With a background as a speaking champion, professional musician, award-winning journalist, and university public speaking instructor, my writings include the bestselling book, "How to Become a Super Speaker: The 7 Principles for Speaking with Confidence and Connecting with Audiences." I've also authored numerous self-improvement articles on speaking and the art of grabbing and keeping the attention of audiences.
What Drives My Approach As a Speaking Coach
My experiences as an acclaimed Rutgers University public speaking instructor and as a guitarist-singer at clubs, concerts, and festivals in the United States and Canada have influenced my teaching of the art of connecting with crowds. But that's not all that has shaped my approach to helping people become more dynamic, memorable speakers.
I've sharpened my speaking and speechwriting skills in the professional world: I have been the voice of academics and business professionals in books and articles as a ghostwriter and public communicator.
I've been a lifelong student of communication: I have a master of arts in communication as well as a bachelor of arts in English and a bachelor of education.
I'm a writer: I've written scores of pieces for The Wall Street Journal or been distributed through Dow Jones and The Associated Press to major media outlets such as The New York Times. Throughout my journalism career, including a stint as an editor with the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, I have worked to improve the storytelling and basic English skills of numerous non-native English speakers. The experience has helped to hone both my sense of audience and my ability to teach and coach people at all levels of speaking proficiency. I've also written jazz criticism for DownBeat magazine, applying the ear for rhythm that I use to help speakers deliver talks with rhythm, cadence, and heart.
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SCORE Mentors Monmouth, 765 Newman Springs Road, Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ
Whether your business is a start-up or an established concern, having strong speaking skills is a must. I'll debunk some of the myths about speaking anxiety and talk about the seven principles for speaking with confidence and connecting with audiences.
Open to the public. Admission free.
Red Bank Toastmasters, 1 Riverview Plaza, Red Bank, New Jersey 07701
Special Guest Speaker Appearance: "How to Speak Comfortably on Stage"
When he's not out on the trails, Michael Barris is a writer, editor, inspirational speaker and book co-author. He also is the creator and curator of Project Plain Sight, a go-to resource dedicated to helping "hidden leaders" in organizations to be seen and to flourish.
His articles have appeared across the platforms of The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones Newswires, Knight Ridder Financial News and DownBeat magazine, among other publications.
He co-wrote The Social Media President: Barack Obama and the Politics of Digital Engagement (Palgrave Macmillan) and has worked as an adjunct professor of writing and public speaking at Rutgers University.
He has also held the title of Senior English Writer for Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business, serving as the voice of the Dean, senior faculty and Americas division managers for this Chinese business school that is well known globally for cutting-edge executive education.
Michael argues that it’s important that senior leaders in organizations strive to think outside the box to allow “hidden leaders” – the members who excel at their jobs but get overlooked for leadership roles – to be seen and to flourish.
Project Plain Sight was born after Michael experienced the power of a hidden leader during a chaotic autumn snowstorm that unexpectedly hit his backpacking expedition in the Rocky Mountains in Canada.
As the group floundered about, unsuccessfully attempting to find its way, one member who initially had remained quietly at the back of the pack suddenly stepped forward to outline an escape plan and lead the lost, wet trekkers to safety.
Since then, Michael has been writing and giving inspirational speeches that seek to raise public awareness of hidden leaders as potential candidates for leadership roles in organizations. "I want to inspire today's organizations and executive leaders to look for the hidden leaders in their organizations," he says. "And I want my message to go out to different organizations."
Long-term, he says his goal is to "improve the work environment and inspire people to get out of their comfort zone." He also aims to "inspire senior leaders to appreciate and mentor their hidden leaders."
Hidden leaders typically are important figures in the departments in which they work. They can be the go-to contacts for information on how to get just about anything done, are well-respected and - since they lead by the example of being excellent - tend to be great motivators of others.
But since they may regard doing good work as its own reward and consider "boasting" about their achievements as unprofessional, they can get lost when senior leaders cast about for candidates for leadership positions - especially when other members of the organization are directly informing the senior leaders about their interest in taking on leadership roles.
Against this backdrop, Project Plain Sight provides a cache of original research, useful tips and interviews with executive leaders and other figures in a range of organizations. It has a dual goal: helping executive leaders in organizations to uncover hidden leaders and helping hidden leaders in organizations to realize their potential as human beings.
