Communication Coaching to Improve Professional Communication at Work
Speak Like a Professional is communication coaching that helps working professionals and employers speak clearly and confidently at work. Sydney Parriott, MA, CCC-SLP, MBA, a licensed speech-language pathologist in the Kansas City metro, leads it and coaches clients virtually nationwide. Choose 1:1 coaching, open-enrollment workshops or private workshops that improve professional communication. Book a free discovery call.
What is Speak Like a Professional?
Speak Like a Professional is a communication coaching practice in Kansas City, Missouri, founded by Sydney Parriott, a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP). Sydney holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), a master of arts (MA) in speech-language pathology and a master of business administration (MBA). The practice offers SLP-led 1:1 coaching by video for clients nationwide, open-enrollment workshops, private company workshops, company retainers, communication analyses and keynote talks. Its evidence-based coaching helps working professionals communicate more clearly, confidently, and effectively in high-stakes workplace situations.
Who is this for?
Our clients are professionals at all levels — managers, executives, individual contributors, and job seekers — who want to speak with clarity and authority in presentations, meetings, interviews, negotiations, and leadership conversations.
Quick recap
- Sessions: one-on-one 60-minute video sessions, weekly or every other week.
- Length: 7 to 10 sessions on average.
- Cost: a $175 evaluation, then coaching packages from $135 per hour.
- Method: The Resonant Communication Method™, a five-pillar framework developed by Sydney Parriott.
- How to start: a free discovery call, with a reply within one business day.
Sydney Parriott's credentials: MA, CCC-SLP, MBA
Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist
10+
Specializing in adult communication
YEARS OF PRACTICE
M.A.
Evidence-based, neuroscience-informed
CLINICAL TRAINING
OUR PROPRIETARY FRAMEWORK
The Resonant Communication Method™
Speak Like a Professional’s five-pillar framework for how professionals show up, listen deeply, and communicate with clarity and confidence, in any room, at any level.
Developed by Sydney Parriott, MA, CCC-SLP, MBA of Speak Like a Professional
The framework addresses five interconnected dimensions of communication:
01
Frame of Mind
The inner clarity and intentional presence that shapes every interaction before a word is spoken.
02
Active Listening
Deep, attuned listening that builds trust and unearths what is truly being said in order to connect.
03
Cultural & Social Factors
Navigating the unspoken rules and diversity that shape conversations.
04
Content
Crafting clear, compelling messages to resonate, persuade and move people to action.
05
Delivery
Voice, presence, and physical expression to carry your message with authority.
Interested in how we apply The Resonant Communication Method™ with professionals just like you?
REVIEWS
What Customers Say About Speak Like a Professional
Clients review Sydney Parriott’s coaching on Google for keynote preparation, a team public speaking workshop, podcasting and presenting, job interviews and everyday one-on-one communication. Read the reviews on Google
Meet Sydney Parriott, founder and licensed speech-language pathologist
Sydney Parriott, MA, CCC-SLP, MBA is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with 10+ years of experience specializing in adult communication. With the CCC-SLP from ASHA, a master of arts in speech-language pathology and a master of business administration, she grounds her coaching in communication science and neuroscience — not generic self-help. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are clinically trained to assess and change how people speak, sound and use language.
You’re Not Alone.
Why do so many professionals struggle with communication at work?
Most working professionals have never been formally coached on communication. 47% of employees identify it as the #1 skill they need to improve — yet the majority have never received structured guidance. This gap quietly limits career growth, leadership effectiveness, and workplace relationships.
How does communication affect career advancement?
Executive presence is how others judge your leadership readiness from how you communicate and carry yourself. Communication is the primary way executive presence is perceived, and executive presence accounts for 26% of promotion readiness. Communication is the primary way executive presence is perceived, and executive presence accounts for 26% of promotion readiness. Professionals who communicate with clarity and authority are more likely to be seen as leadership material — regardless of technical skill.
47%
of employees say communication is the #1 skill they need to improve—yet most have never been coached on how.
26%
of promotion readiness comes down to executive presence. Communication is the primary way that presence is perceived.
Speak Like a Professional helps high-performing people gain the clarity, confidence, and presence they need—without changing who they are.
Sources: LinkedIn Learning Workplace Report, 2023; SHRM Skills Gap Report, 2019. Center for Talent Innovation, Executive Presence: The Missing Link Between Merit and Success.
Coaching for every moment that matters
WHO IS IT FOR
Who is Speak Like a Professional coaching best for?
Our clients are working professionals — managers, executives, individual contributors, new leaders, and career changers — who want to communicate more clearly and confidently in situations that affect their career and reputation.
What specific situations does coaching address?
-
Make your first impression count. Strengthen clarity, presence, and confidence in interviews with communication coaching that teaches you how to speak with authority and ease.
-
Build genuine connections. Learn how to communicate effectively in networking scenarios, from small talk to high-value conversations.
-
Deliver compelling presentations with confidence. We help you refine your voice, structure your message, and overcome public speaking anxiety. See how public speaking coaching led by a speech-language pathologist prepares you for board meetings and keynotes.
-
Lead with clarity and connection. Improve communication for delegation, conflict resolution, and team motivation.
-
Your communication skills are your competitive edge. Learn how to speak with executive presence so you stand out in promotions and leadership opportunities.
-
Keep anxiety from holding you back. SLP-led coaching helps you regulate nerves, steady your voice, and build confident communication habits.
A GUIDE
What communication coaching services does Speak Like a Professional offer?
