If you need a presentation Skills workshop…
6 Important Things to Consider When You Need a Public Speaking
(aka Presentation Skills)Workshop or Class
Your time is valuable. Don’t waste it when searching for a corporate workshop.
A few times a year, I get what I call my “question mark” calls. They almost follow a script. It goes like this:
Caller: We need public speaking training for our team of [name of profession].
Me: Great! What’s going on right now, and what would you like to see changed?
Caller: Um, I think it’s general? I’m not sure, my boss just said to call you and get pricing for a speaking workshop.
You probably understand this is unproductive. They don’t know what they want, and I can’t help them if they don’t know what they want. Worse, the requester doesn’t know what they want, and they task an assistant with sourcing training, as if it’s like running to the grocery store - “Just grab a loaf of bread and a container of Soy Milk!”
Approaching professional development workshops in this manner is like going to your favorite clothing store, and saying, “I need pants." And when the sales associate asks, “For what occasion?” you say, “I don’t know, just pants in general.”
Before reaching out to a professional workshop company for a public speaking skills class or a presentation skills workshop, gather your data so your calls can be productive. In other words, prepare.
6 Questions to Consider When You Need A Skills Development Workshop
Before you have that intro call with a speaker or instructor, ask yourself these questions. You’ll be way better positioned for your call.
What’s your goal for this educational session?
Get granular: What skill needs improving? What behavior(s) would you like to see changed? And what does that change look like? Define your outcomes - even if they’re broad to start.Where will this workshop take place?
Will the training happen at your site, off-site, or virtually? Is it part of a larger event, like an all-day company wide meeting, or perhaps an industry conference? Or if it’s on-site at your office, will the attendees be focused, or needing to check emails every hour?Do you require the speaker have a specific certification or credential?
Know this and check the instructor’s website or LinkedIn profile for such credential before scheduling a call. I was once asked to provide OSHA training by someone who clearly did not read my website.
Spoiler alert: I do not offer OSHA training.How many attendees will there be?
Even an approximate number helps. Training for 5 people is different than training for 10; 10 is different than a hundred. It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised at the requests we get. The way instructors prepare varies depending on the size of the audience; what we can offer varies depending on the audience. Keep reading.Do you have realistic expectations?
One hundred attendees can not get individual skills practice, but 10 or fewer can. One time, a caller asked me to do a lunch session for 100 attendees. She wanted a full public speaking course, followed by individual skills practice for everyone - all within an hour. (Um, no.)What’s your budget?
"You get what you pay for” is true for all things - including services like workshops.
Professional development is an investment in your future, and in your people. So it’s important to get a sense of the numbers - and how much you want to invest.Again, an approximation or range will help us do our jobs well. We’re not trying to squeeze you - promise. We just want to ensure we’re on the same page, and can offer you services in line with your budget.
“I was most delighted by Marianna’s ability to read the room and make adjustments on the fly. She could really tell what parts of the workshop were hitting home for the participants, and as a result she was able to seamlessly spend more time in the areas of interest.”
About Me…
Hi! I’m Marianna. I make the process of public speaking easier for my clients. I help with everything from preparation to managing anxiety and nerves to speaking with strength and confidence. Need a workshop? Get in touch.
