Effective communication and Pitching Techniques

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Make the Grade Experience

Dr Steven Greene

184 episodes

1 week ago

Welcome to the Make the Grade Experience, the high-impact podcast where Dr. Steven Greene empowers students, entrepreneurs, business owners, and go-getters of all kinds to accelerate their success journey through actionable techniques and concepts — one actionable episode at a time.

Grounded in Dr. Greene’s Triangle of Success framework — Product, System, Mentoring — this show delivers proven tools, real-world strategies, and inspiring conversations with high performers, innovators, and experts.

Whether you’re building a business, launching a dream, or optimizing your mind and body, every episode gives you the clarity, confidence, and practical steps you need to get to the next level — fast.

The podcast is a combination of tips by 30+ year entrepreneur and educator Dr Greene as well as a cast of guests with broad experiences and skills to share.

Recent episodes include:

Fundraising secrets for entrepreneurs
The Student Entrepreneur Academy
Passion as your business superpower
Health breakthroughs to boost your energy and drive
How storytelling and networking fuel success

If you're ready to design a life of purpose and performance, this show is your weekly success toolkit. Subscribe now and start making the grade in every area of your life.

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Fundraising secrets for entrepreneurs
The Student Entrepreneur Academy
Passion as your business superpower
Health breakthroughs to boost your energy and drive
How storytelling and networking fuel success

If you're ready to design a life of purpose and performance, this show is your weekly success toolkit. Subscribe now and start making the grade in every area of your life.

Effective communication and Pitching Techniques | Barbara Boldt - Ep 175

Make the Grade Experience

40 minutes

2 months ago

Effective communication and Pitching Techniques | Barbara Boldt - Ep 175

Effective Communication and Pitching Techniques.

Key Takeaways

Barbara teaches a 3-part formula for pitches: problem, solution, transformation
Confidence and practice are key for improving public speaking skills
Recording yourself and getting constructive feedback helps refine your pitch
Tailoring your pitch to different audience members is important but challenging

Topics Barbara's Background and Expertise

Developed communication techniques while living abroad and teaching languages
Specializes in helping introverted leaders become authentic, powerful speakers
Uses a dual approach combining anxiety management and presentation skills
Emphasizes clear language structure to decrease cognitive load for listeners

Effective Pitching Techniques

3-part formula: clearly define problem, present solution, describe transformation
Tailor pitch to audience's knowledge level and priorities
Practice and refine pitch, but don't memorize word-for-word
Record yourself and get constructive feedback to improve
Be aware of verbal tics or habits that could distract from message

Overcoming Public Speaking Anxiety

Have introverts exaggerate enunciation, volume, tone to expand comfort zone
Focus on developing confident body language and energy
Use exercises like shouting motivational phrases to build confidence
Remember that charisma isn't required - confidence is key

Adapting Pitches for Different Audiences

Interview audience beforehand to gauge knowledge and priorities
Consider tailoring pitch for different roles (e.g. CEO vs IT manager)
Be prepared to answer unexpected questions without losing your place
Refine pitch over time based on audience reactions and questions

Next Steps

Check out Barbara's website boldglobal.com for more information
Practice recording and refining your pitch using Barbara's 3-part formula
Look for Barbara's upcoming memoir about her experiences in Italy
Subscribe to the Make the Grade podcast for more business tips

In this episode of the Make the Grade Experience Podcast, Dr. Steven Greene sits down with Barbara Boldt, a transformational communication coach who helps introverted leaders grow into confident, authentic speakers. Together, they break down the mechanics of effective pitching and public speaking, exploring how clarity, confidence, and storytelling can turn nerves into influence. Whether you’re an entrepreneur preparing to pitch investors, a student walking into an interview, or a professional looking to sharpen your communication skills, this episode delivers practical tools to elevate your message. Key Takeaways

🎯 The Three Elements of a Pitch:
- Problem — Define the challenge clearly and vividly.
- Solution — Show exactly how your product/service addresses the problem.
- Transformation — Demonstrate the tangible benefit and impact.
🗣 Clarity is King: If your audience struggles to understand, your message is lost. Grammar and structure matter because they reduce “cognitive load” for listeners.
💡 Confidence is Learned: Great communicators aren’t “born.” Skills can be taught, practiced, and improved through deliberate techniques.
📖 The Power of Storytelling: Stories make pitches persuasive, relatable, and memorable — much more than raw information ever could.
🤝 Audience Matters: A technical pitch for engineers won’t land the same way with executives or investors. Always tailor your language and style to the people in the room.

Quotes Worth Remembering

“It’s not what you say, it’s what they hear.” — Dr. Steven Greene
“A pitch without an ask is not a...