Module 1: Mindset and Strategic Thinking
Public speaking is a huge mental game – it’s a lot like the mental game aspect of sports. In this first module, we’re going to build your “mental game” toolbox and give you strategies for getting into the right frame of mind for speaking.
- Lesson 1 – Understanding Your Public Speaking Jitters
- Lesson 2 – Re-Framing Your Perceptions
- Lesson 3 – Breathing: Fuel For Your Brain and Voice
- Lesson 4 – Posture: Look, Sound, and Feel Confident
- Lesson 5 – Critique: The Key to Better Presentations
- Lesson 6 – Strategic Planning: Handling the Ups and Downs of Presentations
Module 2: Audience Analysis and Goal-setting
Crafting Persuasive, Compelling, Audience-Centered Presentations
Module 2 is all about how to dig into your audience’s heads so that you can create presentations that are targeted to their needs and wants. This module will improve a number of important aspects of your presentations: the focus of your talk, your ability to meaningfully connect with your audience, even your ability to persuade the people listening to you.
- Lesson 1 – What Makes a Presentation “Good”
- Lesson 2 – Audience Analysis and Worldview
- Lesson 3 – Presentation Goals
- Lesson 4 – Persuasion
Module 3: Developing Your Presentation
The Information Ladder Method
Now that we’ve covered managing our nerves AND getting into our audience’s heads, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get into developing your presentation.
- Lesson 1 – The Information Ladder: Crafting Structured, Easy-to-Follow Presentations
- Lesson 2 – Timing Your Presentation
- Lesson 3 Part 1 – Developing Your Content
- Lesson 3, Part 2 – Editing and Organizing Your Content
- Lesson 4 – Speaker Notes and Practice Tips
Module 4: Slide Decks
Enhancing Your Presentation with Great Visuals
In Module 4 we tackle a tool that can make or break your presentation: your slide decks! You will learn the elements of a high-value slide deck along with where people tend to go wrong when creating visual presentations. It’s time to join the good fight against Death By PowerPoint!
- Lesson 1 – Slide Decks: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
- Lesson 2 – Creating Great Slide Decks
Module 5: Verbal Performance
Performance includes verbal and non-verbal communication elements, namely vocal variation and body language. Module 5 is going to focus on the vocal technique and speech elements of performance.
- Lesson 1 – The Importance of Performance
- Lesson 2 – Power and Projection
- Lesson 3 – Speed of Speech
- Lesson 4 – The Mighty Pause
- Lesson 5 – Pitch and Practice
Module 6: Body Language and Non-Verbal Expression
In the previous module we looked at the first part of great performance, Voice and Speech techniques, and in this part we’re looking towards the body and movement side of public speaking performance.
- Lesson 1 – Arms and Gesture
- Lesson 2 – Facial Expression and Eye Contact
- Lesson 3 – Using Movement and Working Your Space
Module 7: Working With Audiences
Engagement, Management, Interaction, and Q&As
Welcome to Module 7 – the final module in this course! It’s time to get interactive and learn some strategies for getting them engaged and involved in your talk.
Working with your audience isn’t just about getting them engaged and maybe including a bit of participation here and there. There is also an element of audience management – crowd control, if you will – so you can handle issues like disruptions or interruptions. It’s also important to be able to deftly handle Q&A. In this module, we will cover the gamut so that you can manage your audience with the skill of an orchestral conductor.
- Lesson 1 – Audience Engagement: Capturing and Holding Your Audience’s Attention
- Lesson 2 – Getting Your Audience Involved: Conversation, Activities, and Interaction
- Lesson 3 – Managing Your Audience: Dealing with Disruptions and Handling Q&A
