Excellence in Public Speaking
- Description
- Curriculum
- Reviews
General objectives:
To develop and expand communication skills and assimilate the different techniques for effective and persuasive presentations.
Specific objectives:
Module 1: Prepare your presentation
Address any kind of audience with confidence
Module 2: Managing nerves and stress
Overcoming the stress derived from stage fright
Module 3: The importance of voice and image
Effective use of the body and non-verbal language
Module 4: The importance of non-verbal language
Get the desired effect on the audience
Module 5: Interpersonal aspects
Achieve nimble communication
Module 6: Managing the presentation
Prepare the staging
Theoretical content:
The theoretical and practical contents of this training, structured in modules, will follow the next structure:
Module 1: Preparing your presentation
Module 2: Managing nerves and stress
Module 3: The importance of voice and image
Module 4: The importance of non-verbal communication
Module 5: Interpersonal aspects
Module 6: Management of the presentation
Practical contents:
The in-person skill formation, based on the experiential and discovery learning theory, involves the combination of conceptual theoretical presentations with a wide range of practical exercises adapted to such content to be done in pairs, small groups or assemblies, aiming to experience and reinforce these theoretical aspects.
Among the dynamisation techniques that we should highlight due to its result are: discussion groups, the method of resolution of case studies, demonstrations, group dynamics, role playing, staging simulated experiences (with or without recording for further analysis), the application of self-diagnosis questionnaires and the viewing of training videos or film fragments.
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2.1 What is stress?It is the extraordinary reaction of the organism to an overload that causes an alteration of normal working performance.
This reaction, in return, produces pressure, makes us feel tense, and disrupts the normal activity of our duties towards being more active, or, on the contrary, more inhibited.
In addition to this, it also causes emotional changes.
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2.2 Biological stress mechanisms
Stress causes chemical changes in the body. In a stressful situation, the brain sends chemical signals that trigger the secretion of hormones (catecholamines and adrenaline, amongst others) in the suprarenal gland.
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2.3 Stress in presentations
Stress is defined as a combination of three elements: the environment, negative thoughts, and physical responses. These interact in ways that make a person experience stress.
A situation (a presentation) produces a physiological activation (tension and struggle to communicate), followed by a negative interpretation (this is very complicated, I cannot do it).
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2.4 Self-control techniques
a. Diaphragmatic breathing.
b. Thought management.
c. Behaviour management.
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3.1 Voice
Voice is one of the most important elements of oral communication.
It is one of the tools with which the speaker builds the audience’s trust.
We express our emotions through our voice, either consciously or unconsciously.
Some voices make us feel calm and safe, and some others convey fear and mistrust.
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3.2 Image
What makes a speaker shine is a set of qualities.
There are three types of speakers :
1. Those to whom we listen
2. Those to whom we do not listen
3. Those to whom we cannot stop listening
If we want to belong to the third category, we must know and enhance the qualities that characterise the best speakers.
Although there is not an ideal speaker profile, we can highlight a number of qualities that are repeated in illustrious speakers.
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5.1 The purpose of the audience
In the professional field, it is usual to make presentations about the company and products. These presentations should be prepared depending on the audience and the intended goal. The presentation of the products of a company will not be treated in the same way, if we do it to our own business partners (where we intend to inform), or to clients (where we intend to convince or persuade).
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5.2 Convincing
To convince is to get people to change their minds through effective reasons:
The rules for convincing are:
1. Meet the needs of the audience.
2. Be convinced before convincing.
3. Do not say that we will convince, let`s actively do it.
4. Put yourself in the public’s shoes.
5. Talk with infectious enthusiasm.
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5.3 Persuasion
To persuade is to convince someone to take action.
Through persuasion, the speaker intends to drive the audience to take actions that are the target of the session.
The persuasive speech should include two fronts:
- The rational part
- The effective part
The most effective messages are the ones that go straight to the heart. Emotion produces a change. If we can stimulate the emotions of the audience, they will be more receptive to words.
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5.4 The questions
Standards to answer questions:
1. Reflect (in advance). Have answers ready.
2. Indicate whether it is possible to ask questions at the beginning of the intervention.
3. Use a sense of humour.
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6.1 Skills necessary to deliver a successful presentation
“Relying on the inspiration of the moment is the fatal idea that has ruined many promising presentations”
(Folliet)
Acknowledging, knowing and mastering the basics required to deliver professional presentations is essential to achieve the goal we set for ourselves.
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6.2 Practical exercises
EXERCISE 1
- Course Presentation
- Record and feedback
- Starting point