Speak Like a Professional offers three coaching formats: 1:1 virtual coaching, private company group workshops, and open-enrollment group workshops. Each is led by a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and grounded in evidence-based communication science.
One-on-one Virtual Communication Coaching
Speak with more clarity, confidence, and intention in the moments that matter. Our personalized 1:1 virtual communication coaching is led by a licensed speech-language pathologist and built around your specific goals—whether you’re preparing for high-stakes presentations, strengthening workplace communication, refining leadership presence, or reducing communication anxiety.
Each session combines evidence-based strategies with guided practice and targeted feedback. We focus on how your thoughts translate into language in real time, how your voice supports your message, and how your delivery is experienced—so your communication becomes more structured, effective, and aligned with your professional goals.
01
What you can work on:
Public speaking and presentation skills
Workplace communication and collaboration
Interview preparation
Leadership presence and executive communication
Tone of voice, vocal presence, and speech clarity
Communication anxiety and confidence-building
Skills we build (measurable and practical):
Message organization and clarity
Articulation, enunciation, pacing, and delivery
Active listening and responsive communication
Adapting your style for different audiences and situations
Private Company Group Workshops
What does a private company workshop include?
Each workshop is customized to your organization's goals and industry, led by a licensed SLP. Sessions combine communication science, speech-language pathology expertise, and real-world business strategy. Participants practice skills, receive targeted feedback, and leave with strategies they can apply immediately.
02
What topics does a private workshop cover?
Leadership communication and executive presence
Difficult conversations and feedback delivery
Client-facing communication and stakeholder messaging
Public speaking and presentation skills
Conflict resolution and communication under pressure
How are private workshops delivered?
Workshops are available virtually or in-person (based on location and availability), with content tailored to your industry, team size, and priorities.
Open-Enrollment Group Workshops
What is an open-enrollment group workshop?
Small-group virtual sessions with limited seats, open to any professional who wants structured communication training without committing to a full private coaching package. Led by a licensed SLP, each workshop blends evidence-based instruction with real-time practice and targeted feedback.
03
What topics do open-enrollment workshops cover?
Public speaking and presentation skills
Thought organization and message clarity
Tone of voice and vocal presence
Active listening and workplace communication
Tailoring your message to your audience
What format do open-enrollment workshops use?
Virtual, small-group sessions with limited enrollment to preserve interaction, personalization, and learning quality. Participants practice skills on the spot and leave with tools they can use immediately.
HOW IT WORKS
A coaching rhythm designed to make change stick
For those wondering what communication coaching looks like
SESSION LENGTH
60
MINUTES
For individual sessions. Group workshops run one to six hours.
CADENCE
1x
PER WEEK OR EVERY OTHER
Public-facing clients get the strongest results from 2 sessions a week.
ENGAGEMENT
7-10
AVERAGE SESSIONS
Clients can stay on after the series for tune-ups and lingering challenges
INVESTMENT
$135
PER HOUR STARTING
Per-session rates decrease as your package grows.
Every engagement is shaped around your goals — we'll talk through what fits when you schedule a free discovery call.
TRUSTED BY PROFESSIONALS AT
& more
THE DIFFERENCE
Why choose a speech-language pathologist as your communication coach?
What makes a Speech-Language Pathologist different from other communication coaches?
Speech-language pathologists are clinically trained in voice mechanics, speech science, language formulation, social communication, and human behavior. Unlike general coaches, they bring a medical and neurological understanding of how communication works — and how to systematically change it. SLPs are licensed and credentialed professionals, not self-designated coaches.
Is Speak Like a Professional's coaching evidence-based?
Yes. All coaching is grounded in communication science, neuroscience, speech-language pathology research, and clinical best practices. Each 1:1 coaching plan starts with an evaluation that records a baseline of how you speak.
What specific expertise does an SLP bring to coaching?
SLPs bring expertise in five areas that directly impact professional communication: licensed clinical credentials, neuroscience-informed methods, speech and voice mechanics, language formulation, and cultural and linguistic awareness.
AS FEATURED IN
Communication Intelligence
Sydney Parriott, MA, CCC-SLP, MBA was featured in Communication Intelligence magazine with an article on managing communication nerves — written through the lens of a speech-language pathologist and professional communication coach.
A SHORT SELF-ASSESSMENT
How confident is your professional communication?
How do I know if I need communication coaching?
Communication coaching fits professionals who feel unclear, unconfident, or overlooked in meetings, presentations, interviews, or leadership situations. Signs you are a fit for communication coaching include: talking around your point instead of getting to it, feeling anxious before high-stakes conversations, receiving feedback that you are hard to follow or seem uncertain, or knowing your ideas are strong but feeling they don't land the way you intend.
How can I find out where I stand?
Take the free Communication Strengths Profile Quiz to identify your communication style, discover your strengths, and get personalized feedback to improve how you communicate at work — in under 5 minutes.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Frequently asked questions about professional communication coaching
✓ Who this helps: Managers, executives, individual contributors, new leaders, and job seekers who want to communicate with greater clarity, authority, and presence.
✓ Core outcomes: Clearer, more structured messaging — stronger vocal presence and delivery — executive presence that drives career growth.
✓ Formats offered: 1:1 virtual coaching · Private company workshops · Open-enrollment group sessions.
✓ Backed by science: Evidence-based methods from a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with a master’s degree and the CCC-SLP — not generic advice.
✓ Start here: Book a free discovery call — no commitment, just a conversation about your goals.
LET’S TALK
Ready when You are.
Tell us a little about what you’re working toward. We’ll be in touch within one business day.