Public Speaking – Speaking Under Pressure

Duration: Offered as a 90 minute webinar or 2 days in class

Course Overview

This course has been designed for those in positions where they must speak in front of audiences that are hostile or demanding. This material is also suitable for those who are relatively new speakers who want some encouragement to speak up in meetings or who want some training before they begin making presentations on behalf of the organization.

Speaking under pressure, or thinking on your feet, means being able to quickly organize your thoughts and ideas, and then being able to convey them meaningfully to your audience to modify their attitudes or behaviour. It applies to formal speeches as well as everyday business situations. It requires presence of mind, goal orientation, adaptation, and judgment. It also requires differentiating between oral and written communications.

This course is aimed at improving your skills and learning some new techniques which will give you the persuasive edge when you are making a presentation, fielding difficult questions, or presenting complex information.

Learning Objectives

  • Apply quick and easy preparation methods that will work whether you have one minute or one week to prepare
  • Prepare for questions, even before you know what those questions will be
  • Overcome nervousness that you may have when speaking in front of a group, particularly if the group is not sympathetic to what you have to say
  • Use presentation techniques that establish your credibility and get people on your side

Course Outline

1. Course Overview

2. Getting Started

  • What is Speaking Under Pressure?
  • Presentation Preparation
  • Evaluations

3. Planning

  • Preparing to Plan
  • Presentation Preparation
  • Evaluations

4. Force Field Analysis

  • What is Force Field Analysis?
  • Exercise
  • Pros and Cons

5. Understanding Your Audience

  • Understanding Your Audience, Part One
  • Audience Profiles
  • Understanding Your Audience, Part Two
  • Finding Common Ground
  • Practical Application

6. Controlling Your Jitters

  • Overcoming Nervousness
  • Presentation

7. Making Your Listener Hear You

8. Key Themes

  • About Key Themes
  • Practical Application
  • Key Sentences

9. Key Sentences

10. Structuring Ideas

  • Three Key Points
  • Building a Three-Part Plan
  • Practical Application

11. Organization Methods

  • Using Time, Place, and Aspect
  • Practical Application
  • Two Additional Plans

12. Our Body Language

  • How the Listener Takes Control
  • The Meaning Behind Our Message

13. If You Could Be…

14. Beginnings and Endings

15. Expanding a Basic Plan

16. Presentations

  • Preparation
  • Evaluations

17. Personal Action Plan