Course Highlights

This presentation skills workshop will:

  • Suggest actions presenters can take to appear calm and collected when presenting under pressure.
  • Offer a model for analyzing an audience, choosing content, and deciding a delivery strategy.
  • Provide participants with a methodology for finding key themes and nine frameworks for organizing information.
  • Give concrete advice for combating stage fright and projecting confidence under pressure.

Course Overview

For most people, conveying confidence and control when speaking under pressure is a learned skill. Whether it’s limited time to prepare or a high-stakes topic contributing to the heat under the spotlight, speakers must take steps to present an image of poise and polish if they want to be effective. This course is designed for anyone who wants to improve their ability to speak with confidence in any situation. The program addresses skills for making both on-the-fly and planned presentations look easier.

Program Objectives

At this program’s conclusion, participants should be able to:

  • Outline seven elements presenters should consider when presenting under pressure.
  • Craft a presentation using the “topic, opening, body, and closing” formula.
  • Apply the “aim, plan, and convey” framework to analyze an audience, select content, and choose a delivery approach.
  • Determine what level of detail to share based on the audience, the presentation’s purpose, and time constraints.
  • Leverage a tiered-content approach to meet the needs of a mixed audience.
  • Identify key themes.
  • Explain eight alternatives to the “topic, opening, body, and closing” formula.
  • Recognize stage fright symptoms and compensate for them.
  • Adopt body language that conveys confidence.

The following outline highlights some of the course’s key learning points. As part of your training program, we will modify content as needed to meet your business objectives. Upon request, we will provide you with a copy of the participant materials prior to the session(s).

Workshop Outline

Arming Battle Stations: Getting Started

Speaking under pressure refers to the ability to deliver speech effectively in situations that can cause stress or anxiety. Sometimes, presenters have the luxury of time to prepare and practice. Other times, they must present on the fly. In this opening discussion, we will discuss what causes pressure to occur, explore seven elements presenters should consider, and look at the “topic, opening, body, and closing” formula for organizing content.  

Exploring the Map: Understanding the Audience

In this workshop segment, we will dissect the “aim, plan, and convey” framework for analyzing an audience, choosing content, and selecting a delivery strategy. Additionally, we will discuss methods for presenting information at the right level and how to use tiered content to meet the needs of diverse groups.

Navigating Successfully: Key Themes and Structure

In a business presentation, key themes are the backbone of the communication strategy. They reflect the core messages the presentation seeks to convey and are crucial for ensuring the audience understands the presenter’s objectives. In this part of the course, we will look at some common key themes and steps for identifying them. In addition, we will discuss eight alternatives to the “topic, opening, body, and closing” formula.

Getting Ready for Lift Off: Commanding the Stage

Stage fright, also known as performance anxiety, manifests through a range of symptoms that can impact a presenter’s effectiveness. Recognizing these signs and employing compensating strategies is vital for any speaker. This workshop segment discusses the symptoms of stage fright and 12 ways speakers can compensate for and combat it.

Keeping Cool Under Attack: Body Language

As an old advertisement advises, “Never let them see you sweat.” In this part of the program, we will introduce and participants will practice a dozen tactics for projecting confidence and appearing composed under pressure.

Coming in for a Landing: On-the-Spot Presentations

In the final hour of the course, participants will demonstrate what they’ve learned.  Each class member will have an opportunity to give a presentation and receive feedback from the instructor and other class participants.  

By the end of this hands-on training program, participants should be able to apply various tools, tactics, and frameworks to speak with confidence under pressure.