The Programme — The Speaking Edge

P Week 1

Presence

The GEM Method

Before you speak a single word, your body communicates. Presence teaches participants to inhabit their space with intention — grounded, expanded and moving with purpose. This is the visible manifestation of everything happening internally.

Stand and move with physical authority
Use stillness as a tool rather than a symptom of fear
Make deliberate, purposeful gestural choices
Ground — posture, rooted stance, spine alignment
Expand — spatial ownership, eye contact as connection
Move — purposeful gesture, deliberate stillness

E Week 2

Expression

Voice as instrument

The voice is a physical instrument — shaped by the breath, amplified by resonant spaces, and formed by the articulators. Expression explores how to release, develop and vary the voice for maximum impact and authority.

Connect lower breath to vocal output
Explore pitch, pace, resonance and projection
Understand the mechanics of voice production
Learn to look after the voice as a professional instrument

R Week 3

Respiration

The physical foundation

Without breath there is no voice. More than voice support, controlled diaphragmatic breathing is one of the most powerful tools for managing nerves and releasing physical tension. Fear tightens the stomach, raises the chest and constricts the voice. Relearning natural breath breaks this cycle at source.

Understand how diaphragmatic breathing works
Reconnect with natural breath through physical exploration
Use breath as a daily calming and warm-up practice
Bridge breath to voice production

F Week 4

Formal Writing

Confidence on the page

Confidence in the room means nothing if your written communication lets you down at the door. True to the TSE methodology, this module treats written communication as a performance skill. A CV is a curated story; a cover letter is a pitch.

Write a compelling, targeted CV with clarity and impact
Craft a cover letter that tells a story and connects to the role
Communicate professionally via email in any workplace scenario
Understand tone, register and formality in written business English
Write a professional bio or LinkedIn summary

O Week 5

Ownership

Mindset & story

Ownership is the pivot point of the programme — the shift from technique to truth. You cannot own your story if you cannot own the room; you cannot command silence if you have not found the words worth saying. This expanded module brings together mindset and story as two sides of the same coin.

Use pause and silence with intention and confidence
Develop pre-performance mental preparation rituals
Understand and manage the fight-or-flight response
Find the stories that define your professional identity
Structure a narrative for maximum engagement and clarity
Deliver personal stories with appropriate vulnerability and confidence

R Week 6

Relationship

Audience connection

Speaking is not a performance to an audience — it is a conversation with one. Relationship explores how to read a room, adapt in the moment, and build trust with any group of listeners. Speaker credibility comes from connection, not performance.

Develop genuine audience awareness and empathy
Adapt tone, pace and content to different contexts
Handle questions, challenges and unexpected moments with composure
Build speaker credibility through connection

M Weeks 7–8

Mastery

Live mock interviews

Mastery is not a showcase — it is a test. Participants put every element of the programme under real pressure through a structured series of live mock interviews in progressively challenging formats. Mastery is not perfection; it is the capacity to perform confidently under pressure, recover from mistakes, and continue growing.

Week 7 — 1:1 mock interviews: competency-based, behavioural (STAR), values-led
Week 8 — Panel & group interview formats; peer feedback
Handle unexpected questions with composure and structure
Leave with a polished CV, cover letter and personal development plan

Karsten Huttenhain coaching — speaking with presence and authority

Underpinning methodology

The ACT Method

The Speaking Edge is grounded in the ACT Method — three pillars that distinguish this programme from conventional presentation coaching. Where most coaches work on content and delivery, we work on the instrument: the body, the breath, and the self.

Acting Technique

Professional performance training applied to everyday speaking — using the body, breath, voice and imagination as tools for confident expression.

Communication

The craft of clarity — structuring messages for impact, telling stories that connect, and choosing words and delivery that serve the listener.

Transformation

The lasting shift in self-perception — from someone who fears speaking to someone who uses it as a professional advantage.

Delivery formats

Three ways to experience the programme

Choose the format that fits your goals, schedule and context. Formats can also be combined.

Online Course

Best for — independent learners

Self-paced video modules with exercises, a reflective workbook and email support. Work through the full PERFORM framework on your own schedule, anywhere in the world.

Full 8-module video content
Downloadable exercise workbook
Reflection journal prompts
CV & cover letter templates
Email coaching support throughout

Live Workshops

Best for — teams & cohorts

Group experiential sessions with real-time coaching and peer practice. Available in-person in Edinburgh and Scotland, or online for any location.

Cohort of 6–12 participants
In-person or online delivery
Corporate and institutional clients
Leadership development programmes
Tailored to sector and audience

1:1 Coaching

Best for — individual goals

Fully bespoke individual sessions tailored to your specific goals, context and career stage. The highest-intensity, most targeted format.

Executives and senior leaders
Career changers and returners
High-stakes presentations
Interview preparation
Online or in-person, Edinburgh

The PERFORM Framework