Duration: 2 days
Overview
This course presents a professional approach to presenting at international conferences, based on identifying the audience needs, expectations and objectives, enabling a clear, concise message to be delivered effectively. This course aims to train delegates on how to convey ideas and information with clarity and precision while delivering speech, presentation or discussion.
This course helps the delegates look at how to discover and explore exactly what happens when you have to speak in public. This course will provide participants with tools and techniques for effective speaking and presenting at international conferences.
Objectives
Learn how to identify whether they are the ‘right fit’ to present at the international conference
Identify the purpose of a presentation or speech and the objective it is intended to achieve
Analyse the subject matter and choose the key information which will put the message across concisely and clearly
Structure the material logically
Know how to find out information about your audience
Learn more about the venue
Learn how to find out about the cultural dos and don’ts of the country where the conference is being held
Organise and tailor the presentation to suit the profile and needs of the audience
Select and prepare the most appropriate visual aids
Deliver the speech with a memorable opening and closing
Use proven techniques to maintain audience interest and encourage participation
Course Content
Day one
The art of speaking at international conferences
The general ‘layout’ of the speech: 51% entertainment, 49% meaty content
How to engage a room full of people and maintain their focus?
Getting to know the country’s habits/cultures and traditions
Ensure your presentation is compelling
Engage your audience
Keeping their eyes on you and off their laptop and mobile phones
Preparation: preparing your material
Who is the audience?
The principles of report writing
Do they understand the language you are speaking?
Biographies of the other speakers
Researching the audience background, needs, level of sophistication and expectations
View videos of previous speakers for the international conference
Cultural dos and don’ts and international conferences
Where is the audience going to sit?
How many people are you expecting?
Visit the venue first: check out backstage, how you will enter/exit the stage
Preparation: preparing yourself
What has been written about you?
What do your profiles on LinkedIn/Twitter/Facebook say about you….?
Are you ‘dressed to impress’ – select an outfit that makes you feel comfortable? The audience will pick up if you do not feel confident.
Where is your speech?
How have you made sure you remember what to say?
Arranging your notes
Developing your material so it is memorable and flows in a logical order
How many slides per minute
How many slides to show in a 15-minute period?
How many slides to show in a 15-minute period?
How much content to include in a one-hour speech?
Dry-runs – at the venue where the conference will be held and in your room for your speech
How to make sure people can hear you?
Information to have on your slides if you are using them
What typeface is appropriate for on-screen speeches?
Keeping the slides culturally safe
Day two
Your first time!
Setting realistic expectations
Greatest fears when standing in front of an audience at a conference
How to overcome those fears?
Staying relaxed when you present
Anticipating questions if any
Standing where you feel comfortable
Eye contact – maintaining eye contact and working the stage
Body-language and movement – how it influences reception of the message and you when speaking
Gestures: video yourself and watch it. Do your gestures
Tone of voice: stand on the stage and ask someone if they can hear you from the back of the conference room
Be who you really are
How to make your presentation style suit your personal style?
Learn the tips of allowing your unique personality to shine through on stage: this will keep the audience engaged
Tools
If using slides in your speech, use a ‘clicker’
The stage: what is available for you to use so the audience can see and hear you
Props
Flipcharts – do you need them and will the audience be able to see?
Sound – the microphone; how comfortable are you with a microphone?
Walking on the stage
The first 30 seconds
How to walk on the stage?
Calming your nerves before you start
Diving right in and don’t stop until it’s over
Start with a bang and end with a bang!
If you want to be interesting, be interested!
Day Three
The audience
How to sense when the audience is engaged and when they are not?
Adjusting your tone, speed, and deliberate pauses throughout the presentation, and even skipping content when necessary
Handling questions and answers from the audience
Always repeat the question
Not understanding the question
The audience speaking in another language: how to prepare for this?
Time allocated to field questions
Keeping the answers/conversation with the audience to a minimum
Being aware of jargon that the audience may not be able to understand
How to find simple ways to discuss complex ideas?
Use easily grasped metaphors and analogies
Audience arriving late
Audience arriving to the conference early which make you feel nervous
Dealing with the media after the conference
Different types of interview;
Face-to-face meeting or over the phone
Live or pre-recorded
In television and radio many interviews are done ‘remotely’ so you cannot see the whites of anyone’s eyes. How might that impact you? How is the interview to be used? It might be edited to become part of a bigger story, and if so, in what context will you appear?
Anticipating interviews and understanding their impact on your ability to perform well can mean you are not ‘wrong footed’ by broadcast technology
Basics on what to ask and how to prepare for an interview
Final checklist
Have a checklist of what to remember when presenting
Identify contingencies in case of disasters
Methedology
The foundation of our training is anchored in activity-based experiential learning. This methodology takes into consideration different learning and communication styles, and more importantly language and cultural differences. It is through active participation that the adoption and application of theory is expedited.
Our training team pays careful attention to planning and designing effective instructional methods essential for the transfer of knowledge. It is the creative skill of our management trainers and consultants that reveal untapped skills of the delegates through:
Group discussion
Individual and syndicate activities
Individual and group tasks
Case studies
Role plays
Audio and video evaluation
Action planning
Experiential learning games
Presentations
Assessments
