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A public speaking course teaches your people to plan, structure and deliver a confident, persuasive talk — from boardroom updates and sales pitches to conference keynotes and town-hall briefings. BOTI’s instructor-led programme runs as a typical 1–2 day workshop, in-house, public or online, across Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria and SA-wide.
If you’re an HR, L&D or business leader watching a capable manager freeze in front of the room — or a sales team that knows the product but can’t command it — this is the training that closes the gap. We work with all levels, from nervous first-timers to senior executives, and the focus is practical: transform nervous energy into captivating confidence, then back it with a repeatable method for building and delivering any talk.
Lead magnet: Not sure where your team’s biggest communication gaps are? Download our free Communication Skills-Gap Self-Assessment — a quick manager-capability checklist that pinpoints where presentation, confidence and structure are costing you, and what to train first.
Who this public speaking training is for
This is built for corporate buyers upskilling their people, as well as professionals investing in themselves:
- Managers and team leaders — who present updates, lead meetings and brief stakeholders, and need to do it with authority.
- Sales and business-development teams — who live or die by the pitch and need to handle questions on the fly.
- Executives and senior specialists — who speak at conferences, AGMs, town halls and to the media, where stakes are high.
- Technical and subject-matter experts — brilliant on the detail, but who need to make it land with a non-technical audience.
- Individuals — anyone who wants to overcome stage fright and present with credibility.
Whatever the level, the outcome is the same: clearer structure, calmer nerves and more persuasive delivery.
What your team will learn: the 12-component course outline
The programme is delivered in twelve practical components, moving from preparation through to confident delivery and evaluation. Each builds on the last, so participants leave with a complete, repeatable system — not a one-off pep talk.
| # | Component | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Starting Out | Ice-breakers, setting objectives, what “good” looks like for each participant |
| 2 | Identifying Your Audience | Needs analysis and audience profiling so the message fits the room |
| 3 | Making a Basic Outline | The SCAR framework — Situation, Challenge, Action, Results — to structure any talk fast |
| 4 | Organising the Programme | Sequencing and pacing so ideas flow logically |
| 5 | Fleshing It Out | Using sources, building credibility and citing evidence correctly |
| 6 | Putting It All Together | Writing and editing the speech into a tight, deliverable script |
| 7 | Being Prepared | Venue checks, equipment and pre-presentation checklists |
| 8 | Overcoming Nervousness | Mental and physical techniques to manage stage fright and build genuine confidence |
| 9–10 | Delivering Your Speech | Voice, visual aids, body language and adjusting on the fly when the room shifts |
| 11 | Queries & Answers | Handling questions, pushback and the unexpected with composure |
| 12 | Concluding | Consolidating key learnings, plus evaluation and feedback |
The SCAR structure (component 3) is the backbone many participants take back to work immediately — a reliable way to turn a blank page into a clear, persuasive outline in minutes.
Beating stage fright — the part that changes everything
Most people don’t lack ideas; they lack the confidence to deliver them. Component 8 is dedicated to overcoming nervousness, using practical mental and physical techniques to manage the physiological signs of anxiety — the racing heart, the dry mouth, the rushed pace — and convert that adrenaline into presence and energy. Combined with the structured preparation in components 1–7, participants stop “winging it” and start walking in prepared — which is where real confidence comes from.
It matters for your bottom line, too. A manager who can hold a room runs tighter meetings and lands stakeholder buy-in faster; a sales rep who can pitch with composure closes more. Because the workshop is interactive, every participant presents, gets live coaching and feedback, and leaves having practised in front of an audience — not just heard about it.
Format, duration and certification
We keep the logistics simple and flexible so the training fits your operation:
| Detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Format | Instructor-led and interactive — practice, feedback and live coaching, not slides-only |
| Delivery | In-house / on-site at your premises, public scheduled sessions, or online (live virtual) |
| Typical duration | 1–2 days, depending on group size, level and how much practice time you want |
| Locations | Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria and SA-wide, plus remote |
| Levels | All levels — from first-time presenters to senior executives |
| Certification | A practical, facilitator-led skills programme; delegates receive a BOTI certificate of completion (this is not an accredited qualification) |
This is a focused, practical intervention designed for fast, real-world upskilling without a long commitment. Tell us your goal and we’ll recommend the right route. Need accredited training? Ask about BOTI’s QCTO/SETA-accredited programmes in related areas such as Generic Management and Business Administration.
Why BOTI
BOTI (Business Optimization Training Institute) is an accredited South African corporate training provider — Services SETA 12582, MICT SETA ACC/2016/07/0045, and a QCTO Quality Partner — with a catalogue of 450 courses and a client base that includes Sasol, Glencore and the City of Johannesburg. We tailor content to your industry, your audience and your real-world speaking scenarios — so the pitch they practise is the pitch they’ll actually give. Group sizes, scheduling and case studies are built around your team, whether that’s three new managers or a full sales floor, and we can run sessions at your premises, at a venue, or live online to suit dispersed teams.
[client testimonial] — space reserved for a recent client quote on confidence and delivery results.
Funding and skills development
Public speaking and presentation training is legitimate skills-development spend. If your business pays the Skills Development Levy (SDL, 1% of payroll), structured training can contribute toward your skills-development planning and reporting — and the skills-development element of your BBBEE scorecard is measured against 6% of your leviable amount. Used well, upskilling your managers and sales teams becomes a scorecard win, not just a cost. (This is general guidance, not financial or legal advice — confirm specifics with your B-BBEE practitioner.)
Explore the full communication training cluster
This page is the hub for BOTI’s public speaking, presentation and voice training. Depending on your team’s exact need, these focused programmes go deeper:
- Presentation Skills Training for the Workplace — for teams who present internally: structure, slides and delivery for everyday workplace meetings and reports.
- Voice & Confidence Training for Professionals — targeted coaching on vocal projection, tone, pace and presence for high-stakes speakers.
- Public Speaking Courses in Johannesburg, Cape Town & Durban — city-specific options and scheduling for in-person training in SA’s major centres.
Ready to book or scope a programme? See our public speaking course and booking options to get started.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the public speaking course?
Most groups run as a 1–2 day instructor-led workshop. The exact length depends on group size, experience level and how much live practice time you want. We’ll recommend a duration once we understand your team.
Is the training accredited?
This public speaking course is a practical, facilitator-led skills programme; delegates receive a BOTI certificate of completion (this is not an accredited qualification). If you need accredited training, ask about BOTI’s QCTO/SETA-accredited programmes in related areas such as Generic Management and Business Administration.
Can you run it in-house for our team?
Absolutely. We deliver in-house / on-site at your premises, as public scheduled sessions, or online as live virtual training — across Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria and SA-wide.
Will it help someone with serious stage fright?
Yes. A full component is dedicated to overcoming nervousness, using practical mental and physical techniques. We work with all levels, including people who currently avoid presenting entirely, and build confidence through structured preparation and supported practice.
Is this suitable for sales teams and executives, or just beginners?
Both. We tailor the content and scenarios to the audience — from first-time presenters to sales teams refining the pitch and executives preparing for conferences, AGMs and the media.
Request a quote or a 15-minute callback
Tell us who needs training and what they need to nail — pitches, presentations, conference talks or everyday meetings — and we’ll scope a programme that fits your team, your budget and your timeline.
Call 011 882 8853 or request a quote online — we get back to you within 15 minutes. And before you do, grab the free Communication Skills-Gap Self-Assessment to pinpoint exactly where to start.