Strategies for Developing Effective Presentation Skills

Develop your presentation skills to transform yourself from inexperienced speaker to skilled presenter.


Unstable economic times can mean fast and frequently unexpected organizational changes, greater responsibilities, and new projects and initiatives. Being a confident, polished speaker is not only necessary but well-advised in order to communicate such matters effectively and persuasively. In this three-day seminar, you'll develop your presentation skills and learn how to present your ideas with conviction, control, and poise-and without fear.



You'll gain the specific presentation skills and direction you need to become comfortable with your own style. And you'll receive expert advice on how to handle especially challenging situations. Most important, you'll gain presentation skills by making actual presentations.



Your in-class presentations will be recorded for playback and review. You can track your presentation skills by seeing for yourself what comes across to an audience. It's a great way to get instant feedback and helpful recommendations, and the recording is yours to keep.



What You'll Learn

• Tailor your presentation to your audience 
• Use relaxation techniques to overcome nervousness 
• Learn how to project your voice and use pauses to dramatize your point 
• Expertly handle difficult questions and situations 
• Communicate with clarity and conviction 
• Gain confidence in your presentation skills 

Who Needs to Attend

• Everyone who needs to develop their presentation skills, speak in front of groups, or sell ideas to others and has little or no presentation experience

Course Outline

1. Balancing Verbal and Nonverbal Messages

• The need to balance style and substance 
• Importance of nonverbal (visual and vocal) messages 
• Receive feedback on the nonverbal messages you send 
• Practice nonverbal impact skills to reduce nervousness and to engage the attention of your listeners 
• How to make your content clearer and more memorable by incorporating anecdotes, analogies, examples, and quotes in your presentation 
• How to use audience participation techniques 

2. Developing and Organizing Presentation Content

• Set presentation parameters 
• Create an audience profile 
• Tap into what you already know 
• Identify what you need to find out 
• Structure your information 
• How to condense the speech outline into notes you can speak from 

3. Preparing to Give the Presentation

• Benefits of rehearsing, adhering to time frame, and speaking from notes 
• How to reduce stress and speaker's anxiety 

4. Using Visual Aids and Support Materials

• Purpose of visual aids and support materials 
• Visual aids, speaker's notes, and audience handouts 
• Tips for effective composition of visual content 
• Criteria for selection among the many types of visual aid media 
• Guidelines for interacting with visual aids and managing handouts 

5. Handling Questions from the Audience

• Importance of the question and answer session 
• How to respond professionally to questions from the audience 

6. Managing the Presentation Environment

• Advantages and disadvantages of different room setups 
• Anticipate, avoid, and handle equipment problems 
• What logistical arrangements to check 
• How to use lecterns and microphones effectively