Course Summary:

The broad learning objective of this course is to develop the awareness, knowledge, skills and attitudes of participants needed to deliver effective professional presentations. The course is designed so that participants understand the theory of good communication prior to preparing and delivering a presentation within a simulated context. The course is divided between what good communication is, how to prepare an effective presentation, and delivering your presentation so that you have a persuasive impact on your audience.

Each participant will be given individual feedback on how to continuously practice improving their communication skills back in the business environment. The course will enable you to become a professional presenter.

Course Objectives:

• Understand the purpose of your presentation
• Strategically plan your presentation based upon an audience analysis
• Apply assertive verbal skills to capture and maintain audience interest
• Apply critical listening skills and respond confidently to questions
• Develop awareness of how effective non-verbal messages are communicated
• Improve meetings through effective communication skills
• Research the gathering of data and drawing up a report
• Gather, structure and organise a formal report using mind-mapping effectively
• Design and use appropriate visual aids to support your presentation
• Deliver and evaluate your presentation by reviewing a video for a more professional impact
• Apply a rigorous communication checklist in evaluating presentations

Course Outline

MODULE 1: Effective Communication

• The importance of self-awareness
• Preparation for a positive first impression
• Barriers to effective communication
• The conventional process model
• Communication purposes
• Business communication
• Effective emails, memos

MODULE 2: Understanding our audience

• The power of deep listening
• Key communication skills
• Non -verbal communication
• Presenting Reports and research
• Communication in meetings

MODULE 3: Presentation skills

• Your look, posture, gesture, eye contact
• Using tonal Variety
• Speaking with energy
• Presenting your visuals

• Non-verbal Communication

  From the presenter’s perspective body language must not be seen as contrary to the overall message.

• Non-verbal communication also impacts on a presentation:
  • Tone of voice
  • The look on the presenters face
  • Posture
  • Distance
  • Eye contact
  • Gestures

• Using the Voice

  • The voice carries messages that are not defined by the words used. This is called paralanguage:
  • Vocal quality
  • Volume
  • Pitch
  • Rate of speech
  • Enunciation / accent
  • Pauses

• Using the Voice

  • Most people will respond to a voice that is:
  • Interesting
  • Friendly
  • Pleasant
  • Natural

• The Face

  • Facial expressions are an integral part of any presentation as it communicates:
  • Emotion
  • Attitude
  • Feelings
  • As a presenter, you need to make sure that your face does not detract from your message!

MODULE 4: Delivering your presentation

• Central message
• Brainstorming
• Using a mind map
• Designing your presentation using power point
• Practising and delivering your presentation
• Feedback and evaluation of your presentation