Presentation Skills

Even the most experienced can be challenged by the prospect of making a presentation. For researchers, an effective and professional style is a great boon, and we have designed workshops which especially address the issues around presenting research to different audiences and which build skills that are valuable in other activities such as interviews. Norman Staines and Nigel Gregory facilitate these workshops. Examples of what each can offer are described here, but Norman and Nigel also work together in workshops designed to order around the needs of your researchers and your institution, creating and using a unique blend of their professional experience and expertise.

Talking effectively about research

An intensive participatory workshop in which we consider the attributes of effective presentations, develop a way of assessing individual performance then embark on a series of short presentations by each participant. Emphasis is put on understanding the audience, planning an appropriate content and structure and the ways to deliver an effective message. We consider how to address different types of professional and lay audiences.

This workshop runs over two days, separated by two to three weeks during which time participants prepare material for the second session. Individual feed-back is given to participants who are encouraged to set an action plan for developing their personal presentation skills.

Norman Staines leads this workshop using an approach that adapts to groups with different levels of experience. Thus, we offer versions for graduate students, more experienced researchers and for academic staff.

Public speaking

This activity workshop, running over two days, builds confidence and teaches techniques to overcome the fear of speaking in public, or at a meeting, or impromptu. This is an opportunity for participants to work with Nigel Gregory who is a top professional voice coach and actor trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Over two days of this workshop, he will guide participants to: develop the range and technique of their voice and communication skills; explore the demands on the individual to talk about their work and themselves in different situations such as at interview, or in other pressure situations; discover more about planning a verbal presentation and to be assertive; develop the voice as an instrument.

Nigel will reveal some of the professional secrets of holding an audience and participants will experience some genuine acting technique exercises that will overcome fear and develop a new self-confidence. This is an intensive active course which will involve some limber exercises that all-comers can do, and will include a range of physical activities Imaginative vocal group exercises on articulation and speaking skills:

 Giving a personal and work-related presentation

Video workshops in groups with personal trainers

Researchers who have taken this workshop in the past have said "... made my PhD experience feel more alive and real" "Nigel is an amazing tutor and his techniques inspiring" "Very much to my expectations. Highly recommended"