Our courses are tailored to your needs and can be delivered in a two-day, one day or half-day session. Bite-sized courses (90 minutes) are also an option to introduce key ideas. The use of video playback, actors for role-play, bespoke workbooks and interactive exercises may all be used as tools to expand learning.
All the courses below are suitable for professionals who lead organizations, run meetings, speak to client in 1:1 meetings and need to inspire others to take action.
Powerful Presentation
In the business community you need to be able to get your ideas across to others. Presenting skills are essential to be effective. Everyone has the ability to communicate dynamically with confidence and passion.
Using methods successfully employed by actors and screenwriters we will explore and uncover each participant’s unique qualities that give them power as a presenter. You will learn how to maintain your presence in highly pressured environment leaving your message to resonate with your audience.
How can you structure your presentations and communications to take your listeners on a journey? How do you make your ideas engaging and come alive? How can you relax and breathe so you can be fully present with your listeners? Rule of three, signposting, looping and hook, line and sinker are just some of the writing tools that will be explored. Experiential learning is key. Using exercises, video playback and actual presentations you will see how small changes can lead to big impact.
“I didn’t see money spent on Presentation Skills as a Spend, it was an investment. Everyone really enjoyed the day. I had no idea my team was so creative! We have already enormous improvement in the day-to-day internal meetings as well as in client meetings. An excellent workshop.”
Victoria C, Director IT, Morgan Stanley
Presence and Impact
Creating relationship with your listener is the key to presence. Easier said than done. In this course you will learn how to relax, breath and fully connect with listeners as opposed to just being a talking head delivering data.. Getting present, breathing into your connection with the other and connecting with you material will result in dynamic, memorable communication. Experiential learning is key. Being up on your feet trying things out, getting the learning in your “bones” lead to true behavioral change.
Storytelling with Impact
Inspiring others, painting a vision of the future, weaving a narrative that is compelling and leads others to follow the path you have set are all tools of the storyteller. Stories are in our DNA. They are one of the first ways we connect with each other and a invaluable tool in compelling others to action.
In this course we will look at what makes a dynamic story as well as a dynamic storyteller. Exercises around the creating of the story arch, the cast list and how to use sensory details to bring your vision to life will be employed resulting in increased present, impact and gravitas.
Difficult Conversations
As we advance in our career all of us will face the need to have difficult conversations. Strong brands are comfortable with difficult conversations and get things done as they are able to tolerate the stress of different points of view in the room. We will explore how different styles can be used effectively when facing challenging situations. Using the PAC model and the Thomas Killman model as a basis for discussion we will use role-play, discussion and workbook material to explore difficult conversations.
Handled skillfully, difficult conversations offer people and teams an opportunity to strengthen their relationships and build deeper understanding.
Finding Your Voice
Your voice is your global calling card. Let it sound like the professional you are. How our voice expresses our ideas can directly influence our success. How many of our global colleagues do we only know from conference calls? In this course you will learn to be a more dynamic communicator – when speaking to your team, running a town hall or making a pitch. In this course you will experience focused voice work, articulation and explore how the craft of vocal technique and influence outcomes. All voices can be trained and gain command and strength as well as increased flexibility that leads to nimble communication.
Persuading and Influencing Others
Building rapport with others and understanding peoples different styles of communication can help you persuade others of your point of view. Learn how being able to both “Push” and “Pull” can make your more effective as a persuader.
In this course we will different persuading techniques will be explored including connecting with people both subconsciously (using the humor trigger, the reciprocity trigger, the self-interest trigger, the authority trigger and the what-other’s- think trigger) as well exploring conscious triggers like using data and logical argument to persuade others. We will focus on sharing and listening for strengths and values which enables you to connect authentically and powerfully to others. You will be uncover ways to allow you to be more confident and get your point across so people can hear them.
Impactful Communication in the Virtual World
As technology continues to evolve and business continues to exist in a global environment skillful virtual communication is needed on every level. Without the richness and subtly of face-to-face communication we can become less effective in getting our message across to our listener. In this course you will uncover tools to help in the virtual environment. We will explore the importance of clarity around your key messages, using yo
ur voice to it’s best advantage, being concise and how sound bites can be useful, painting pictures with your words so listeners stay engaged, using a vocal range and colors that you naturally have face to face but that can disappear on a conference call and how to facilitate a group discussion when you are not in the room. Ultimately we all need to recognize that as technology grows, virtual communication will become even more prevalent.
Leading Women
Navigating with presence in a male dominated organization can be challenging for many women. Resilience, tenacity, and ability to deliver beyond expectations are just part of the journey from associate to managing director. Exploring vocal tone, speaking with demand, using invitation effectively as well as physical presence and handling difficult people and situations are explored in this women only workshop.
‘I need my entire staff to be able to communicate successfully with our clients.
A day with Professionally Speaking made such a difference to us. I know that if I am not available to meet with a client, anyone of my team will be able to carry the ball. Thanks.’
Elizabeth Marks, Vice President, Matthew Marks Gallery, NYC