There are hundreds of presentation trainings that promise to rid you of your nervousness and make you an accomplished speaker. How do you choose the right course for you?
The “presentation training” on Google will generate at first glance a very long list of different suppliers offering the same “training in presentation”. But on closer inspection, you will discover that some trainers approach the subject in a theatrical perspective, others in the business world and some in an educational perspective. Although most courses cover the basic elements of public speaking, they are all oriented towards their own area of specialty:
Theatrical presentations – breathing, vocal exercises, postures
Educational Presentations – How to Be a Coach, Learning Styles, Slide Design
Business Presentations – Influencing People, Motivating People, Driving Change
First, consider the type of presentation you are likely to give. Is it for the speech of a better man, for business or for technology presentations. If it’s for business or sales, you need to choose a training course for commercial presentations. Many aspects of a company’s presentation are not necessarily covered by a single speaking course.
Does the course give you the opportunity to do at least two presentations? You must practice and get feedback on your presentations. If the speaker speaks fully, you will not learn as much. However, beware of courses that are almost all practical. You need to have tutorial time to make sure you practice the right skills.
How many people are allowed on the course, I recommend a maximum of 6. Plus, and you will spend too much time listening to other people making presentations. The larger the class, the less the speaker can take into account your concerns or focus on the type of presentation you are most likely to do.
How long does the course last? Most courses last one or two days. If time and costs are not a problem, then a 2-day course usually gives more time for practice, but can you afford to take 2 days of your office? A competent trainer should be able to cover all the main points on how to structure and make a presentation, while leaving enough time for practical work on a one-day course.
Do they use video comments? It’s really helpful to see and hear yourself make a presentation. Only with the video comments you can enjoy your true appearance and sound. Do not miss classes that use video, they are usually worth it.
How are the practical presentations reviewed? Is it just the speaker’s comments or are other participants encouraged to comment on your presentation? Everyone is different, and different people are talking about different topics. It is therefore preferable to have a larger review committee.
In a professional presentation, you invariably try to influence your audience in one way or another. Try to get them to buy a product or service or think of something in a particular way. This adds an extra dimension to the public speaking skills you need to learn. A good business presentation skills course will focus on how to influence people and get them thinking the way you want.
The price of training courses in presentation skills varies widely but, in my experience, the price is not always representative of the value. It is not because a course is relatively inexpensive that it may be of lesser quality than a much more expensive course. But consider the average number of participants and the duration of the course. The cheapest courses often have a higher number of delegates.
The training companies themselves vary in size and structure. Some are huge organizations, with many employees trained in a wide variety of fields. The speakers of these companies tend to be career trainers. Then there are the other seemingly important training issues that actually outsource all the work to small businesses. Then come the specialists and a group of men. Almost all training companies offer some form of public speaking training, as their trainers are constantly discussing with people. They should be able to teach others how to do it.