Helping your people become confident, engaging and influential communicators, in alignment with your organisation’s objectives
Good business relies on great communication.
When your people speak effectively, they leverage your products, services and ideas. But if your leaders or teams lack confidence or skills it can cost you opportunities, time, effort and money.
Speaking to influence and motivate team members, having 1:1 meetings with clients, or persuading stakeholders – the ability of your people to speak well, with presence, conviction and energy in any situation, is a vital part of your organisation’s success.
Good business is about great communication.
When your people speak effectively, they leverage your products, services and ideas. But if they lack confidence or skills it can cost you opportunities, time, effort and money.
Speaking to influence and motivate team members, having 1:1 meetings with clients, or persuading stakeholders – the ability of your people to speak well, with presence, conviction and energy in any situation, is a vital part of your organisation’s success.
How does this training improve your team’s capability?
We engaged Sarah to provide 12 of our Team Members with the Improve Your Public Speaking program and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive! Participants found the program to be “fantastic, great, and outstanding”. They mentioned taking away valuable insights that will aid them in their work. Sarah received high praise for being an excellent presenter with deep knowledge and experience in the subject matter. Overall, the Team Members highly recommend the program and applaud Sarah as a “brilliant speaker and facilitator”.
You’ll receive interactive, practical, enjoyable training, using the latest adult learning principles. These programs get visible, often instant, results.
Research-based and proven to work, they’ve helped over 10,000 clients in the past 15 years.
They’re based on one or more of these Accelerated Speaking Results System levels, reflecting increasing mastery of both content and delivery.
The Accelerated Speaking Results System:
Examples of what’s typically covered:
Speaking habits
These are crucial, because any habit that isn’t conscious will potentially make the speaker look
either not self-aware, or nervous. Neither builds credibility and authority in audience eyes.
There may be unconscious or unhelpful habits or biases around elements such as:
- Gestures, mannerisms and body positioning
- Vocal style
- Energy levels
- Discomfort about speaking
- Selling with influence
- Small word choices that can diminish the message
Learn evidence-based, tested tools for these habits – what to add, tweak or drop.
Engagement and connection tools and pitfalls such as:
- The top filters that kill listener engagement.
- Ensuring ways to ‘Connect then Carry’.
- Story-telling or case-studies that work.
- My Speaking Disconnection Circles and what to do about them.
- How to read the room, and adjust style if required.
- And everything learned will still allow ‘realness’ and authenticity.
Learning Outcomes — examples
- Delivery and preparation skills to demonstrate confidence and presence.
- Being able to think clearly and coherently.
- Flexible, effective structures and frameworks for clarity, impact and influence.
- Sharp, succinct and refined language and key messages.
- Specific techniques to build trust and authority fast.
- Managing questions, difficult topics or audiences.
- Audience engagement and ability to retain information.
Our team engaged Sarah to deliver her program to our medical workforce. Clinicians and practice staff, particularly in a rural setting, are often placed in leadership positions without the skills to deliver their message effectively.
Sarah’s presentation was perfectly delivered to everyone that attended. Her calm, approachable manner allowed all of us to feel at ease and practice our new skills. I would strongly recommend her for any organisation wishing to help their workforce around leadership and public speaking.
Delivered in your choice of format:
And if you’re not sure, we can advise you.
1. Masterclass / Keynote
Presenter-driven, light interaction, Q&A.
1.5 – 2 hour
In this practical and engaging session, participants will learn techniques and tools to increase their confidence, engagement or influencing skills. Session content can be focused on one, two or all three of these areas. Presenter-driven teaching with audience interaction plus Q and A.
2. Workshop(s)
Teaching and discussion with participant practice.
Create your own ideal training fit using A and B
Choose 1, 2 or all 3 workshops below.
(2 or 3 sessions recommended for the greatest embedded improvement.)
Techniques and tools for:
1. Confidence and presence (workshop 1).
2. Engagement (workshop 2).
3. Influence and persuasion (workshop 3).
Each workshop duration: two hours.
Choose the participant amount of actual practice.
Options for skills-testing include “on-the-spot” practice or bringing along a pre-prepared (section of a) presentation or talk.
Formats depend on the client’s preference or participant numbers, and may include:
- Practice in pairs or small groups.
- Individual presentations and coaching feedback.
- ‘Hot-seat’ coaching where a few participants volunteer to be coached briefly.
Delivered in your choice of format:
And if you’re not sure, we can advise you.
