Leadership | Global Institute of Training and Presenting

The results are in from the Great Training and Speaking Debate

Posted on August 31, 2017May 11, 2018 by gitp

I am a little bit obsessed with quality training and presenting. For the past 30 years I have been helping trainers and presenters to step up, step out and share their expertise through a variety of different modalities. It is my belief that you owe it to your participants, clients or attendees to develop your presenting and training craft not just your topic or skill area. Earn the right to take that platform, boardroom or training room. Only when you bring your whole self to your presentation by mastering the art, science and practice of quality training and presenting can you truly be a treasured gift for your audience.

As CEO of the Global Institute of Training and Presenting I had the great pleasure of hosting the Great Training and Speaking debate last night with our GITP community.

The key topics that were explored and debated over a lively discussion and 3 presentations were:

Accredited training (Nationally Recognised) versus non-accredited training
Keynote speaking versus training/workshops
Your Intellectual Property (IP) or off the shelf materials and resources.

Our 3 speakers (RTO Owner and VET Expert Janet Curran, Keynote Speaker and Leadership Expert – Suzanne Waldren and Master Trainer and Team Development Expert – Louise Kelly) brought to the room some of the pros and cons to each of the debate topics and we were also moved and delighted with the personal journeys they shared with us from their experience in the industry.

After 3 thought provoking presentations and a lively audience debate and discussion, it was time to vote. The voting paddles started waving after every question was laid before them. There was much laughter and some groans and grumbles when they realised that couldn’t sit on the fence, a vote must be cast.

This proved much harder for the group than they thought as there are so many variables to be considered in such a diverse industry and so many more modalities that professionals can use to make an impact and solve problems for their clients. However, the last paddle was waved and the results were in.

Before I reveal the results, below are the 3 top pros and cons from the room for each modality. There were many more presented to be discussed and debated but dessert and hot coffee was calling and it was evident from this passionate group that if we didn’t stop for a break the list would just keep growing.

Accredited Training

Pros:

National Standards and Regulation
Evidence of learning and skills acquisition
Credibility in the market place

Cons:

Heavy Compliance
Not as flexible
VET Industry isn’t perfect

Non-Accredited Training

Pros:

Can make bespoke solutions for clients
Only accountable to your client – not regulated
Can get products and services quicker to market and charge accordingly

Cons:

Lack of standards across the industry
Less access to some government funding options
Credibility in some sectors

Keynote Speaking

Pros:

Large audience reach for a big impact for shorter amount of time.
Higher fees for professional keynote speakers
Travel to wonderful places for work

Cons:

Harder to build relationships with attendees
Bureaus may not want you at the start of your career
Sometimes difficult communicating your value and the time/expertise it takes to plan and develop a keynote

Delivering training/workshops

Pros:

Bespoke solutions for clients
Great relationships with participants
Deeper level of learning/skill acquisition for attendees

Cons:

The time needed to plan, prepare and deliver the training
Quality of some trainers/workshop leaders in the industry
Accessing quality training materials

Develop you own IP

Pros:

Complete control of your message and the quality
Positioning yourself as a category of 1
Can leverage, license and re-purpose own IP

Cons:

Time to develop your IP
Skills to develop materials, models, resources and systems
Expert positioning needed to communicate value of new IP

Buying IP off the shelf

Pros:

Save time
Variety to choose from
White labelling or co-branding options

Cons:

Quality of materials
Other trainers using same material
On-going costs

The caffeine and sugar levels were now adjusted and the results were announced.

Non- accredited training won by a whisker over accredited training
Keynotes won by a thread over training
And develop your own IP was a clear front runner over buying off the shelf.

But after another healthy discussion it was unanimous that the key statement agreed by all was the real winner.

“It all depends”

It depends on the outcomes needed, the timeframe, the location, the experience of the presenter, the branding, the business, the budget and the list went on and although the debate was over we continued to chat over a glass of wine or whiskey and it was clear that this conversation or debate was never going to be over.

