plan and map content for clarity
  • create strong, clear sentences and paragraphs
  • write and edit for readability and accessibility
  • communicate complex ideas
  • improve your writing style
  • and more
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Writing for the Web

Draw users to your website and keep them coming back for more. This hands-on workshop includes exercises, discussions and a web writing project that will help you improve the way you craft online content.

You’ll learn how to

  • understand and engage your audience
  • plan and map your content for the web
  • craft clear, effective messages
  • use keywords to increase your search engine rankings
  • write for scanning and accessibility
  • target your content to meet your audience’s needs
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Effective Elevator Pitches

Discover how to quickly and effectively communicate your message in 60 seconds to 3 minutes. It’s an excellent way to share briefings on your work and important ideas with colleagues, collaborators and the public.

You’ll learn how to

  • identify what makes a strong elevator pitch
  • gather the elements that bring a story to life
  • plan your pitch for clarity and impact
  • engage your target audience
  • tailor your message and communicate more effectively
  • present complex information clearly and concisely
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Effective Emails

Maximize your messaging potential. Every email provides an opportunity to communicate, convince or convert. This course will help you hit the mark.

You’ll learn how to

  • write clear, concise emails that get to the point
  • create subject lines to ensure your emails get opened
  • organize emails for quick and easy reading
  • effectively respond to emails
  • deal with angry or aggressive emails
  • avoid common email writing pitfalls
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Brand Building

How solid is your brand? More than a logo or image, your brand is an important strategic tool. An effective brand architecture and strategy will help you position your product, service, program, cause or organization in the hearts and minds of your target audience.

You’ll learn how to

  • use branding to maximize awareness and buy-in
  • define your brand’s personality and style
  • position your brand with key audiences
  • determine your brand touchpoints
  • craft your brand promise
  • integrate your brand into your activities
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Media Interviews

Designed for spokespersons, you’ll master the art of conducting media interviews with confidence and ease — all while staying on message. This hands-on workshop includes on-camera interviews to practice and refine your media skills.

You’ll learn how to

  • understand what reporters want
  • conduct print, radio, online and television interviews
  • craft and deliver clear responses
  • deal with difficult questions
  • stay on message
  • answer questions with confidence
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