There are hundreds of different presentation training courses available, all of which promise to banish your nervousness and make you an accomplished public speaker. How do you choose the right course for you? Google “Presentation Training” will generate a very long list of different vendors who offer the same “Presentation Training”. But as you look closer you will find some trainers approach the topic from a professional perspective, some from a business background, and a few from an educational viewpoint. While most courses cover the core elements of public speaking, they are all biased towards their area of specialty. Firstly, consider the type of presentation you are likely to be giving. Is it for a best man’s speech, is it for business or is it about the technology of presentations. If it is for marketing or sales, you need to choose a business presentation training course. There are many aspects of giving a business presentation that may not be covered by a one-size-fits-all public speaking course. Does the course give you the opportunity to give at least two presentations? You need to practice and get feedback on your presentations if it is all talk from the lecturer you won’t learn nearly as much.
However, beware of courses that are almost all practical. You need to have some tutorial time to ensure that you are practicing the right skills. Anymore and you will spend too long listening to other people giving presentations. The larger the class the less opportunity there is for the lecturer to take on board individual concerns you might have or to focus on the particular type of presentation you are most likely to be giving. How long is the course? Most courses are either one or two days. If time and cost are not an issue, then a two-day course usually provides more time for practicing but can you afford to take two days away from your desk? A competent trainer should be able to cover all the main points about how to structure and give a presentation, plus allow enough time for practical’s on a one day course. Do they use video feedback? It is really useful to see and hear yourself giving a presentation. It is only with video feedback that you can appreciate what you look and sound like. How are the practical presentations reviewed? Is it just the lecturer’s comments or are the other participants encouraged to comment on your presentation? Everyone is different and different people will pick up on different things, so a wider review panel is usually better. Are you hunting about presentation skills training london? View the before outlined website.
The price of presentation skills training courses vary tremendously but in my experience price is not always representative of value. Just because a course is comparatively cheap, it does not mean it may be of lower quality than a far more expensive course. But do consider the average number of participants and the length of the course. Often cheaper courses have higher delegate numbers. Look for trainers who have been there and done it, not just the ones who talk about it. If you are looking for a business presentation training course look for one run by a business person, who has given lots of business presentations not an out of work actor, who knows about appearing on stage but little or nothing about business. Finally, check what you will get regarding course materials. If they are just providing you with a copy of the lecturer’s slides than this is relatively useless as a source of additional learning. Look for courses which provide a source of ongoing reference material, checklists and the support to ensure you succeed in the future.
