Presentation Training Skills

Presentations Skills Training Workshops

Presentations skills training workshops are provided across the country via public open enrollment workshops in all major metropolitan areas and can also be delivered on-site via private training workshops. Our presentation training workshops can be provided as off-the-shelf workshops or training sessions which are ready to be delivered to a diverse audience or can be customized to provide a tailored training and personalized approach workshop based on client needs. All presentations training workshops are limited to a maximum of twelve participants so as to increase workshop effectiveness and provide the individual level of presentation coaching and interaction that is associated with the Presentations Training Skills Workshop Center.

For more information on our presentations skills training workshops please contact us.

Presentation Workshop With a Purpose

There are four basic categories of visuals you can use in presenting your ideas in an effort to influence others: self, props, electronic projection, and audience member. Consider each a presentations tool for influence.

1. Self; you are your most important visual. Your body position, stance, and language do more than anything else (positive or negative) to affect your audience. Your body movement and facial expressions act as your most powerful tools.

2. Presentations Props; the things you bring along to show your audience can cause a huge effect in the thinking of your audience members. The props can make points, cause humor, sadness, and curiosity.

3. Electronic Projection; with PowerPoint and Video, you've heard it before...make your PowerPoint a benefit, not a boring crutch. If your PowerPoint's text is too small, the slides are cluttered, or the color is incorrect-the PowerPoint ceases to be of benefit to the audience. The same goes for video footage you might show; the sound has to be good, the video resolution quality has to be high, and it better be interesting.

4. Audience Member; bringing up an audience member(s) or invite an "expert or celebrity" to join you on the platform can have a powerful effect on your presentation. The only thing to be careful of is that they do not take control of your presentation and that they are interesting. Otherwise they will take away, rather than add to your presentation.

Your Area of Greatest Personal Control
You have the greatest control over self. Props can get lost, misplaced, or might be too small for large venues. Your electronic projections, especially in venues where others control the technology can easily succumb to the neuron gremlins. If you invite a guest to participate, they might not shoe or in using audience members, you had better have some improvisational training because you never know what an audience member will do.

In taking control of what you absolutely can-self-you are greatly increasing your chances of successfully influencing others to take the actions you suggest. Exploring some of the pitfalls of self can be extremely helpful in delivering significant presentations.

Avoid Competing With Yourself
You have most likely experienced this in watching others; the speaker having a nervous habit, or several. And these habits are completely distracting. In fact, you have a hard time concentrating on what the speaker is saying. Some things to consider that will help you avoid competing with yourself the next time you give a presentation:

Playing with your eyeglasses
Playing with change in your pocket
Continual nervously sipping water
Over using "you know" and "uhhh"
Reading your public speaking speech
Dis-symmetry in clothing; one coat pocket in and one out, wearing your name badge, or over-sized broach

Hands in Pockets
Think back to the last speaker you listened to that had something really interesting to say but you found yourself having trouble concentrating on his or her talk. What was it that caused your discomfort? I'll bet it was some sort of nervous habit that the speaker had not yet overcome.

One of the worst nervous habits exhibited by speakers, especially with men, is putting their hands in their pockets. Why is this? It is because they either don't know how to use their hands to further their presentation or because they are self-conscious. Either way, the result usually is a jangling coins or keys that truly distract the attention of those trying to listen to the talk.

Here is a tip for you to try the next time you present: Take EVERYTHING out of your pockets. This way you'll be less inclined to play with items when you do slip and put your hands in your pocket.

A bit of a twist to this idea is to put only a $10 bill in each front pocket. The first time you put your hand in your pocket, pull that first $10 bill out and hand it to the attendee closest to you at that exact moment. Tell your attendees, like them, you are always trying to improve and explain the hand in the pocket habit you are trying to break. Then continue with your talk. The next time you put your hand in either pocket, give the other $10 bill away.

Then, at your next public speaking speech, give two $20 bills away, then at the next, two $50 bills. By the time you've given two $100 bills away at a public speaking speech, you'll be well on your way to breaking the habit.

Posture by Design
For every presentation you give you can select either casual or authority posture, or just let your natural style decide for you. Posture by design connotes you selecting, rather than a choice by any other than your conscious mind.

The challenge for a person that might naturally have an authoritative posture is in selling any kind of relationship or trust idea. Conversely, the person with a more casual or relaxed posture might have trouble selling organizational policy or directives.

If you keep your feet planted, that is authority posture. Put your hands in your pocket, that's casual posture. Body erect is authority while slightly leaning against a table or lectern is casual. Correctly selecting the right posture for selling a specific issue is crucial. Select your posture by design rather than simply take a chance

Speaking in an Open Position
Have you ever been at a presentation in which a very short person is speaking from behind a lectern? What did you see? Most likely only part of them that you saw was the top of their face. Speaking from behind something is speaking in a "protected" position. This protected position can be perceived by many as the speaker is in fear or is hiding something. The very best position on the podium (riser or stage) is front and center, with nothing between you and your audience. This is an open position. And this still holds true, even if you have to hold your notes.

Standing Proud
Good posture is one of your secrets to speaking success. I'm not talking about a military style rigid "at attention" posture, but rather a relaxed upright posture. Slouching is not the best way to endear yourself to your listening audience because you look sloppy and untrustworthy. Don't fool yourself into believing it makes you look casual and approachable. And, slouching interferes with your diaphragm-the area of your body from where your deeper voice emanates.

Stand up straight, relax your neck and shoulder muscles, look at your audience members one at a time, and take slow deep breaths. This will allow you to start off with something meaningful rather than wasting 10 minutes getting warmed up. Start with something powerfully important and you find it easier to hold your audience.

While there is always the possibility of "equipment malfunction" with props, electronic projection, and audience members; if you have done the necessary work to educate, prepare, and rehearse self, your success is nearly assured.

Source: Ed Rigsbee link

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