This course has been designed for those in positions where they must speak in front of audiences that are hostile or demanding. This material is also suitable for those who are relatively new speakers who want some encouragement to speak up in meetings or who want some training before they begin making presentations on behalf of the organization.

 

Speaking under pressure, or thinking on your feet, means being able to quickly organize your thoughts and ideas, and then being able to convey them meaningfully to your audience to modify their attitudes or behavior. It applies to formal speeches as well as everyday business situations.

 

It requires presence of mind, goal orientation, adaptation, and judgment. It also requires differentiating between oral and written communications.

This course is aimed at improving your skills and learning some new techniques which will give you the persuasive edge when you are making a presentation, fielding difficult questions, or presenting complex information.

 

Course Objectives

After you complete this course, you'll be able to:

• Apply quick and easy preparation methods that will work whether you have one minute or one week to prepare.
• Prepare for questions, even before you know what those questions will be.
• Overcome nervousness that you may have when speaking in front of a group, particularly if the group is not sympathetic to what you have to say.
• Use presentation techniques that establish your credibility and get people on your side. 

Course Content Details:

Session 1: Course Overview

•  Learning Objectives
•  Pre-Assignment
•  Pre-Course Assessment

 Session 2: Getting Started

•  What is Speaking Under Pressure?
•  Three-Part Technique
•  Planning Our Approach
•  Presentation Preparation
•  Evaluations

 Session 3: Planning

•  Preparing to Plan
•  Be Informed
•  Get Involved
•  Understand Yourself
•  Stay on Track
•  Presentation Preparation
•  Evaluations

 Session 4: Force Field Analysis

•  What is Force Field Analysis?
•  Exercise
•  Pros and Cons

 Session 5: Understanding Your Audience

•  Understanding Your Audience, Part One
•  Getting Started
•  Profiling Your Audience
•  Aim, Plan, and Convey
•  Understanding Your Audience, Part Two
•  Finding Common Ground
•  Why?
•  How?
•  Practical Application

 Session 6: Controlling Your Jitters

•  Understanding Nervousness
•  Where Does Nervousness Come From?
•  Getting Nervousness Under Control
•  Being Prepared
•  Sequencing Ideas
•  Presentation

 Session 7: Making Your Listener Hear You

•  Use Non-Verbal Communication
•  Leave the Appropriate Distance
•  Stand Erect
•  Consider Your Appearance
•  Move About and Use Gestures
•  Control Your Facial Expressions and Mannerisms
•  Maintain Eye Contact
•  The Value of a Pause

 Session 8: Key Themes

•  About Key Themes
•  Practical Application
•  Key Sentences

 Session 9: Key Sentences

•  Preparation
•  Presentation

 Session 10: Structuring Ideas

•  Three Key Points
•  Why Three Key Points?
•  Aim
•  Concentrate
•  Adapt
•  Depth
•  Move Forward
•  Ease
•  Building a Three-Part Plan
•  Practical Application

 Session 11: Organization Methods

•  Using Time, Place, and Aspect
•  Preparation
•  Presentation
•  Two Additional Plans

 Session 12: Our Body Language

•  How the Listener Takes Control
•  Sample Passage
•  Questions
•  Answers
•  The Meaning Behind Our Message
•  Qualities of a Good Voice

 Session 13: If You Could Be...

•  Presentation
•  Presentation

 Session 14: Beginnings and Endings

•  Things to Remember
•  About Beginnings
•  About Endings

 Session 15: Expanding a Basic Plan

•  Building a Bigger Presentation
•  Symbols
•  Opposites
•  Statistics
•  Tips and Tricks

 Session 16: Presentations

•  Preparation
•  Evaluations

 Session 17: A Personal Action Plan

•  Starting Point
•  Where I Want to Go
•  How I Will Get There
•  Summary

Post-Course Assessment

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