English with Thiago How To Speak English So People Actually WANT To Listen
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Aug 26, 2026 Jay Alexander Poulton, ICF‑credentialed executive leadership and accent coach who founded The Accent Coach, helps leaders improve clarity and presence. He explains what accent coaching does, high‑stakes moments where clarity changes outcomes, balancing identity with intelligibility, and the voice foundations like breathing, resonance, and articulation. He ends with a simple tip to instantly boost clarity.
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Accent Coaching Focuses On Clarity First
- An accent coach's primary goal is clarity: reduce features that block understanding rather than erase identity.
- Jay starts with assessment and a standard North American clarity, then builds from voice (breath, resonance, articulation) up.
Real Consequences From Being Hard To Understand
- Clear speech changes outcomes in high-stakes settings like boardrooms and hospitals.
- Jay described a CEO ignored because of accent and a doctor who had to constantly repeat to patients, showing real-world costs.
Keep Your Identity While Softening Accent Edges
- Preserve identity while neutralizing problematic edges; don't aim to erase who you are.
- Jay avoids exaggerated mimicry and focuses on rounding off sounds (e.g., softer TH, vowel distinctions) so speech feels genuine.