DARIUS COMMUNICATIONS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- President of National Trade Publications in Latham
Humphrey S. Tyler, president of National Trade Publications in Latham, N.Y., frequently rejects sales and editorial candidates because they exhibit grammatically incorrect speech. "It's as if they pulled out a baseball cap and put it on backward," the publisher complains. "It simply reflects a low level of professionalism."
The well-educated controller of a Chicago-based company has long aspired to become a chief financial officer elsewhere. But recruiter Laurie Kalm refuses to recommend him because he often says "me and so and-so," followed by the wrong verb form. "I don‘t know how much he'll be able to advance," says Ms. Kahn, president of Media Staffing Network in Chicago.
Job Titles:
- President and Chief Operating Officer of La Jolla
James Canfield, president and chief operating officer of La Jolla-based Renaissance Executive Forums, which has 40 U.S. locations, noted there are "hundreds" of executive coaches in San Diego. Most don't have more than six people, he said. Canfield employs 15 locally.
Renaissance sponsors monthly meetings of executives who pay fees to be members, who meet with a facilitator to share ideas.Most members are from medium-size companies, he said, with revenues from $1 million to $100 million. The 12-year-old firm's clients come from technology, business services and maintenance and construction. Canfield admitted that a return on investment for money spent on professional coaching is difficult to measure. "Our goal is to move them from where they are to where they want to be."
Job Titles:
- Communications Manager at Sempra Energy
Kristin Regan, communications manager at Sempra Energy, who worked with Darius when she entered the management ranks at Sharp Heathcare, says the advice she received definitely resulted in co-workers treating her in a different, more "management-worthy" way.
"I'd never been on a senior leadership team before, so I had no idea how to conduct myself," Regan says. "Laura videotaped all our sessions, and watching that first one was very hard. I talked too fast, my voice was too high, and my presence-including curly blonde hair-did not command respect."
Working with Darius, Regan learned to lower her voice, slow down her speech, and modify her appearance to make it more professional. As a result, she's more relaxed when speaking to groups, even the board of directors, and she feels more confident in any business situation.
"As a new manager, I got basic training, but nothing like this," Regan says. "This has been the most beneficial thing I've ever done. It's helped me the most."
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Director of the Center for Speech Arts, Inc., NYC, Adds That Women in Particular Have Significant Speech Problems
- President of the Center for Speech Arts
- Professional Development Skills to Corporate Clients, but
- Speech, Presentation, Image Coach Accent Reduction Specialist
she focuses on the areas of speech, presentation and image. She founded her
Laura Darius provides professional development skills to corporate clients, but
Laura Darius, director of the Center for Speech Arts, Inc., NYC, adds that women in particular have significant speech problems: "A combination of weak self-image and improper use of the vocal instrument (poor breathing and speaking from the head or nasal area) results in a non·assertive high-pitched voice-the curse of the career woman." Developing strong, mature sounding speech takes time and practice.
Laura Darius started out helping aspiring actors correct their speech, but she quickly learned that there was a bigger market for her services in the business world. Now her Corporate Communication Skills Inc. boasts a list of clients that includes many Fortune 500 companies.
New York accent reduction accounts for a significant part of her business, and she charges up to $150 an hour for private sessions. Many of her clients, she said, are mid·level executives" who moved up through the company by dint of their knowledge and ability, and suddenly, the whole package is being judged. The first thing that pops up after dress is speech."
Some come on their own, she said, and others are asked to by their employers. Bill Harding, a 25-year-old partner in a commercial fabric and carpet maintenance business sought Darius out because he hopes to knock off the New York hard sell. A lot of people are intimidated by it."
Laura Darius is an Executive/Personal Coach specializing in Speech, Presentation, Communication, Wellness and Image Enhancement.
Robert S. Miller isn't one to kid himself. For more than a year he has been chipping away at his New York accent. "Sometimes it overpowers my thoughts," he says, sighing. "l think so much about how to say something. I forget what I'm saying." But those lapses are fading as clear speech grows into a habit. "There‘s a confidence I'm gaining that l never realized could exist." says Miller, a 50-year-old furniture-company executive. "It's difficult to change when you`re my age, but there's nothing like improving yourself'."
"Depending on how it hits your ear, the New York accent can sound aggressive, Dumb, crass, coarse, or unintelligent," declares Darius. "I'm allowed to say that, being a native."
Job Titles:
- Director of Pharmaceutical Technology