1. Masterclass / Keynote
Presenter-driven, light interaction, Q&A.
1 – 1.5 hour
In this practical and engaging session, participants will learn techniques and tools to increase their confidence, engagement or influencing skills. Session content can be focused on one, two or all three of these areas. Presenter-driven teaching, light interaction plus Q and A.
2. Workshop(s)
Teaching and discussion with participant practice.
Create your own ideal training fit using A and B
Choose 1, 2 or all 3 workshops below.
(2 or 3 sessions recommended for the greatest embedded improvement.)
Techniques and tools for:
1. Confidence and presence (workshop 1).
2. Engagement (workshop 2).
3. Influence and persuasion (workshop 3).
Each workshop duration: two hours.
Choose participant amount of real practice.
1. Approximately 8 people can present for 3 minutes in each 2-hour session
OR
2. ‘Hot-seat’ format where some speak and are coached. Others learn by watching
OR
3. Every participant does an approximately 1-minute talk (numbers dependent)
on a work/personal topic chosen in advance
OR
4. Every participant does an impromptu “think on your feet” talk topic.
In-house training
Over 10,000 participants have completed training, coaching and workshop programs with Improve Your Public Speaking since 2011.
I’m based in Melbourne, and deliver programs across both regional areas and capital cities across Australia. I’m also happy to travel to locations not always serviced by other training organisations, which is often welcome!
Online, hybrid or face-to-face: your choice
Every program can be delivered online, a mix of online and live in room, or fully face-to-face, depending on your location and preference.
Our typical approach
My Team had certified Project Managers and we were delivering projects successfully, but I realized quickly that good public speaking and presentation skills are integral part of project delivery.
I did google search on public speaking and found Sarah’s website. The website and client results and Sarah herself looked so real that I couldn’t help contacting her. We immediately engaged her and the three workshops she did for us with over ten participants from my Team was a huge success.
In fact, a Team member who dreaded public speaking, did the best presentation during the third workshop! The workshops were fun, we learned from each other, we encouraged each other and more importantly the learnings are lifelong!
Personally, for me, I kept taking guidance from Sarah even after her official engagement was over with us. She was very supportive, and I have no hesitation in saying that Sarah – you have been an integral part of my journey from Manager to Director. I am sure you will form many more careers and help many more professionals achieve their goals.
Sarah Denholm is a great teacher. She is kind and gentle and works in a very positive way with people. She has a knack of building confidence and giving people the skills they need.
Last year I was overseeing the management of a group of 20 projects for a large Melbourne-based company. Sarah was engaged to improve the presentation skills of Project Managers who were expected to present their progress to the CEO and senior board members regularly, and felt unprepared for the task ahead of them. She came into the group, quickly established rapport with all the staff and was able to assist them in a very short timeframe. There was noticeable improvement in the way the staff presented themselves and their confidence grew rapidly.
We felt very privileged to have been able to work with Sarah and I believe that the skills each person gained will stand them in good stead in many roles throughout their careers.
Our consultants found it a delight and a pleasure working with Sarah. Her modules were constructed with content that were grounded in psychology and human behavior. Her practical tips and approaches were well received too. During her workshops, Sarah was able to draw out the most reluctant of our consultants and make them participate enthusiastically.
The sessions were thoroughly enjoyable while being educational and practical. Thank you, Sarah. We have no hesitation in recommending Sarah’s course to others who are looking for such programs.
Sarah provided training in public speaking to the LiverWELL team last week and we were able to see an improvement in our skills within one day! Sarah managed the diverse requirements of our staff and lived experience speakers with sensitivity and warmth. A combination of experience, expert advice, science and a little humour made it a highly valuable and enjoyable day. I would highly recommend Sarah.
Sarah provided my team with practical, useful tools to overcome nerves, improve their speaking skills and engage their audience. She created a warm, dynamic atmosphere which encouraged sharing of ideas and goals. Sarah provided specific, useful feedback for each participant, and was flexible in tailoring her training to the needs of the group as they progressed.
I would highly recommend Sarah, and would use her services again without hesitation. She gets great results, is personable, and expert at what she does.
About me
I’ve been coaching, consulting and mentoring in public speaking and presentation skills for 15 years. Plus many years on stage as a classical pianist before that.
I work with clients worldwide in organisations from the UN, to Shizen Energy in Japan, to Deutsche Bank.
To find out more about my background and story, visit the About Sarah page, or my LinkedIn profile.
