Speaking without Fear

Powerful presentation skills for people who hate presenting

with Alison Lester

Communication skills trainer and coach, author, comedian

Delivering a live presentation is more effective than sending an email on the same subject because you can use your delivery to help the listener perceive the information your way. You have the opportunity to shape the perception of your audience, and then to capitalise on this by motivating them to act.

If you are to present for success, you must be able to reach into a presentation toolkit that includes effective content structure, facial expressions, vocal choices, emotional variety, and body language. Most people, even experienced presenters, use a few of these tools, but often miss out on the tremendous effect of applying them all.

In this detailed, entertaining, and very practical workshop, Alison Lester will help you to overcome the perceptions and inhibitions that may be holding you back. Together you will take a good look at the elements of a successful presentation, and learn how you can develop this winning formula. Concentrating both on developing your content and improving your delivery, this workshop offers lots of opportunity for practice, for feedback, and, above all, for improvement.

Join Alison for two days ironing out the wrinkles in your presentation style, and this will be the last presentation skills workshop you'll ever need to take!

Developing rich, relevant content

• Using Mind Maps to explore your subject from all angles
• How to develop the right material by asking yourself the right questions
• Other resources you can use to enrich your approach
• Analysing your audience so that you pitch your content at the right level

Applying a compelling presentation structure

• The traditional presentation structure: what to keep, what to avoid
• How to open with impact, so your listeners will keep listening
• Using stories, aphorisms, statistics, questions, and more
• Convincing closes that will motivate your listeners to act

Creating slides that support your message

• Comparing average slides with exceptional slides
• How to become master of your slides rather than their slave
• Using images, words, and charts effectively
• How to avoid letting your slides speak for you

Managing presentation anxiety

• Why it is perfectly normal to fear presenting
• Changing your perception and turning fear into fun
• Mental and physical strategies for managing adrenalin
• Terrific tools for organising your thoughts on the spot

Do you speak body language?

• The biggest risk you can take: avoiding the risk of being expressive
• Developing your vocal volume, pitch, and tone
• Expanding your range of facial expressions
• Using engaging and appropriate physical positions and gestures

About Alison Lester

Alison Lester has been offering presentation skills training around the world for the past 7 years, successfully moving even the most fearful presenters into a position of confidence and strength. She bases her training approach on her own development as a professional speaker, actress, and improvisational comedian, as well as on her studies of current business trends and demands. When she is not training presenters, she is offering workshops on creativity and successful business communication (with Shirley Taylor), teaching improvisational theatre at Lasalle College of the Arts, or directing and performing voiceovers for television cartoons. She is also the author of a collection of short stories entitled Locked Out: Stories Far from Home.