Advanced Presentation Skills

Course Objectives

Advanced Presentation Skills is designed to take average presenters and provide them with the self-knowledge, skills and information to allow them to be dynamic and persuasive presenters.

Specifically, attendees will learn how to:

• Increase self-awareness of areas of strength and areas needing improvement
• Enhance authority, enthusiasm, and audience awareness by using a persuasive presentation model
• Identify the most effective preparation and delivery strategy to match the presentation needs
• Highlight the unique presentation requirements necessary for a technical presentation
• Facilitate effectively as required in presentation situations
• Respond appropriately to tough audiences and their questions
• Apply a model for confidently handling impromptu situations

Course Design

Advanced Presentation Skills is divided into four three-hour sessions, which can be delivered in a two-day or modular format. The course does not cover the basics of presenting but rather takes participants immediately to an advanced level.

Advanced Presentation Skills is intensive and highly interactive. People learn by doing and receiving feedback. Participants deliver eight videotaped presentations and one audiotaped presentation, all of which are thoroughly critiqued. Participants are also assigned a "Coaching Partner" from their class peers, who will assist them as they strive to achieve presentation excellence. There is a pre-assignment and some homework assignments. The maximum enrollment is eight. There is a co-instruct option which will permit attendance of sixteen. Attendees receive detailed, individualized, and personalized coaching and feedback. Each session has its' own customized critique form, based on the content of that session. Participants leave with an individualized folder consisting of four sets of customized feedback forms and a personalized action plan.

Course Content

Persuasion - the five steps of building persuasive content: analyze, focus, strategize, outline and refine; the three steps of persuasive delivery: credibility, enthusiasm and audience connection.

Financial & Technical Presentations - structure, delivery style, audience reception style and media.

Facilitation - role of the facilitator, facilitation model, success criteria, managing questions and answers, and managing difficult situations.

Impromptu - free association, mastery of topical ideas, dealing with nervousness, leadership, likeability, visualization and impromptu model.