Overview

This course is designed to strengthen participants’ ability to prepare and deliver clear, confident and audience-focused speeches and presentations.
The first two days will focus on practical skill development. On Day 3, participants will complete an individual speaking assessment and receive structured feedback

This programme is aimed at equipping you to understand communication as a process, and how you can influence people if you practise effective communication behaviours. We also cover handling difficult conversations which is often the source of conflict within the team.

Why Should an Individual Attend?

• Master effective speaking: Gain a clear understanding of the principles that make speeches and presentations impactful.
• Adapt to any audience: Learn how to analyse different audiences and tailor messages to suit their needs, culture, and expectations.
• Structure with confidence: Develop the ability to organise ideas into a logical flow with strong openings, clear messages, and memorable conclusions.
• Communicate complex ideas: Build skills to simplify technical or detailed information so it’s engaging and easy to understand.
• Enhance delivery impact: Strengthen vocal variety, body language, and eye contact to project confidence and credibility.
• Overcome nervousness: Acquire practical techniques to manage anxiety, recover from mistakes, and speak with assurance.
• Receive personalised feedback: Benefit from an individual speaking assessment on Day 3, with structured feedback to identify strengths and areas for improvement. 
• As a manager, you need to achieve results through the efforts of others. You can do this only if your people know what they should be doing and why, know how they are doing, and understand how they can do better.  To achieve these outcomes you need to communicate effectively. Communication is the means through which we reduce uncertainty that stands in the way of people doing their work effectively 

Outcomes

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain the principles of effective public speaking.
• Analyse an audience and adapt a message appropriately.
• Structure a speech or presentation logically.
• Develop a clear opening, central message and conclusion.
• Communicate complex or technical information in an understandable way.
• Use voice, body language and eye contact effectively.
• Manage nervousness and build speaking confidence.
• Use visual aids without becoming dependent on them.
• Respond professionally to questions and unexpected situations.
• Deliver a prepared speech or presentation within an allocated time.
• Evaluate their own performance and identify areas for improvement. 
• Understand the concept of communication
• Know what it takes to communicate with impact
• Know what it takes to develop a “communication mindset”, and why this is important
• Be able to communicate in a deliberate, intentional manner to achieve results in a manner that values relationships
• Use the notions of communication as a process, consisting of communication functions, directions and channels, to prepare for and execute good communication
• Practice effective and healthy verbal communication behaviours, including non-violent communication, active listening and persuasion.
• Write effectively.

Program Outline

The programme covers the following aspects:

Building the Foundations

1. Introduction to Public Speaking

• What public speaking is.
• The difference between public speaking and delivering a presentation.
• Characteristics of an effective public speaker.

2. Understanding the Audience

• Why audience analysis matters.
• Identifying the audience’s knowledge, expectations and concerns.
• Considering language, culture, seniority and technical understanding.
• Adapting the message to different stakeholder groups.

3. Clarifying the Purpose and Key Message 

• Defining the purpose of the speech.
• Informing, persuading, motivating or explaining.
• Identifying the central message.

4. Structuring a Speech or Presentation

• Opening
• Capturing attention.
• Introducing the topic.
• Explaining what the audience can expect.
• Main body
• Organising ideas logically.
• Supporting points with examples, evidence, facts or stories.
• Maintaining a clear flow.
• Conclusion
• Summarising the key message.
• Reinforcing the purpose.
• Ending confidently.
• Including a call to action where appropriate.

5. Making Information Clear and Engaging

• Using simple, audience-appropriate language.
• Explaining technical information clearly.
• Using examples, comparisons and analogies.
• Incorporating stories appropriately.
• Using evidence and data without overwhelming the audience.
• Making the message relevant to the audience.

6. Managing Nervousness and Building Confidence

• Why people become nervous when speaking.
• Recognising physical and mental signs of anxiety.
• Preparation as a confidence-building tool.
• Breathing and grounding techniques.
• Managing negative self-talk.
• Reframing nervousness as useful energy.
• Starting strongly despite feeling nervous.
• Recovering after making a mistake.
• Building confidence through practice and repetition.

Strengthening Delivery and Professional Impact
1. Review and Reflection

• Key learning from Day 1.
• Personal strengths identified.
• Individual development areas.

2. Effective Vocal Delivery

• Volume.
• Pace.
• Pausing.
• Tone.
• Pitch.
• Emphasis.
• Pronunciation and articulation.
• Avoiding a flat or monotonous delivery.
• Reducing filler words such as “um”, “okay” and “you know”.
• Using silence confidently.

3. Body Language and Physical Presence

• Posture and stance.
• Eye contact.
• Facial expression.
• Hand gestures.
• Purposeful movement.
• Avoiding distracting habits.
• Managing physical space.
• Appearing confident without appearing rigid.
• Aligning verbal and non-verbal communication.

4. Using Notes and Visual Aids

• Using cue cards or speaker notes.
• Maintaining audience connection while referring to notes.
• When visual aids are useful.
• Designing clear and simple slide
• Using charts, images and data effectively.
• Avoiding reading directly from slides.
• Managing equipment professionally.

5. Audience Engagement

• Creating a connection with the audience.
• Asking purposeful questions.
• Using rhetorical questions.
• Encouraging participation.
• Reading audience reactions.
• Adjusting delivery when the audience appears confused or disengaged.
• Balancing interaction with time management.

6. Handling Questions and Difficult Situations

• Preparing for likely questions.
• Clarifying unclear questions.
• Structuring a concise response.
• Handling disagreement or challenging questions.
• Remaining calm and professional.
• Redirecting questions that are outside the scope.
• Managing interruptions.

7. Preparing for the Final Evaluation

• Understanding the Day 3 assessment requirements.
• Selecting an appropriate topic.
• Defining the audience and purpose.
• Preparing a speech outline.
• Developing supporting material.
• Planning the opening and conclusion.
• Rehearsing within the allocated time.
• Preparing for questions.
• Using the evaluation criteria as a preparation checklist.

Individual Public Speaking Evaluation

• Purpose
• The purpose of the evaluation is to determine each participant’s ability to apply the skills developed during the two-day programme.
• Recommended Assessment Format
• Each participant delivers an individual speech or workplace presentation.
• Introduction to communication
• Communication as a process
• Communication roles and behaviours
• Verbal communication skills for the manager
• Having difficult conversations
• Concept of listening for understanding
• Your mindset and the impact thereof on communication
• How to influence and persuade
• Communication practice

Who Should Attend?

• Engineers
• Technicians
• Technologists
• Architects
• Project / Construction Managers
• Quantity Surveyors
• Construction Health and Safety
• Middle Management
• Administrators / Support Staff

No upcoming schedules were found for this course.