What is a presentation?
At TRIPLE A we define it broadly. It covers a range of communication opportunities, from explaining the departmental budget briefly to your manager, to the Chairman of an international corporation presenting the annual report to 300 shareholders. Our Presentation Skills Course will increase your confidence and performance in such situations.
Dramatic increase in confidence
Your confidence will increase dramatically as you learn to apply the principles laid down in our unique material, which has been developed over twenty years of experience. Our basic starting point however, remains the same: you, the presenter, are in charge of the technology and material, not the other way round.
If the electricity fails, you are in a large, cold hall with five people in the audience and you have influenza coming on, you will still be able to make a powerful presentation when you have learnt to apply the principles. Think how much better it will be with electricity available, slides well prepared and thought out, a full house and no influenza!
Module based
Your course can be structured in many different ways, according to your business challenge, goals and the time you are willing to invest. We are flexible and realistic in our approach to your situation. The following modules are currently available:
- Written material
- Individual training and coaching
- Group course (maximum eight participants). This lasts in total 24 hours.
- Written presentation and/or correction, with limited personal coaching
You can decide to take these modules in combination or stand-alone. This decision will be taken after discussion with a TRIPLE A consultant/coach. You can read detailed information about each of the modules below.
Written material
This has been developed over the last twenty-five years. It outlines and develops the principles on which all presentations should be planned and implemented. It is full of practical suggestions as to how you can make a killer presentation, which the audience will remember for a long time.
It covers topics such as:
- how to set your goals and assess whether you have achieved them
- different presentational styles - when and where to use them
- how to create impact so that you will give a memorable presentation
The last topic includes such items as storytelling, a very popular tool at the present time, some tools from the NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) workbox as well as some tips as to how to help the audience remember what you say. If you buy this material by itself, you will be able to learn a lot by you using it as a self-help guide.
If you choose the three-day group course, you will receive the written material three weeks before the start of the course. The course itself will be based on the application of the principles contained in the written material. The more you study the material before the course itself, the more benefit you will derive from the three days.
Individual coaching
All individual coaching is based on the principles and practice laid down in the written material. Sessions last a minimum of two hours and are scheduled to fit into your timetable. TRIPLE A coaches start from the learner's immediate needs. This can very often be the need to make a specific presentation in the near future.
Although coaches work on the principles mentioned above, they are pragmatic. What can be done now to help the learner increase his performance level? Coaching sessions are active, with the learner on their feet, rehearsing intensely if necessary. Through practice comes increased skill, through increased skill comes increased confidence and suddenly....... you are making killer presentations.
Individual coaching can be taken to supplement a group course, either before or after, or can be taken in order to solve a specific communication problem eg, how to make an effective presentation at an upcoming technical conference.
Three-day group course
Ideally, the first two days of this course are taken consecutively, possibly in an out-of-house location, away from daily work and mobile phones! The third day is taken after about two weeks. During these two weeks, participants have time to plan and practise their final presentation, based on the material they absorbed during the first two days. They make this presentation on the third day. This is the 2 + 1 model.
The time structure outlined above is flexible. It is possible to have a number of half days instead of two full, eight-hour days. However, the 2 + 1 model has been found to be the most effective in terms of learner progress.
The title of the final presentation, made on the third day, is agreed in the initial interview between coach and participants, before the course starts. It is usually based on the current work needs of the individual participants.
A further advantage to the 2 + 1 model is that during the two days an excellent momentum and team spirit usually develops. This can be of great advantage back in the workplace, when participants will be able to support each other when planning and making new presentations.
During the first two days, the principles of the written material, distributed well ahead of time, are discussed and practised intensively and creatively. On the third day, participants have about fourty-five minutes in which to make their presentations, which they have been preparing throughout the course. This final presentation is followed by constructive feedback using a model developed by TRIPLE A over many years of experience.
Written presentation and/or correction
This option is normally used only when the presenter has already worked with a TRIPLE A coach, either on a group course or with individual coaching sessions.
If the presenter does not have time to prepare his own presentation he has a short, possibly telephone, discussion with his coach in which he outlines the presentation he wants to give. The coach then makes a plan for the presentation. The amount of detail in this plan depends on how confident the presenter is and also how much the presenter and coach have worked together before. After making the plan, the coach meets with the presenter and goes through the plan with him. Together they resolve any points which may not be clear.
This module will only work when there is a rapport between coach and presenter and the presenter has a good grasp of the principles the coach follows. This takes time to build up. It will probably only be used when the presenter has had quite a bit of coaching from his coach. However, it is a good option for a business executive who has an exceptionally busy schedule.
Here is an exercise you might have to do on a Presentation Skills Course. How would you approach it? There is no right or wrong answer. If you want some written comments on the exercise, mail us your plan for the ten-minute presentation at mail@triplea.dk and we will send you feedback on your plan. If you want to discuss it, phone us on +45 35 85 91 12 or +45 40 36 88 55.
Exercise
Situation: You need money urgently. You have ten minutes in which to sell your house to friend.
Make a presentation of your house in such a way that he or she will be unable to refuse!
NB When you prepare this exercise, do it for a real person for example, your friend Ole, one of your colleagues at work or your father.
If you want to hear more about our courses:
- call 40 36 88 55 or
- mail: MAIL@TRIPLEA.DK