What do I do?
I use the term ‘Presentation Skills Trainer’ quite loosely. But to give you an idea of the areas I cover it might be simpler if I show you some of the requests I get from companies and individuals;
- “ I have an interview coming up for promotion and I get too nervous. Can you help?”
- “My receptionist is very competent but I am concerned about her telephone manner.”
- “I have just promoted a senior manager and feel that his general style is not quite up to the mark.”
- “My sales team would like to learn to make their presentations more dynamic. Is that the kind of thing you can help us with?”
- “I hate making presentations but it has become part of my job and I feel I am letting my team down.”
- “I have been told I speak too fast. Is that something you can help me with?”
Due to the variety of these requests I tailor my training to my client’s needs. This may take the form of a one-to-one or it may be a group training session. I also offer a standard one day presentation skills course which can give you an idea of the kind of content and outcome I work towards.
Why Come To Me ?
Most people are nervous
Giving a presentation is worrying for many people. Presenting or speaking to an audience regularly tops the list in surveys of people‘s top fears - more than heights, flying or dying. Using simple techniques and exercises I introduce clients to the idea that it is possible to manage their anxiety and feel more in control. I work with people in a safe and supportive environment, changing their feelings of being out of control to managing their fear and feeling empowered.
Most people speak too fast
Using techniques from my stage background, I introduce clients to the importance of clear speech. The voice says a lot about a person and most presenters are unaware of all the vocal possibilities available to them. I like to introduce clients to rediscovering their voices, thereby extending their range and volume. This can often be an area of great fun on my courses!
Most people think it’s all about them
Many inexperienced speakers make wrong assumptions about what audiences want and many decide to make the talk about what they know or want. I introduce clients to understanding how audiences take in and retain information, what keeps them interested in you, the speaker, and to discovering that once you focus on the audience, everything, including nerves, falls into place.
Most people underestimate how physical making a presentation is
You walk into the space, you interact with the audience, you use your arms to gesticulate, your face to show animation and you open your mouth to speak. Public speaking is not passive. You are the most powerful visual aid of all. Much of my training is centred on helping you to understand how you come over and how you can use your own personality and physicality to enliven a presentation.
There are many books on ‘How to Present’ but with me you will actually experience what it feels like to make a perfect presentation.