IPA Women in Practice retreat: How voice can elevate your career

Sarah Wilmot, a speech pathologist, voice and communications consultant at Speech Pathways, says being the loudest person in the room is not an effective means of communication in business.

Wilmot is one of the speakers at the Institute of Public Accountant’s Women in Practice retreat at Hepburn Springs in Victoria on 4-6 September to support women entrepreneurs and accounting professionals. The retreat also features leadership and breathwork facilitator Tina Bruce and Tasmin Simounds who specialises in organisational development. The retreat will address challenges women face in the industry, providing them with practical techniques to get the best out of their personal and professional lives.

Wilmot’s expertise includes breathing techniques, voice coaching and corporate communication strategies to help women in business, particularly those running their own practices or navigating complex work environments. 

"My real passions are within finding a voice and really managing, oftentimes, anxiety that comes with speaking up," Wilmot says. She notes that this can be particularly challenging for women in corporate settings, where there's often pressure to speak up quickly and assertively.

The retreat aims to provide practical tools for participants to enhance their communication skills, regardless of their natural tendencies. Wilmot focuses on understanding people’s unique communication style and adapting it to different situations. "We're so unique as speakers," she says, "and we've all got our unique makeup of who we are and when we've spoken up before."

Sarah Wilmot, speech pathologist, voice consultant and integrative breathing practitioner at Speech Pathways

Contemplation versus rapid-fire decision-making

One of the key issues Wilmot addresses is the balance between reflection and quick response in professional settings. In a world that rewards rapid-fire responses, she sees the value in contemplative thought and considered decision-making. "Some personalities are very reflective in nature," Wilmot notes. "The nature of problem-solving might be that someone goes away for a week or two and really develops this idea of what that means and returns back to the table with a really great idea."

For solo practitioners and small business owners, who make up a significant portion of the IPA's membership, effective communication is crucial for building and maintaining client relationships. Wilmot favours an audience-centric approach of tailoring communication to each client that factors in their level of financial literacy and preferred communication styles.

"One of the main ideas about knowing your audience is a really important one," Wilmot says. "Being able to alter our language for that audience, but also navigate tone and our tone of voice and the type of communication that we might have."

Speaking is a body activity and therefore connecting breath and body is essential for effective communication. She will provide participants with simple techniques to help centre themselves before important calls or meetings and better manage the mental load of competing priorities that comes with juggling multiple responsibilities.

"It can be as simple as taking a couple of specific types of breath," Wilmot says, though different techniques work for different people. "Some people need to rev themselves up a little bit, and some people need to calm themselves down."

Audience-centric and accessible communications helps connect with clients

Wilmot's goal is for attendees to walk away with strategies they can use in their professional lives. This includes making complex information accessible to less financially knowledgeable clients and using shorter, more succinct sentences, especially when discussing complex financial matters. "Being more succinct, making sure that whatever you say, particularly I feel in relation to finance, is concise and repeatable," Wilmot says.

Another focus will be on developing a strong, confident voice, which doesn't necessarily mean a loud one. "Strong can just be firm," Wilmot clarifies. "Working out how exactly to use and mold our own speech patterns for that particular situation to get the best result."

Participants will have the opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals, share experiences, and build supportive relationships that extend beyond the three-day event.

The 2024 Women in Practice Retreat, Hepburn Springs, is happening 4-6 September. Learn more.