About James Jeffley
Founder of The Speaker Shed. 30 years on stages, in boardrooms, and coaching people one-on-one.
Founder of The Speaker Shed. 30 years on stages, in boardrooms, and coaching people one-on-one.
James Jeffley has been speaking to audiences since he was five years old. What started in school plays and speech & debate grew into a career built through the Optimist Club speaking circuit, the National Forensics League, the National Speakers Association, and Toastmasters International — the same organizations and stages where thousands of speakers develop their craft.
For 30 years, James has led professional development and leadership programs for organizations across the globe — not limited to public speaking. Along the way, he kept seeing the same pattern: otherwise experienced, knowledgeable, competent leaders stalling in their careers, or losing ground on projects, because of a presentation skills gap.
He's a two-time finalist in the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking, one of the most competitive public speaking contests in the world — a level reached by only a few hundred Toastmasters members out of hundreds of thousands worldwide.
That gap is why The Speaker Shed exists: a place focused specifically on presenting, coaching, and practicing — real coaching on real material, live, every week, from someone who's spent three decades doing exactly that.
A sample of the 200+ organizations James has worked with:
A sample of feedback from James's coaching and speaking work.
"You are truly gifted as a speaker and as a coach. This one-on-one support can radically accelerate honing the speech we all want to give. You're worth every penny."
— A.B.
"James made me believe that I could not only be a good speaker, but a great speaker! He helped me close the gap between being unsure about my voice and knowing that I am supposed to be on the stage."
— F.P.
"James coached me through some misperceptions I had about myself, and helped build my confidence which allowed me to deliver the most impactful presentation of my life. I am now enjoying that new role thanks in large part to James' valuable coaching."
— M.P.
"His expertise gave my presentation structure, fluency and flow. My audience was transformed with a message of hope that moved them into action. If you need support from a master communicator, you would be wise to contact James."
— V.D.
"His powerful and persuasive voice, his quiet passion, and his well-constructed presentation combined to win over even the most 'stuck-in-their-ways' attendees."
— David L. Malmo, President, Continental Data Graphics (a Boeing Company)
"As you walked on stage at the World Championship of Public Speaking, I said to my neighbors, 'You could tell he has more stage time and presence than the others.'"
— Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE, Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker
"As always, incredibly engaging. Still my favorite presenter. I like project managing, but I swear James could present and make anything interesting."
— Myra Castellanos, CCSF, Dept. of Public Health
Many on leadership development and professional growth. The one most relevant here:
How to Speak with Balance, Flow, and Resonance
Blends Taoist wisdom with modern communication techniques to offer a different way of approaching speaking — available in paperback, PDF, and audiobook.
See all his books at: jamesjeffleybooks.com
Winging it is expensive. The presenters who consistently make the impact they want treat presenting like a craft — they study it, get coached, and keep sharpening. When you're not landing the way you want to anymore, that's when it's time to take it to the Shed.
Take It to the Shed