Why I recommend it to my clients—and how we use it to move from finding the words to speaking with greater ease.
Using AI to improve speaking skills?
Absolutely.
When I work with people who are new to a role—or have been promoted into one that requires more speaking—I often say, “Go to AI.”
They might be giving presentations, reporting to senior leadership, leading meetings, or simply being asked for their opinion more often.
“What! AI? Isn’t that cheating?”
It could be in some circumstances. But used thoughtfully, it can also be a very good teacher. The learning happens in what you do with the language it gives you.
When someone takes on a new role, they may still be getting comfortable with the vocabulary of their field. Even when they know their subject well, they may need practice expressing their ideas clearly, deliberately, and credibly to a different audience.
They know what they mean. Finding the words to convey it can take some work. For someone speaking in a language other than their native language, there’s another layer to the challenge: finding the vocabulary and phrasing that convey the nuances of what they mean, while keeping up with the conversation.
In the past, my clients and I would spend quite a bit of time finding the right wording together. They work in all kinds of fields and roles, so there was often a lot to sort through. AI can speed up that part considerably—and clients don’t have to pay me for all the time we would have spent hammering it out.
Here’s how I have them use it.
First, I ask them to identify situations they find challenging: answering an interview question, giving an update, explaining a recommendation, or responding to a senior leader who wants more detail.
Then they write down a question they might be asked, along with what they want to say in response. It doesn’t have to be polished. We need their ideas first.
The next step: ask AI to express that response five different ways.
Seeing those alternatives can help them clarify their own thinking. Sometimes a version captures something they were struggling to put into words. Sometimes it helps them recognize, “No, that’s not quite what I mean.”
Now they have language to work with. They can cherry-pick a phrase from one version, a transition from another, and change anything that doesn’t feel appropriate or comfortable.
Then comes an essential part: say it out loud.
Words that look good on a screen don’t always feel natural coming out of your mouth. I ask clients to try the language, adjust it, and get comfortable expressing the idea in a few different ways.
The aim is to make the language familiar enough that they can reach for it while thinking, listening, and responding.
That matters when you’re put on the spot. If you’re struggling to find every phrase—or tend to freeze when you’re nervous—it’s harder to stay present in the conversation. Having more language available gives you more room to consider the question and connect with the person asking it.
Then we bring it into role-play.
I ask the question or set up the situation. They respond. I follow up, ask for clarification, or challenge a point—because conversations rarely follow the script we prepared.
It can still be challenging at first. But after a few exchanges, their responses often begin to flow more easily. They have more attention available for how they’re speaking: what to emphasize, where to pause, and how to convey what they mean.
And what else happens?
Their demeanor becomes more grounded and confident. Their eye contact improves. They’re more present in the moment.
They’ve done more than find the words. They’re getting comfortable using them—even when I throw in a question they weren’t expecting.
So yes, I tell my clients, “Go to AI.”
“Then close the laptop. We’ve got some talking to do.”