Nick R Thomas - A Public Speaker's Blog :: Presentation Skills Training

Public Speaking = the Triumph of Technique Over Terror!

I can certainly confirm this! A seemingly disastrous TV appearance 13 years ago led me to take urgent action to conquer my lifelong fear of public speaking. Within months, I was performing stand-up comedy on national radio and in crowded pubs and clubs - and teaching the public speaking class in which I had recently been a student! My own students have included:

The Mayor-elect of a Dorset town who then went on to give hundreds of successful speeches during their year of office

A Royal Naval officer who had been turning down a particular posting for years because it involved giving presentations but who went on to speak to large audiences all over the world

Aspiring professional speakers who now receive excellent reviews for their paid engagements.

Experienced speakers seeking my input regarding speech structure or delivery style.

My own speaking and training career has taken me all over England - some 850 presentations for audiences of up to 500. Bookings have ranged from a training day for the Home Office to talks for church groups, from after dinner speeches at corporate events to lectures for Women's Institutes.

Public Speaking = the Power of Technique Over Terror! can be booked as a single presentation as part of a training day or extended into a one or two-day workshop.

Topics covered include:

Determining the speaker's objectives and tailoring the message

Putting a structured presentation together (including at short notice) and using notes

Conquering nerves

Stance, vocal projection and microphone technique

Introductions, votes of thanks and dealing effectively with questions

This is all illustrated with numerous examples (many hilarious!) from my own speaking experiences.

My corporate client list for this training includes:

    The Home Office (Central Management)

    Fujitsu Siemens

    The Motor Neurone Disease Association

    Care for the Family

    Christchurch Borough Council

    Highcliffe Castle

    Businesslink Wessex

    Diva Publishing

    Bournemouth Adult Learning

    Bournemouth & Poole College of FE

    Business & Professional Women UK Ltd

    Wordsun, Wimborne

    Wessex Women's Network

Here are just some of their unsolicited testimonials:

'I thought your talk was the best session throughout the Awayday. From speaking with some of my colleagues, I believe I am not alone in this view. I also have the feeling that some of your 12 Tips will be useful in scenarios other than public speaking. Thank you for a most enjoyable presentation'. Email, Mr K, Communications Development Unit, Home Office.

'Your experience was highly valued and raised suggestions (ie using humour) that we hadn't even considered'. Letter, Gill Baker, ICL-Fujitsu.

'Excellent training day'. Message, Mike Allen, Head of Projects, Christchurch Borough Council.

'Thank you for your entertaining and informative talk. I know the volunteers present appreciated your presentation and found it extremely useful, as you can see from the comments from the evaluation...I found the tips useful myself. Many thanks for all your help in making the day such a success'. Letter, Ruth Clark, Volunteer Development Officer, the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

'Your brilliant presentation'. Email, Val Pothecary, Business Link, Wessex.

My public speaking training has been featured on BBC TV South Today, BBC Radio Solent, BBC Wiltshire Sound and on Wave 105.

In May 2010 the Careers website of the Guardian invited me to join an expert panel for a Live Q&A on Improving your presentation skills. You can read a summary of a few of the tips here or the full discussion.

I may also be available for private, one-to-one coaching in the South of England. This may seem a less effective option than speaking in front of an 'audience' in a public speaking class but it does mean that the whole session can be dedicated to one student's training requirements. This blog entry is about a recent, highly successful one-to-one coaching session with a nervous speaker.

Please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss your requirements.

Email: nickrthomas@gmail.com

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