"Just say the lines and don’t trip over the furniture"

That was Noel Coward’s advice, but then he didn’t have to use Powerpoint! In today’s business world, more and more people are being asked to put their ideas forward in the shape of a formal or an informal presentation. This can be a daunting prospect even with the aid of presentation packages such as Harvard Graphics. Besides which, as presentations become increasingly dependent upon dazzling visuals and the wonders of the modern laptop, it’s easy to overlook the person behind them.

CentreStage has extensive experience in presentation skills development, combining the elements of live performance, practical theory and skills practice. We can provide input to complement your existing training or deliver a stand-alone programme such as the one below.

Presentation Skills Course

This course is designed to help participants increase their confidence and skills by giving them guidelines on how to structure and deliver a presentation, and offers them the chance to gain practical experience in a safe environment.

In two days participants will acquire the skills and knowledge to:

• Write clear objectives for a presentation
• Structure and prepare a presentation based on those objectives
• Use body and voice effectively
• Design and prepare visual aids
• Deliver a presentation

The course is a mixture of lectures and practical work. Each participant gives three presentations, which are reviewed by the course facilitator and the other members of the group. Presentations are recorded on video so that delegates can review their presentations objectively after the course.

Here’s an overview of the content of the course:

• Presentation as communication
• Sharing an idea
• What makes a good presentation
• 7 key stages in communication
• 4 processes involved in presentation
• Crucial aids to presentation

• Setting objectives
• Defining purpose and objectives
• Characteristics
• Components
• Presentation objectives

• Reviewing
• Why do we need to analyse the response
• During the presentation
• Afterwards

• Preparing a presentation
• Initial planning
• Information gathering
• Structure
• Timing
• Notes
• Rehearsal

• Presenting yourself
• Use of voice
• Control of body
• Self confidence

• You and your audience
• Technical credibility
• Personal credibility
• Environment

• Visual aids
• Attributes
• Common types
• PowerPoint

The above sessions are interspersed with preparation and delivery of presentations ranging from 5 to 15 minutes