Public Speaking Training. Banish Public Speaking Anxiety and Learn to Speak Like a Pro

<%@LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> Public Speaking Training. Banish Public Speaking Anxiety and Learn to Speak Like a Pro

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"The eloquent man is he who is no beautiful speaker, but who is inwardly and desperately drunk with a certain belief" .... Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Basic Speaking Skills Workshop

This workshop is designed for people with confidence problems or little experience of speaking in public. Maybe you have to speak as part of your job role, or maybe you anticipate having to do so when you get that next promotion or job!

If you lack confidence and feel anxious about speaking in public, don't worry! Glossophobia (fear of speaking in public) is the most widespread phobia in the world, and some studies suggest that up to 75% of people suffer from it to some degree (visit our Glossophobia page to read more about it and see anumber of great exercises that will help you). There's nothing wrong with feeling anxious or nervous. As they say in the X-Files, 'you are not alone'.

We've helped hundreds of people in your situation to get up on their feet and deliver the type of presentation that you think is beyond you at the moment. It's not. All you need is a little bit of help, and we're here to give it to you. I won't pretend we'll turn you into a professional speaker overnight, but I will turn you into someone who can confidently get up on his/her feet and delivery a well-structured presentation without collapsing into a quivering heap.

"I've always been a nervous wreck when I had to speak to groups, but this workshop has given me the confidence to do it. It really is like 'pooping a confidence pill" ... Mark Willoughby, Royal Mail

At our Basic Skills workshop, everyone will be at the same level of experience as yourself, so you don't have to worry about being 'out of your league' or surrounded by people who are ten times better than you. You'll all be in the same boat, and you'll actually find their presence supportive. There's only a small number of people on each workshop (maximum 8) so you'll get to know the others over coffees and lunch and when it's your turn to deliver a short presentation, you'll be doing it in front of friends.

Workshop Outline

Morning

We'll start the day off by talking about nervousness, and what causes it. Very often the physical symptoms you associate with fear (dry throat, pale face, trembling hands, loose bowels, knocking knees) are actually the symptoms of an adrenaline rush. The mere fact of understanding this can help you use this adrenaline to your advantage. We'll also look at a number of simple exercises you can do any time you have to speak in public that will be like popping a confidence pill.

I'm a certified NLP practicioner (see What Is NLP?) and these are the type of exercises you see people such as Paul McKenna doing with people on TV to cure them of their phobias. You'll be amazed at how effective they are.

"At first I was a bit skeptical that Nick could do what he claimed, but this workshop was just what I needed" ... Sandra Greening, Microsoft

We'll also look at how to use body language to your advantage, so that you appear far more confident than you actually feel. If we can't get rid of every last trace of nervousness, we can at least hide it from the audience!

After coffee we'll look at how to structure your presentations so that they are logical, easy to follow and most importantly, achieve your objective. As part of this we'll look at how to open and close your presentations so you give your audience a compelling reason to listen to you, and then leave them on a high.

"I'm pretty shy, and dreaded the thought of getting up in front of strangers, but everyone was really nice and friendly and by the time l had to do it, I felt OK" ... Mary Gatsby, IBM

Afternoon

After lunch we'll look at using your voice more effectively. Most of us only use a fraction of our voice's range. We'll teach you how to vary its volume, pace, rhythm, and intonation so that it's both more persuasive and interesting to listen to.

Then you'll have time to rewrite your pre-prepared presentation in the light of what you have learned so far, and then present it. Though this might seem daunting right now, you'll be feeling a lot more confident on the day with all that you've learned. And if you're going to practice (and make mistakes), isn't it better to do so in a friendly, supportive atmosphere rather than in work?

Believe me, you won't believe how much more confident you feel by the time you get on your feet.

Finally, we'll ask you to analyse your own progress during the day to see what lessons you have learned, and critique the workshop as a whole before wishing you good luck and sending you on your way a more confident, professional speaker!

"Friendly, supportive, effective, eye-opening!" ... Johnathan Leeks, Smiths Industries

Cost / Booking

The cost per delegate is £295.00 plus VAT (£346.63). This includes lunch and morning/afternoon tea and coffee. As most of my time is spent speaking at conferences and running in-house workshops for companies, we only have a few public workshops per year. Details for the next ones are shown below. To book a place, click on the 'Pay Now' button and a booking form will be sent to you automatically.

To arrange an in-house Basic Speaking Skills workshop for your company, contact us to discuss your requirements without obligation.

Manchester

London

Birmingham SOLD OUT

13 November 2006

20 November 2006

1 December

Amazing money-back guarantee

OK - I understand if you are skeptical that I can improve your confidence about speaking and are maybe reluctant to invest in one of my workshops. So just in case you have any doubt that my Speak Like A Pro© Basic Speaking Skills workshop does what I claim, I want to make an unconditional, cast-iron, no-quibble guarantee. Here it is:

"I am so sure that you will feel tenfold more confident about public speaking or presenting as a result of attending that I'm willing to give you a LIFETIME GUARANTEE most speaking experts would CHOKE ON! If you don't feel you've had VALUE FOR MONEY, just say so and I'LL REFUND IT IMMEDIATELY! You won't have to explain why you feel that way and I won't even try to change your mind. YOU will be the sole judge of value. AT ANY TIME (even if it's in 10 years' time) you can choose to ask for your money back. Either you'll get value for money (which is great), or you'll get a refund. So there really is no risk, or reason not to INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE"

Click here to hear the guarantee from Nick IN PERSON

Why am I willing to do this? Well, firstly, I've aimed my guarantee at the 99% of people out there who are honest, not the 1% who are dishonest and will take advantage of my generosity.

Secondly, I'm confident in what I can offer. I've offered this guarantee to everyone who's ever booked me to speak at a conference because I know I can deliver, and have never had one person take me up on it.

I look forward to seeing you at one of the seminars,

P.S. As you re-read the above, you may begin to wonder whether this is really too good to be true, or think that it might work for others but not for you. I assure you that the ability to Speak Like A Pro © can be learned! I think you'll find that you'll be amazed at the progress you will make in just one day.

P.P.S. My cast-iron money-back guarantee means you have nothing to lose; if you attend one of my Basic Speaking Skills workshops and don't feel tenfold more confident at the end, just tell me and I'll refund your money, no questions asked! This is a LIFETIME guarantee!