There are pros and cons for every delivery mode of sharing your expertise, whether it be training, speaking, coaching, consulting, publishing and even curating it’s all about the impact you make on an individual or organisation that counts not always about the modality you choose.

Just ensure your very best self turns up to share because your audience deserves it.

Paula Smith CSP, CEP is your expert in Presentation Intelligence ™
Speaker, Master Trainer, Author and Business Coach helping indiviudals and organisations to grow their business and brand by harnessing the power of speaking and powerful communication

Developer of the world-first programme in Neuropresenting which is now a National Diploma Qualification
Conatct Paula to organise an in-house programme for your key staff or enquire about our public programme calendar and other amazing courses, workshops or keynotes.

It’s time to ‘Spice It Up’ No more boring presentations or meetings

Posted on August 3, 2017September 11, 2017 by gitp

Spice it up.

How many boring meetings, boardroom pitches or training sessions have you been to?

I am sure you are running out of fingers on your hands to count by now.

It’s very easy to ‘Spice It Up’. I am amazed that people still go into meetings, pitches or training unprepared or with little or no skills in this area when there are so many resources available to help them.

And sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars can be at stake if you miss the mark.

Here are 5 easy to implement tips that are sure to spice it up:

A hot opening – The purpose of an opening is to incite curiosity and get attention. Give those meetings an opening that they don’t expect so they sit up and pay attention right from the start.
Explode the senses – The more senses we engage the deeper level of recall/learning. Bring colourful charts, stunning images, props, short video clips, things to feel and taste (if appropriate) and even you are a visual resource so ensure you dress the part.
Introduce lots of flavour – Mix the method up. Don’t just talk at them. Get them involved too. Share a story, ask and answer questions and keep them engaged.
Offer 3 courses – Entrée – The facts/history to date, Main – the key messages facts, figures and content, Dessert – How can they use the information to benefit their organisation, find that sweet spot.
Reveal the secret spice – That’s you or your team. The secret ingredient that will make it all come to life. They don’t want to miss out on that.

Spice it up for a win-win

If you need help to spice up your presentations contact:

Paula Smith CSP- Your expert in Presentation Intelligence (TM) Speaker, Master Trainer and Author of Speaking in the Shower, Powerful Presentation Principles and Sell Your Story

Paula is also the CEO of the Global Institute of Training and Presenting and the developer of the Diploma of Neuropresenting (TM) The world first programme and diploma qualification in Presentation Intelligence.

Next 2 day Exceptional Presenter Programme Perth September 7th -8th $995.00
Diploma or Certification of Neuropresenting Perth October 9-13th and Sydney Oct 23rd – 27th – From $2,995.00

Or book an in-house professional development workshop or programme for your organisation.

Executive Speaking – Yes, It’s Scientific

Posted on June 19, 2017June 19, 2017 by gitp

Executive Speaking – Yes, it’s scientific

Do you want to get the boardroom addicted to your story? How about your staff or your clients?

Thanks to the latest findings in Neuroscience we now know what brain chemicals make us stop and pay attention. So, can we use this information to engage our listeners and make them pay attention by sharing stories? The answer is yes.

A great story can trigger the same brain chemicals that cause us to pay attention, chemicals like cortisol (help the body respond to stress and danger), oxytocin (love and trust) and dopamine (the brain’s reward and pleasure centres).

Inspirational Leaders tell stories. They know that emotion trumps logic and a presenter needs to touch a person’s heart as well as their head.

By carefully crafting your business stories, you can connect at a much deeper level. You can get your clients and staff on board with your vision and that can be powerful.

Business is rapidly changing and to stay connected in a rapidly changing world we need to master the art and science of communication, influence, presenting and storytelling. Our clients and staff are more sophisticated than ever and see through the old ways of ‘selling and telling. We now know how and why people are inspired by our stories so we have no excuse to bore everyone with hundreds of power point slides filled with data and charts.

Educate, inspire, inform, motivate, influence and even train others by getting our audiences addicted to our cause, our why, our stories.

