Presentation Skills Training - 12 Tips for Finding the
Right Program For You

What makes for a good presentation skills training program? Whether it's to improve your own presentation skills
or to bring a trainer into your organization,St. Louis presentation skills expert Steve Hughes shares his insights 
to help guide you in making an informed decision.

        

         1.       Practicality.  You can apply the things you learn to your specific situation right away.

         2.       Up-to-date research.  The program should incorporate the latest psychological, communication and 
         audience research.  Today's business culture is changing rapidly and good presenters are current on
         all the latest trends.

         3.       Audience-centric focus.  When you boil everything down, a good presentation is all about understanding
         what the audience wants and needs.   It's never about the speaker. Make sure your training focuses how          you (and/or your employees) can become audience-centric presenters.

         4.       Blends theory with real-world examples.  A strong program will offer scores of illustrations and case
         studies to reinforce the principles being taught.

         5.       Experienced trainer. The presentation skills trainer should have substantial experience delivering  

               presentations - in the business world, training, education, etc.  The higher the stakes in their presentation
         experience, the better.

         6.       Fun.  Presentation skills training, by definition, can be uncomfortable.  A little humor can help you relax
         and put you in a better state of mind to learn and grow.  Remember, this isn't brain surgery.

         7.       Interactive exercises.  Imagine learning Excel without access to a computer.  A good presentation skills
         program will offer a plethora of practical exercises for you to try out the skills as you learn.

         8.       An ongoing or continuous improvement component.  Many training programs fall under the 
         "one and done" category.  A truly effective program provides ongoing development, benchmarks and
         feedback to ensure that training is making you a better speaker.

         9.       An understanding that content is king.  Great presentations are always about what you say, not how
         you say it.  While it is important to deliver your presentation in a compelling manner, success is still found in
         the quality and depth of the material you're presenting.

        10.   Personal coaching.  The best presentation coaches recognize that there is no "right way" to present.  Each
        individual has his or her own unique style and it's up to the trainer to eliminate distracting behaviors to allow
        your true personality to shine on stage.

        11.   The trainer walks the talk.  The person delivering the training had better be a very good speaker in his or
        her own right - modeling each skill as it is being taught.

        12.   It just feels right.  There are many options out there.  In the end you need to ask yourself if you feel good
        about the presentation skills trainer and whether or not you can relate to him or her.