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Persuasive communication training
Key Conversations. Critical Asks. Elevator Pitches. 

Stop getting “let me think about it.”
Start getting clear next steps.

Turn conversations into decisions: A one-time virtual workshop on persuasive communication that leads to lasting change in how people communicate. Available for teams of up to 300 and one-on-one. Used by more than 2,000 leaders across foundations, nonprofits, and corporations

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Persuasive communication training
Key Conversations. Critical Asks. Elevator Pitches.  

Stop getting “let me think about it.”
Start getting clear next steps.

Turn conversations into decisions using a focused 90-minute virtual workshop built around a simple, practical framework for persuasive communication. Available for teams of up to 300 and one-on-one. Used by more than 2,000 leaders across foundations, nonprofits, and corporations.

Book a Workshop Contact

ABOUT

This workshop is designed for situations where decisions matter and skepticism is real. Many teams have strong ideas but struggle to move conversations to clear outcomes—proposals stall, meetings repeat themselves, and good work gets lost in ambiguity. This session gives people a shared, practical structure for anticipating objections, supporting claims with concrete evidence, and asking for specific next steps. The result is clearer conversations, faster decisions, and less re-litigation across the organization.

Get the framework as a free booklet

This PDF distills the same methodology used in the workshop into a short, practical booklet you can use before any high-stakes conversation.

  • Covers the core framework: Curiosity → Trust → Clarity → Action

  • Designed to be used before the conversation—not after it stalls

  • Also available as a paperback on Amazon—but free here

Download as PDF Buy on Amazon

See the Persuasion Guide your team will keep on their phone

Before you book anything, preview the actual framework participants use and will keep in their pockets

Scan the QR code or visit www.persuasion.guide to see the four-step structure teams add to their phone’s home screen.

This isn’t course material you file away.

It’s a tool you pull up before an important meeting, pitch, or conversation.


To add the framework to your phone’s home screen: Scan the QR code -> Tap “Share” -> Tap “Add to Home Screen”

WHAT CHANGES AFTER THE WORKSHOP

After the workshop, conversations move to clear decisions.

Before

  • “That’s interesting. Let me think about it.”
  • Claims built on enthusiasm instead of evidence
  • “Let me know what you think” — and nothing happens
  • Conference conversations that go nowhere
  • Teams improvising every important pitch

After

  • “Can we add this to Thursday’s agenda?”
  • Claims backed by names, numbers, and timeframes
  • Conversations that lead to follow-up
  • Shared language across the entire team
  • Shorter decision cycles and fewer follow-up meetings

WHY THIS WORKS DIFFERENTLY

Most training teaches what to say.

This one starts with why someone might say no.

Before participants learn how to make their case, they learn how to anticipate skepticism — then address it before they speak.

The 90-minute session includes:

Objection Prep

Identify the most likely barrier to “yes” before making a pitch.

The 4-Step Framework 

Curiosity (claim) → Trust (evidence) → Clarity (conclusion) → Action (next step).

Small-Group Practice

Participants replace example language with real situations — funding pitches, partnership asks, board conversations.

Phone Installation 

Everyone leaves with the framework saved to their home screen, ready for the moments that matter.

What Leaders Are Saying

Teams at organizations such as the Ford Foundation used the workshop and, after anonymous internal participant surveys, scheduled additional sessions.

Marielena Hincapie, past Exec. Dir. of the National Immigration Law Center

Sisi Wei, Editor in Chief, The Markup

Jon Fiume, Director & CEO, Akron Art Museum

Jim McHale, CEO & President, Woodward Hines Education Foundation

BUILT FOR RESPONSIBLE USE

This framework makes true things easier to believe

The workshop explicitly addresses ethics.

You’re learning decision architecture — not manipulation.

The framework does not guarantee you’re right.

It helps others understand and evaluate your case more clearly through concrete evidence, plain language, and specific next steps.

You’ll learn a powerful tool.

How you use it matters.

Meet Your Trainer

Marc Fest - Elevator Speech Training Founder

Marc Fest

Former VP of Communications, Knight Foundation & New World Symphony

Clients consistently praise Marc Fest's EST (formerly Elevator Speech Training) with comments such as "total game-changing work" and "seriously one of the best trainings I have ever received" (browse the over 500 similar testimonials). Marc helps professionals excel in fundraising, partnership building, idea pitching, and other goals.

He is the founder of EST, MessageHouse.org, and Elvay. He is a former vice president of communications for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the New World Symphony. Marc is the author of "Elevator Speech Training" and "The Message House Method".

2,000+ Leaders Trained
100+ CEO Endorsements
99.99% Satisfaction Rate

Choose Your Training Format

Group Elevator Speech Training Workshop

Team Transformation Team Transformation

$2,400 / Up to 300 people / 90 minutes
Book Group Workshop
One-on-One Elevator Speech Training

Personal Breakthrough Personal Breakthrough

$450 / one-on-one / 60 minutes
Book 1-on-1 Workshop

Questions?

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