Professional Presentation Skills

Overview

This course covers all aspects of presentation design and delivery. Participants will learn to create compelling, clear and credible content and also present professionally. The training addresses the skills and changes which need to be made for online presentations, webinars and meetings. The course involves practice, planning and presentation rehearsal sessions using small groups.

Objectives

By attending this  training, you will learn how to –

• Undertake the selection and analysis of material prior to delivery of an executive or
  important presentation.
• Prepare and structure a presentation appropriate to the audience, subject matter and to the
  needs of the audience.
• Select appropriate slides, videos and other visual aids.
• Understand the special considerations needed for technical or complex presentations.
• Deliver a presentation using slides and screen share effectively.
• Maintain audience interest by the application of proven presentation and demonstration
  techniques.
• Develop and practise presenting skills using video feedback to improve voice tone, speech
  power and body language.
• Use practical methods to control nerves and anxiety.
• Present numbers and graphs persuasively.

Content

• Introduction
  • Course overview, objectives and introductions
• Effective Presenting
  • What is a good professional presentation?
  • Substance and style – two essentials for a business presentation
  • The eight-step presentation planner –introduction and overview
• Personal communication dynamics
  • Understanding how you communicate
  • How to control your:
    • Words; creating the right tone and level
    • Voice projection and emphasis
    • Body language impact; understanding the 3 main unconscious elements you must communicate
• Making your presentation memorable and effective
• The effective and appropriate use of humour
• Step 1: Developing your objectives
  • The five questions that you must answer before preparing your presentation
  • Defining your objectives and outcomes
• Step 2: Analysing your audience
• Doing your homework; audience, event, venue
• Methods and means for researching your audience
• Step 3 & 4: Structuring the main body and stating main ideas
• Ways to structure your presentation for maximum impact
• Balancing and managing content and topics
• Organising your information –including the Minto model
• Your “one main point” and creating a 30 second summary
• Step 5: Supporting information
• Making your case convincing – ways to support your claims
• Selecting and using relevant and interesting examples
• Quotes, case studies, and printed material
• Presenting statistics, tables and graphs
• Ways of maintaining visual interest
• Step 6: Creating an effective opening
• Claiming the stage and creating a good first impression
• The three most powerful ways of opening a presentation
• Staying calm and controlling nerves
• Step 7: Creating an effective close
• Signalling and sign-posting; the importance of, and how to do effectively
• Five ways to close a presentation successfully
• Preparing and practicing your close
• Audio visual and online meeting functions
• On the day, final preparation check-list and mental rehearsal
• Using visual and presentation aids
• Using notes and prompts
• The most common errors that presenters make when using online meetings
• Question and Answer Session
• Open discussion of specialist points relating to particular types of presentation and talks
• Action Planning
• Course summary and personal action plans