LIVE ONLINE CLASS SERIES
MASTERING PRESENTATION SKILLS
Are you looking to improve your presentation skills? Maybe learn some strategies to drive better engagement from your audience? Do you feel as if your in-person presentation skills may have gotten a bit rusty during COVID? If so, you will enjoy our Presentation Skills Live Online Class Series. Your ability to present well, to tell a compelling story, to persuade and engage, will be critical to your success. Professionally, of course, but personally as well. The manner in which we communicate with others defines every aspect of who we are. We want to put our best foot forward – every single time. This series of three dynamic live online classes, each of which is 90 minutes, will help you build the skills and confidence you need to reach your potential as an outstanding presenter, whether you’re live in a conference room, on stage, or a Zoom call.
CLASS #1: SOFT SKILLS, BIG IMPACT
This first class in the series focuses on looking and sounding your best during internal, client-facing, virtual, and in-person presentations and meetings.
We will introduce ourselves, discuss our work with Colliers, and lay out the goals and objectives for the program. We will also engage the learners to identify specific hot-button issues and challenges they may be facing when it comes to presentation skills.
We'll begin the class with each learner completing a short self-evaluation that focuses on their soft skills. What do you do well? What areas should be a focus for improvement? An honest self-assessment is an important part of the learning process.
The best speaking style is the one that works for you. There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to communication. We'll look at examples of some of history's greatest speakers and explain how radically different speaking styles can lead to exceptional results.
Regardless of the format, soft skills matter - a lot! We will explain what the common denominator behaviors are across each medium but will also discuss the nuances of each. For instance, we need to think differently about eye contact in a conference room versus on Zoom.
Even the greatest presenters get nervous sometimes. It's completely normal. This section of the class will focus on how we can manage those nerves more effectively to drive great outcomes.
Athletes have a range of shots at their disposal to score and win the game. Speakers do as well. This segment will help you better understand and appreciate the shots you have at your disposal, when to use them, and how to use them to win the presentation game.
The great majority of people are uncomfortable with silence, and that's a big mistake. We'll help you embrace silence during your presentations to improve impact and engagement.
Love it or hate it, live video is here to stay. One some level, we're all becoming influencers! We will discuss how best to integrate live video into our client communications and presentations.
We'll have each learner complete a two-minute survey to tell us what they've learned during the session, what they liked about the program, and suggest topics for future instruction.
We will summarize key takeaways and next steps to get ready for the next class in the series.
Steve’s classes are high energy, and it was clear to us that our team was very engaged and got a lot out of their session. It was full of great ideas and gave them a bunch of tips and tricks that can really help develop their skills…
CLASS #2: PREP - READY OR NOT!
The second class in our series discusses the importance of preparation to any terrific presentation. None of the greats 'wing it' on game day, and you shouldn't either.
We will kick things off by providing a short recap of Class #1, laying out an agenda for this session, and addressing any questions or comments the learners may have.
Each learner will complete a short self-evaluation that focuses on their typical preparation habits. Do you prepare at all? What steps do you take? How much time do you invest in preparation? Are you going about it the right way? Self-awareness is a critical component of learning and improving.
Information has been democratized. We have a world of information at our fingertips. Before you set foot in a presentation - virtual or otherwise - you need to know your audience and target your content accordingly.
Great presentations need a clear and thoughtful agenda. Ideally, you will also get alignment from the participants to ensure you're focusing on the topics that matter most to them. We'll discuss the benefits of a great agenda that go beyond the content.
Purpose, Agenda, Participants, Exchange, Result, Steering. Each of these will have a tremendous impact on the success (or failure) of your presentation. We'll explain each in detail and discuss how best to use them to your advantage when presenting.
It's important to keep your presentation on track. To do so, you need to design steps into the presentation that allow you to gauge your audience and ensure you're accomplishing your intent. Your willingness and ability to pivot, if necessary, can be the difference between a great presentation and failure.
Should you send the entire presentation in advance, send some prep materials, or send nothing at all? We will discuss the pros and cons of each approach during the session.
The moment is fast approaching. How do you harness all of the nervous energy you're feeling before your big presentation? The minutes before a big pitch can set the tone for the entire presentation. We will discuss tips and tricks you can use to make sure you deliver the best version of you when it matters most.
Do not be dismissive of the 'little things' that can make the difference between a great presentation and a middling one. From your environment to your sportscoat, the little details matter a lot.
We'll have each learner complete a two-minute survey to tell us what they've learned during the session, what they liked about the program, and suggest topics for future instruction.
We will summarize key takeaways and next steps to get ready for the next class in the series.
Super helpful to provide insight into my presentation style. Highly recommended to get people more comfortable with pitching and presenting to our client base.
CLASS #3: EXECUTING A GREAT PRESENTATION
The big moment has arrived. You've prepared, and now it's time to deliver. You Win on Execution... The final class in our series will focus on how to execute an outstanding presentation and accomplish your goals.
We will kick things off by providing a short recap of Class #2, laying out an agenda for this session, and addressing any questions or comments the learners may have.
Each learner will complete a short self-evaluation that focuses on their ability to execute an outstanding presentation. What do you do well? Where do you think your presentations struggle? The self-eval sets the stage for improvement and growth.
Story. Energy. Examples. Patterns. Visuals. There are countless components to a great presentation, but we'll focus on the big five and explain how each of them can be utilized to drive great results.
Short is not always sweet when it comes to presentations. There are differing schools of thought when it comes to how long a presentation should be. We will discuss the art and science of deciding how long an impactful presentation should be.
In sales, we are always told to sell benefits, not features. We need a similar mindset with presentations. If content is not delivering value and benefit to our viewers, leave it out. And never hesitate to make changes on the fly if needed.
Humans are wired to pay attention to changes in patterns, whether visual or auditory. You need to use this to your advantage during your presentations. We will discuss how to do so.
Ever thought about creating a presentation on the fly? Well, there may be situations in which it makes sense. Good discovery at the beginning of the meeting gives you an opportunity to target your content more effectively. Let's discuss how.
Many of your meetings will be alongside colleagues. That can drive significantly better outcomes in terms of presentation quality, but it's not without risk. We will discuss best practices to keep in mind during your team presentations.
You may be presenting, but a key to engaging your audience is asking impactful questions. We will discuss how to think about questions, how to use them to change the tone of your presentation, and provide tips about things to consider and avoid.
We'll have each learner complete a two-minute survey to tell us what they've learned during the session, what they liked about the program, and suggest topics for future instruction.
We will summarize key takeaways and discuss the optional presentation project.