Advanced Presentation Skills Training Course

'This course was brilliant. I feel a lot more confident now and I'm very proud of what I've achieved and how far I've come. Better than I could have expected, thank you so much.'
Cathy Succamore, Elsevier Ltd.

Duration

2 days

What is this course about?

This course is designed to teach you proven skills and techniques that will allow you to present at an advanced level. The course is ideal for anyone who has some experience of giving presentations but wishes to take their skills to the next level.

The course emphasis is on impact and delivery. Delegates are given plenty of opportunity to practice their skills within the safe environment of the training room.

Pre-course work

All those attending are asked to prepare a five minute presentation on a topic which they can deliver to the group. If visual aids are to be used please make sure that these are prepared before the course.

Who would benefit?

Anyone wishing to move their presentation skills to the next level.

Objectives

At the end of the programme, those who have attended will be able to:

• Structure an effective presentation to engage the audience and maintain interest
• Confirm the elements of good practice in presentation techniques
• Examine ways of improving their impact
• Develop their confidence when speaking to others
• Identify what is looked for in a good presentation
• Perfect their techniques for dealing with questions / objections and probing
• Enhance their image

DAY 1

1. Importance of proper planning and preparation

• Researching your subject
• Having a clearly defined Objective
• Developing your agenda slide
• Planning your start
• Stage-Managing your finish
• Planning your 'bridge-building' breaks
• Rehearsing before the event

2. Psychology of self motivation and self esteem

• Getting yourself in the right frame of mind
• Psyching yourself up - building your confidence
• Looking and feeling 'the part'
• Establishing your 'street cred' - your right to be there
• Managing / controlling the nerves

3. Communicating skills when delivering the presentation

• Projecting the voice
• Hearing the voice (using audio tape)
• Using active language and powerwords
• Watching your body language and that of your audience
• The art of painting pictures when presenting
• Beating the 'boredom factor'

During this workshop we will explain the finer points of using PowerPoint to maximum effect and delegates will have the opportunity to practice the techniques themselves

5. Using visuals to 'enhance' your presentation

• What is a visual?
• How many?
• How much copy?
• Less is more
• Effective use of bar graphs, pie charts etc
• Use of graphics - avoid being 'too clever'

6. Workshop - designing the visual

Groups will be given a message to get across and asked to design a single visual to achieve this objective!

7. The impromptu presentation workshop

How to present when put on the spot in a meeting, with no time to prepare

DAY 2

8. Review of key learning from day one

Each group will be given certain subject areas covered on Day One and asked to prepare a brief presentation on them which will be given to the main forum

9. When and how to use the flipchart

• Using the flipchart as an alternative to or instead of laptop
• How to maximize the interactive nature of flipchart
• When to use pre-prepared charts
• Audience involvement - getting them to write on the chart

10. Working your audience

• Gaining knowledge of the audience beforehand
• Analysing / managing their expectations
• Handling questions
• Dealing with interruptions and staying in control
• Leaving them wanting more

11. Workshop - presenting without visuals

Each delegate will be be required to present for 5 minutes without the use of any visuals relying exclusively on the voice and the body language

12. Techniques for different sizes of audiences

• Common denominators
• Necessary modifications for small and large audiences
• Presenting one-to-one

13. Presenting to persuade / influence the audience

• Selling the benefits
• Why would they 'want to do it'
• The what's in it for them factor
• Use of you and your rather than I and we
• Getting buy-in to your proposal

14. How to present with a colleague or a team

• Agreeing beforehand exactly who is doing what
• Having seamless changeovers
• Avoid having too many changeovers
• Deciding who is going to handle which questions

15. Getting the environment right

• Room layout
• Seating
• Temperature
• Lighting
• Water

16. Summary , review and closing workshop