Present for Success

Managers, supervisors, salespeople, team leaders, executives, analysts, educators, anyone whose goal is not only greater effectiveness in engaging and convincing external or internal clients, but also greater pleasure in the presentation process.

This program aims at helping participants to:

• Learn essential techniques for developing rich and interesting content.
• Understand and apply a variety of options for structuring your information.
• Develop slides that support rather than detract from you and your message.
• Create winning openings that generate interest and impact.
• Shape all your main points so that they clarify rather than confuse.
• Distinguish yourself with a memorable closing that truly motivates.
• Change your negative feelings about presenting to positive ones through effectively managing anxiety.
• Develop your repertoire of vocal, facial, and physical expression to engage your listeners and underline your message.
• Apply a range of on-the-spot thinking techniques to raise your confidence in your ability to answer questions clearly and effectively.
• Put it all together by presenting, receiving feedback, adapting the feedback, and presenting again.

Discussion of presentation styles and expectations, examples of what works and what doesn't, fun exercises to develop a greater range of expression, plus presentation practice and feedback. As much time as possible is spent getting participants to try new approaches to content and new delivery styles, in order to ensure they leave the workshop with an optimistic attitude and greater confidence in their ability.

Developing rich, relevant content

• Using Mind Maps to explore your subject from all angles
• How to develop the right material by asking yourself the right questions
• Other resources you can use to enrich your approach
• Analysing your audience so that you pitch your content at the right level

Applying a compelling presentation structure

• The traditional presentation structure: what to keep, what to avoid
• How to open with impact, so your listeners will keep listening
• Using stories, aphorisms, statistics, questions, and more
• Convincing closes that will motivate your listeners to act

Creating slides that support your message

• Comparing average slides with exceptional slides
• How to become master of your slides rather than their slave
• Using images, words, and charts effectively
• How to avoid letting your slides speak for you

Managing presentation anxiety

• Why it is perfectly normal to fear presenting
• Changing your perception and turning fear into fun
• Mental and physical strategies for managing adrenalin
• Terrific tools for organising your thoughts on the spot

Do you speak body language?

• The biggest risk you can take: avoiding the risk of being expressive
• Developing your vocal volume, pitch, and tone
• Expanding your range of facial expressions
• Using engaging and appropriate physical positions and gestures

Alison Lester

Alison Lester has been offering presentation skills training around the world for the past 7 years, successfully moving even the most fearful presenters into a position of confidence and strength. She bases her training approach on her own development as a professional speaker, actress, and improvisational comedian, as well as on her studies of current business trends and demands.

When she is not training presenters, she is offering workshops on creativity and successful business communication (with Shirley Taylor), teaching improvisational theatre at Lasalle College of the Arts, or directing and performing voiceovers for television cartoons. She is also the author of a collection of short stories entitled Locked Out: Stories Far from Home.

“Alison is fabulous. She has great contents and charisma. The workshop is structured very well and enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this workshop to my friends.”

Participant
Goldbell Engineering, Singapore