Resolution: Be a More Effective Presenter in 2017

Going back to work after the Christmas break is a struggle we all know very well. The short days make it seem as though we are rousing from our slumber in the middle of the night, the daily commute is haunted by pasty faces and the sounds of winter coughs and sniffles and we are all damned to pay for those festive excesses for the next month at least.

Nevertheless, there is something about January that can also be quite rewarding. It heralds a new year of course and is the one month in the year where the focus is on a fresh start. Although 60 – 80% of people (depending on which poll you want to believe) will break their resolutions, that does leave a significant proportion that will hold fast and honour their pledges!

According to a recent research study, the top ranking new year’s resolutions for 2016, based on analysis of Google search terms were (in reverse order) Spending less/saving more, Learning new hobbies/skills, Living Life to the fullest, Getting organized and Getting healthy.

While not quite as hectic as the neighbourhood gyms this month, January is nonetheless a busy time for us with a noticeable pick up in course bookings. The motivation is not too dissimilar to that of signing up for the gym, in that our training courses appeal to those with an interest in self improvement and enhancing personal potential.

I suppose in the scheme of the above resolution list, we would come under the category of learning something new or developing something further. Effective presentation is a skill and to become a competent presenter – whether pitching to a small group, a conference crowd or an audience of thousands (or millions) via the media – requires a training regime and the discipline to work at what you have learned.

Most of the clients who book our training courses know they have a skills gap in their presentation technique. While the size of this gap may vary, recognising that something can be done to improve their ‘fitness’ in this respect is the first step towards becoming a more effective presenter. We provide essential, practical and straightforward skills training in areas ranging from public speaking to on screen presence, giving clients the opportunity to learn new techniques that can help them in presentation scenarios.

For those comfortable with these basic skills, our more specialised courses – in small groups or one to one – offer clients the opportunity to investigate the detail of more specialised skills, such as the art of influence and persuasion, negotiation, networking and pitching successfully.

A line we often hear from course participants is, “this is something I’ve been meaning to do for a while…” – hence the noticeable pick up in bookings at resolution time. So, while you may be struggling to fulfil your commitment to getting fit, being more organised or teaching yourself the ukulele may I suggest you take a moment to browse our list of courses and use this month to add a new skill to your armoury and become a more effective presenter this year…

In the meantime, I wish you a very happy 2017!

Luan de Burgh

January 2017

Luan de Burgh is a speaker, writer and founder of The de Burgh Group – a specialist business communication training provider dedicated to helping people perform at their highest potential.