Course Outcomes

This presentation skills workshop will:

  • Prepare participants to speak with greater control and charisma in front of others.
  • Help participants choose the right amount of information to share with different audience groups.
  • Provide those who attend with several techniques to engage their audiences immediately.
  • Identify solutions to common speaking problems including the use of filler words, poor eye contact, and monotonous tone.
  • Provide solutions for dealing with hecklers, people who over participate, and audience members who are distracted, rude, or otherwise not engaged. 

Course Overview

No matter how good or important a message is, if it’s not delivered in an interesting and effective way, chances are it won’t be heard.  Strong presentation skills can advance a career.  Poor speaking skills can ground a rising star.  In this program, participants will learn how to conquer the podium and deliver presentations that get results.  From dynamic introductions to powerful closings, participants will have an opportunity during this workshop to practice and refine their platform skills.

This workshop is one of our oldest and most requested onsite training programs. We can deliver it as described or tailor it to address your team’s specific goals and objectives.

Program Objectives

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

  • Identify the essential components of a presentation.
  • Describe an audience analysis and why it is a needed step in a presentation.
  • Organize information in a clear and concise manner.
  • Create an attention-grabbing introduction.
  • Implement techniques for varying vocal tones and body language.
  • Develop strategies for handling hecklers, bullies, and other disruptive participants.
  • Point out the benefits and pitfalls of various visual-aid options and audience seating arrangements.
  • Begin implementing goals created during the session.

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

What It Looks Like: The Anatomy of a Successful Presentation

This program begins with an examination of the parts of successful presentations: powerful introductions, effective transitions, and captivating conclusions. Participants will then dive in “head first” with a short practice presentation where they will be tasked to illustrate the principles discussed. 

Let Me Tell You: Understanding Audience Differences

In the second segment of the program, participants will complete Business Training Works’ signature diagnostic tool, The Communication Jungle. Next, they will identify their communication style strengths and determine how they can leverage those strong points on stage.  Following that exercise, they will consider other styles and actions they can take to accommodate audience members with different preferences.

Plot the Path: Finding Key Messages and Organizing Information

Our next activities focus on finding key messages and organizing information.  Participants will work through a series of exercises designed to help them craft a strong narrative and support their assertions with robust examples, data, and other pertinent information. 

Flipcharts, PowerPoint, and Slides: Effective Visual Aids

Choosing and using visual aids is an integral part of many presentations. This lesson reviews available options and covers the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Highs and Lows: Adding Vocal Variety

“Goodbye, monotone. Hello, dynamic speaker.”  This part of the program focuses on building the participants’ confidence and helping them add visual and vocal variety to their presentations.  To stretch their skills, we will consider a dozen ways to communicate the same message, and when it makes sense to use each.

Stop Shaking in Your Shoes: How to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking

Fear is why many people do not enjoy public speaking. This workshop component examines the reasons for fear and techniques to overcome it. Participants will receive a checklist for projecting a professional image and learn how to eliminate such distracting speech habits as “um,” “ah,” and “you know.”

Tickling Their Funny Bone: How and When to Use Humor

When funny isn’t funny, the results can be disastrous. During this part of the course, we examine humor and its use in a business presentation.  We will discuss what’s appropriate, what isn’t, where to look for inspiration, and what to do if “funny” falls flat.

Know-It-Alls, Talkers, and Bullies: Managing Hecklers

It is sometimes said that “there is one in every group.” A difficult person makes a presenter’s job harder and learning to manage challenging audiences is an essential skill for any speaker. In this program segment, participants will test their skills at handling difficult people and challenging situations. 

Stand and Deliver: Preparation and Practice

The program culminates with participants making various kinds of presentations: explanatory, informative, persuasive. Each participant will be videotaped for review and critique.

 At the conclusion of this presentation skills course, participants will understand what makes a high-impact presentation and will have practiced and been critiqued on their newly acquired skills.