3 tips for a great story:

Use the rule of 3 where possible
Make people care about your facts and figures
Never be the hero in your own story

Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx is the youngest self-made female millionaire in the world, sold 10 million products without spending a cent on advertising. She leveraged the power of her story and people found it irresistible. What’s your story?

Next time you are planning a boardroom pitch or perhaps a staff induction, choose the best stories that really demonstrate the point, then add a dose of data if you must.

Paula Smith is your expert in Presentation Intelligence (TM)

(Speaker CSP, CEP, Author, Master Trainer, Business Consultant and CEO of the Global Institute of Training and Presenting)

Helping experts and organisations to grow their business and their brand by harnessing the power of speaking for the past 30 years. Developer of the first Australian Qualifications in Presenting and now the world-first programme and qualification in Neuropresenting (TM)

Next 2-day Public programme (Paula’s signature programme) July 13th and 14th Perth $995.00 per person – Register for early bird rates

www.paulasmith.com.au

The Now Presentation

Posted on January 27, 2017January 27, 2017 by gitp

Make money, save money, save time and be happier now.

One of the principles for adult learning is relevance.

Can I use this knowledge or skill in my life or workplace now or in the not-so-distant future? I coach a lot of emerging speakers and trainers: speakers who have a great message for the world, and want to turn what they know – their expertise – into a business or a profitable practice. Speakers who want to be able to adapt their message for a commercial market. One of the first questions I ask them is: ‘If I was CEO of an organisation how would your message either make me money, save me money or save me time?’ Your message or your presentation must be relevant to your target market and their current issues. Lots of topics are interesting and may even have the ‘wow’ factor but would I pay for them? Many presenters have some brilliant content and ideas but to an organisation which has very clear outcomes and a strict budget they might say:

‘So what! Who cares!’

Be ready to answer these questions if you are wanting to work with any organisation:

Will this presentation or training solve a current problem? 2. Will this presentation or training make my organisation money or save my organisation money? 3. Will this presentation or training help me or my staff to be more productive?
Will this presentation or training help my staff to be more engaged so the above can be achieved?
Is this presentation or training relevant now?

Even an individual attending your public workshop is looking for answers to a problem they may be experiencing now. They may want to be slimmer, richer more tech savvy or just happier. Even if you have a signature keynote you are known for you can still contextualise it to make it the right presentation for the right audience at the right time.

People want NOW presentations – ‘sometime later’ or ‘for someone else’ is not always an easy sell.

Paula Smith is your expert in Presentation Intelligence ™

Professional Speaker CEP CSP, Author of Speaking in the Shower, Powerful Presentation Principles and Sell Your Story, Master Trainer and Business Consultant.

Paula helps experts, entrepreneurs and organisations harness the power of Presentation Intelligence™ to grow their business and their brands. Paula is also the Director of the Global Institute of Training and Presenting.

In-house programmes and keynotes can be booked at any time Australia wide or Internationally – Contact Paula to talk about your organisational goals

www.paulasmith.com.au or www.gitp.com.au

Are you ready to Speak Out and Play a Bigger Game in 2017?

Posted on January 5, 2017January 8, 2017 by gitp

Speak Out and Play a bigger game in 2017

It’s time to throw your fear of public speaking to the wind and make 2017 your year to be seen and heard. It’s time for Presentation Intelligence ™

Presentation Intelligence is the blend of art, science and practice of commercial speaking. PQ is not about perfectly crafted speeches, far from it. PQ is about the design, development, delivery and ROI strategies of speaking in a commercial setting.

This could be a pitch to the boardroom, an inspirational talk to your staff, speaking up about your products and services to your target clients, presenting a training course, leading a workshop or let’s take it one step further ‘speaking to a room full of attendees at an industry conference’

Do you know how to:

Structure an influential presentation?
Craft and deliver powerful storytelling in business?
Choose the right methodology to engage your audience?
Use non-verbals to re-enforce your message?
Use brain-friendly strategies to ensure your messages stick?
Ensure your audience takes action after your presentation?
Measure the ROI to see if your presentation is having real impact?

