Public speaking and communication skills training for executives
Become a confident and persuasive presenter (even if you currently have a fear of public speaking). Ideal for CEOs, directors, managers and other leaders.
You can’t be a great leader without being a great communicator
Imagine if you could become more persuasive. The way you communicate affects everything you do, yet this isn’t a skill most of us were taught.
This executive communications training can be customised to suit you, and so what we cover will depend entirely on your situation and needs. This can include:
- improving your body language (from posture to knowing what to do with your hands)
- honing your tone of voice
- public speaking and presenting tips (from working a stage to knowing where to look)
- overcoming a fear of public speaking
- relaxing before a presentation
- using influencing language and rhetoric to motivate and get across your point of view
- coming across as strong (or charismatic ... or warm ... or whatever the situation requires)
- storytelling and narrative techniques
- reframing your message so it connects with your audience (whether it’s a single person or a group)
- listening more effectively
- strategies for having difficult conversations and dealing with conflict
- how to be more assertive
- motivating staff
- how to give and receive feedback
- making your writing (from emails to reports) more effective and easier to read.
I work with a wide range of people, including general managers, CEOs, board directors and spokespeople.
Public speaking and communication skills training options:
One-on-one training
Everyone’s needs and situation are different, which is why I tailor each and every session for my clients.
If you’re preparing for a specific event, whether it’s delivering a keynote speech at a conference, presenting to investors, or talking at an AGM, I can help you come across as confident and credible.
Staff training on public speaking and communication skills
Sometimes you want everybody on the same page.
I often come across situations where leaders within the same organisation have completely different views of how to communicate with the public and stakeholders, even though the organisation has a specific voice and reputation to uphold.
Taking your organisation’s brand and values into account, I can run group sessions to help everyone understand which communication styles work best in different situations.
This course can be taught online or in person and can run for half a day or a full day depending on your requirements.
It can also be customised to suit you.
For example, I can tailor it for leaders who would like to become more motivational, for team members who need to work better together, or to help a group feel more comfortable about stepping up in front of an audience.
It also acts as a great team building exercise that gets everyone on the same page about how they're supposed to interact with each other and various stakeholders.
Handbooks and certificates will be given to each participant.
Discreet and confidential public speaking and communications skills training
It’s common for my clients to workshop upcoming speeches, proposals or articles they’re working on, and so I often look at confidential material.
I can guarantee that everything I look at remains confidential, and I’m also happy to sign non-disclosure agreements.
This privacy also extends to my clients themselves: I never reveal their names or anything that is discussed in our sessions with anyone.
In other words, whatever issues or problems you’re working on will remain completely private, allowing you to openly discuss your needs and areas you want to develop.
Who’s running this communications skills training?
I’m a former Sydney Morning Herald editor and journalist with over 20 years of public speaking experience.
As someone who had a severe speech defect until the age of 18, I naturally had a fear of public speaking when I was young. Yet I learned how to overcome my nerves (so much so, I'm now completely at ease when talking in front of a large group) and am invested in helping others do the same.
On top of that, I spent my entire professional career focusing on how to communicate effectively. My years in journalism taught me the importance of understanding your audience, connecting with people to gain their trust, and communicating clearly and in plain English.
When I left journalism and began teaching at UTS and the University of Sydney, I began focusing more on verbal and non-verbal communication: from learning how to make speeches persuasive to understanding the skills and techniques behind engaging presentations. This involved immersing myself in a wide range of disciplines, from body language to the art of rhetoric.
These days I help a wide range of people hone their individual communication styles to become strong and influential speakers.
Who is this public speaking and communication skills training for?
Most of my clients tend to be:
- CEOs and other C-suite executives
- founders
- spokespeople
- general managers
- board directors
- team leaders.
They come from almost every type of organisation and industry, including:
- education (private schools, universities and colleges)
- finance (mainly banks and superannuation firms)
- real estate and property development
- hospitality (hotels, bars and restaurants)
- technology (startups as well as small to large IT companies)
- councils
- government departments and agencies
- health authorities
- not for profits (especially ones that focus on climate change).
However, I’m happy to work with anyone who wants to improve their public speaking.
Need more information about public speaking and communication skills training?
Let me know if you have any questions or would like a quote.