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Public Speaking Training (2 days)
Staff who stand up, speak clearly and hold a room – and who have seen their own improvement on video.
For most people, speaking in front of a group is the task they dread most, and the cost shows up at work in flat meetings, pitches that do not land and good ideas that are never heard. This two-day public speaking course gives managers, sales staff and specialists a clear method for preparing a talk and the practice to deliver it with confidence.
Day one covers the craft: understanding the audience, building a simple outline, adding evidence and stories, preparing the venue and notes, managing nerves, using voice and body language, and handling questions. Day two is a practice day. Each delegate delivers two prepared talks on video with facilitator and peer feedback, and works on persuasive speaking, impromptu answers, speaking to senior audiences, presenting figures and handling hostile questions.
Delegates leave having compared their first and last recordings, with a personal development plan for continued practice.
Why this course
For your organisation
- Managers and specialists who brief, report and pitch with authority
- Shorter, clearer meetings and presentations
- Client-facing staff who represent the organisation confidently
- A consistent standard for internal and external presentations
For your delegates
- Practical techniques to manage nerves before and during a talk
- A simple structure for any talk, prepared or impromptu
- Two recorded talks with individual feedback
- A personal development plan for continued practice
What delegates will be able to do
- Analyse an audience and shape one clear message for it
- Build a logical outline with a strong opening and close
- Support key points with evidence, examples and stories
- Manage nervousness with mental and physical techniques
- Use voice, pace, pause, eye contact and gesture deliberately
- Answer questions, including hostile ones, with control
- Speak persuasively and give a structured answer on the spot
- Present figures and recommendations to senior audiences
Who should attend
Junior, middle and senior managers, supervisors and team leaders, sales staff, technical specialists and subject-matter experts – anyone who presents to clients, leads meetings, briefs a team or must explain ideas clearly to a group.
Course outline
Day 1 – Preparing and delivering a talk
Knowing your audience
- A quick needs analysis before you write a word
- Building an audience profile: knowledge, interest and attitude
- The questions and concerns the audience will bring
- Adapting one message for different groups
Structuring the talk
- Deciding the purpose and the one central message
- Building the outline: opening, main points and close
- Organising points by time, priority or problem and solution
- Allocating time to each section
Adding substance and credibility
- Choosing sources, examples and stories
- Citing evidence properly
- Drafting, revising and cutting the speech
- Transitions that carry the audience with you
- Preparing a fallback if technology or timing fails
Preparation and nerves
- Checking the venue, equipment and notes
- A final-day checklist before the talk
- What nerves do to the body and why
- Breathing, posture and relaxation techniques
- Looking confident even when you do not feel it
Voice and body language
- Pace, pitch, pause and projection
- Eye contact, gestures, stance and movement
- Using notes and visual aids without reading from them
- Reading the room and adjusting as you go
Questions and answers
- Setting ground rules for questions
- Handling questions that feel like an attack
- Dealing with complex or unexpected questions
- Closing on your own message after questions
- Preparing your talk for day two
Day 2 – Practice day with video feedback
Prepared talk one
- Each delegate delivers a five-minute prepared talk
- Video recording and peer observation
- Facilitator feedback on structure, voice and body language
- Setting two improvement goals for the day
Persuasive speaking
- Informing versus persuading
- Problem, evidence, solution and call to action
- Dealing with objections inside the talk
- Exercise: a two-minute pitch for a real workplace proposal
Impromptu speaking
- Simple frameworks for an unprepared answer
- One-minute talks on a topic drawn at random
- Answering on the spot in meetings
- Buying time without losing authority
Senior audiences and figures
- Leading with the recommendation and the decision needed
- Presenting numbers, charts and trends so they are understood
- Handling pushback from senior people
- Keeping to time when your slot is cut short
Tough questions and hostile rooms
- Bridging and reframing
- The aggressive, the rambling and the silent questioner
- Admitting a mistake and recovering credibility
- Hot-seat question session for each delegate
Prepared talk two and development plan
- A second, revised talk on video
- Comparing the morning and afternoon recordings
- Final feedback from facilitator and peers
- Personal development plan for continued practice
How it is delivered
Two days, 08:30-16:00. In person at your offices anywhere in South Africa, at a BOTI venue, or live online. One delegate or a group of up to 20; smaller groups give each delegate more time on their feet during the practice day. Workbook, talk-planning templates and video feedback included. We deliver it at your offices in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and anywhere else in South Africa, at a BOTI venue in Johannesburg, or live online for teams in different places.
What our clients say
★★★★★ 4.8 on Google from 790+ reviews · word-for-word quotes from signed letters of reference, from clients on this and/or related BOTI courses
“We were particularly impressed by the quality of facilitation and the practical relevance of the content presented. The programme was delivered with professionalism, clarity, and a strong emphasis on real-world application”
“The course was efficiently organized and aligned with our schedule. We were impressed by the quality of the training and the expertise of the facilitator.”
“They were very professional, and they never failed us at any point during the process. They have met our expectations with both trainings.”
Frequently asked questions
Can you run this course at our offices?
Yes. We train at your premises anywhere in South Africa, at a BOTI venue, or live online. A room where delegates can stand and present works best.
How many people can attend?
From one delegate to groups of about 20. Every delegate presents on day two, so smaller groups get more practice time – see the price table, or ask us for a quote.
Is it accredited?
No – it is a non-accredited short course and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance.
Will delegates be recorded?
Yes. Day two uses video so delegates can see their own delivery and compare their first and last talks. Let us know beforehand if your organisation has rules about recording staff.
How is this different from the Professional Presentations Course?
Public Speaking Training concentrates on the speaker – structure, nerves, voice, body language and questions – with a full day of recorded practice. The Professional Presentations Course spends more time on designing the presentation and working with slides, flip charts and other visual aids.
Can you run this course in Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban?
Yes. We train on site at your offices in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and across South Africa, at a BOTI venue in Johannesburg, or live online so a team spread over several offices can attend together.
Related courses
Ask a consultant for a written quote
A BOTI consultant emails you a written quote, usually within 15 minutes (Mon–Fri, 08:00–17:00). After hours, we reply on the next working day. To speak to someone now, call 011 882 8853.
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