Winging a presentation is a dangerous game when so much can be at stake. However, this doesn’t mean you need to be the most charismatic and ‘perfect’ presenter either. In fact, audiences sometimes cringe when the presenter is word-perfect and looks like they have choreographed their presentation within an inch of its life.

You just need to:

Be authentic in your approach
Know your stuff
Be passionate about your message
Have the best intention for your audience

And

have the skills and knowledge to structure your presentation in such a way you know your message is being heard.

Your presentation needs to have an impact on your audience every time.

Public Speaking and Presenting Skills are no longer luxury skills to have. Having the confidence and ability to speak out and have your message heard is a ‘must have skill in today’s competitive business arena. In fact, presenting is a vital key skill that most organisations insist their key staff possess or if you’re in business, Speaking Skills can grow your business and your brand exponentially.

I believe anyone can be a powerful presenter once they have the knowledge, skills, confidence and a strong desire to just share their message to the people they know need to hear it.

Are you ready to speak out in 2017? Are you ready to play a bigger game in your career or business? Are you ready for Presentation Intelligence ™?

Paula Smith is your expert in Presentation Intelligence ™

Professional Speaker, Author of Speaking in the Shower, Powerful Presentation Principles and Sell Your Story, Master Trainer and Business Consultant.

Paula is the Director of the Global Institute of Training and Presenting and helps experts, entrepreneurs and organisations harness the power of Presentation Intelligence™ to grow their business and their brands.

In-house programmes can be booked at any time Australia wide or Internationally – Contact Paula to talk about your organisational goals

Next Public Programmes: Registrations now open

GITP Speaker Academy – March 2^nd and 3^rd Perth (The business of speaking for profit)

Exceptional Presenter – Paula’s signature presenting course March 16^th and 17^th Perth

Neuropresenting Certification – The first in the world (Certification and soon to be a National Diploma Qualification) 2 x 4 days – Block 1 March 9^th-12^th

Visit www.gitp.com.au for programme flyers, more information and contact details

Or pick up the phone and chat personally anytime

Social Learning: The New Black?

Posted on December 15, 2016December 15, 2016 by gitp

Social Learning: The New Black?

How often have you heard someone say something and it triggers a new way of thinking, a different way of looking at a problem, or a surge

of ‘aha’?

Social learning is a concept that has really been around from the beginning of time. We all learn from each other. We gain clarification, insight and extra know-how just by sharing our thinking, knowledge and skills.

We should also remember that we are biologically wired to connect with others. It has been fundamental to our survival.

It gives us a sense of well-being when we connect in a meaningful way. Discussing our thinking, our ideas and our solutions makes deeper connections and gives synergy which all can enjoy.

By being part of different learning communities, we are able to reinforce our learning outcomes, increase motivation and generate more diverse solutions. Yes, please – I definitely want more of that!

But, too often we think all the answers can be found on Google – so easy and simple. And yet, connecting to a real person, having that conversation, and even sharing your Google findings, can bring about greater learning.

We are all challenged by busy-ness. Glued to your desk at work, fighting your way through streams of issues is not the best way to get to the other side. Get up, walk, chat.

Going beyond your organisation stretches your horizons. Find more of your kind in different associations, network groups and other learning

communities. Connect on a virtual platform, but if you can, get out there and see the people. Share and synergise – you never know where that could take you.

Learning is not just made for classrooms. Go for the three-step: one, two, cha-cha- cha – formal learning first, practise next and finally collaborate with others.

Social learning may not be the new black as it has been with us for eons, but for many of us we may have forgotten how important it is. Make it your new black.

Karen Livey (MBA, Speaker CEP, Master Trainer and Leadership Consultant) is an expert in Neuroleadership

Karen is the Director of the Global Institute of Training and Presenting and helps organisations develop future leaders by using neuroscience and values based leadership principles.

No More Speeches Please

Posted on December 15, 2016December 15, 2016 by gitp

No more speeches please!

What does an audience really want from a presentation?

A well-rehearsed speech? A story that is so perfectly crafted it is like a stage play or perhaps a presentation that is choreographed within an inch of its life?

I didn’t think so.

So why do so many workplace or conference presenters get it so wrong?

Perhaps they are spending too much time watching politicians deliver their performances, their much-loved community leader spruiking from the town hall or maybe they hired a speech coach instead of a presentation coach to help them get ready for their big gig.

The last thing a whole conference full of attendees waiting to be inspired into action wants to hear is a perfectly rehearsed speech.

So, what is the alternative?

A commercial conversation from the platform of course. Not just any conversation. It must be a relevant conversation. The right conversation, at the right time for the right audience.

A powerful keynote presentation or a pitch to the boardroom will still need to be prepared of course. You never wing a commercial conversation. You need a lot of the right preparation. However, you still need to flexible enough to cater for the dynamics of the audience and what is happening around you.

If the audience is giving you a blank stare you need to have well-developed presenting skills to be able to deliver it in another format or with an appropriate metaphor that this audience can relate to.

Presentation Intelligence ™ is about the art, science and business of presenting. It is not about designing a speech.

Here are 5 tips to get your conversation started:

Your opening will need to attract attention and incite curiosity
Be relaxed and speak in a conversational style that showcases your personality
Know your topic so well that it allows you to be flexible if you need to be
Choose your stories carefully and ensure they align to your key message
When delivering your powerful closing ensure you have asked for action or some type of behavioural change.

So, next time you are asked to deliver a speech. Get clarification of what the end goal really is. You may find they want anything but a speech.

Prepare and deliver a powerful commercial conversation from the platform instead.

A conversation that your audience really wants to participate in, a conversation that starts another conversation, a conversation that creates real change.

Paula Smith (Professional Speaker CEP,CSP, Master Trainer and Business Consultant) is an expert in Presentation Intelligence (TM) The art, science and business of speaking.

Paula is also the Director of the Global Institute of Training and Presenting and helps experts and organisations harness the power of Presentation Intelligence to build their business and their brands.

www.gitp.com.au

Don’t Drink and Dribble

Posted on November 30, 2016November 30, 2016 by gitp

The Office Christmas Party Speech – (Don’t Drink and Dribble)

It’s that time of year again when the office Christmas Parties are in every building and event space in town. And we all know that along with the fun, the glass (or 5) of bubbly and the inappropriate festive behaviour of some of our colleagues we have to listen to, or even worse, give the end of year motivational, thankyou speech.

Here are some tips to nail your Christmas speech and ensure you don’t bore your staff, embarrass yourself or end up in the staff newsletter for all the wrong reasons.

Don’t drink and dribble. Leave the alcohol until after the speech. Drinking one glass too many can loosen your inhibitions and focus. What may have seemed completely inappropriate to discuss at work hours before may now seem amusing to share with the entire organisation after a drink or two.
Prepare in advance, don’t wing it. Even if you are not quite sure you will be called upon, still plan in advance so it seems impromptu but you can deliver it confidently and with clarity.
Have a clear message to share with your team or audience. If it’s to thank them for their year of commitment and hard work, have some specific examples to draw upon.
Keep it light. Everyone is in the mood to celebrate. Not the right time to talk about all the recent redundancies. Add some light festive cheer.
Share a story. A feel-good or funny workplace story with people, places and events that they will all relate to or remember works a treat to get everyone reminiscing.
“My boss’s end of year speech was too short” said no-one ever!

So, in summary your ‘Christmas Chat’ should be short, sharp, light, funny with a dose of feel good emotion.

You hear the cheer and the round of applause. Now go and find that eggnog, you’ve earnt it

Paula Smith – Chief of Business and Learning at GITP is an expert in Presentation Intelligence™

Speaker (CEP, CSP), Author, Master Trainer and Business consultant helps experts and organisations grow their business and their brands by harnessing the power if speaking and Presentation Intelligence