Public Speaking: Speaking Under Pressure
This workshop is designed for professionals who must speak in front of hostile or demanding audiences, as well as newer speakers who want to build confidence in meetings and presentations. You will learn how to quickly organize your thoughts, structure persuasive messages, manage nervousness, read your audience, and deliver clear, compelling presentations under pressure. The course covers preparation strategies, force field analysis, audience profiling, nonverbal communication, and proven organization methods.
What you'll learn
- Apply quick and easy preparation methods that work whether you have one minute or one week to prepare.
- Prepare for audience questions even before you know what those questions will be.
- Overcome nervousness when speaking in front of a group, particularly one that is unsympathetic.
- Use presentation techniques that establish your credibility and get people on your side.
- Structure ideas using time, place, aspect, and other organizational methods.
- Leverage nonverbal communication and body language to reinforce your message.
- Craft strong beginnings and endings that anchor your key theme.
- Expand a basic presentation plan with supporting evidence, stories, and statistics.
Preview a lesson
Preparing to Plan Effective speaking starts long before you open your mouth. The planning habits you build between presentations determine how well you perform when the pressure is on. This lesson covers the key practices that make you a more informed, confident, and credible speaker. Be Informed You cannot speak convincingly about topics you do not understand. Make a habit of staying current: read reputable newspapers, credible online sources, and books on subjects relevant to your work. Talk with your manager, colleagues, and team to understand their perspectives and expertise. The more you know, the more confident you will feel when challenged. Keep an Open Mind Avoid forming opinions too early. Decisions made in haste are often ones you regret. As you gather information, keep asking: *Is this accurate? Do I understand it fully? What else do I need to know?* Ask Questions and Listen Well Thoughtful speakers pause before commenting. Develop your listening skills so you extract maximum value from every conversation and question-and-answer session. Watch for Planning Traps Be alert to these common pitfalls that derail presentations: **Derailment** — A question throws you off track and you never return to your original point **Rocky Mountain Road** — No clear theme or plan; you lurch from point to point **Roller Coaster** — Strong points mixed randomly with weak ones
…Enroll to read the rest and the full curriculum.
Curriculum
Module 1: Introduction to Speaking Under Pressure
3 lessons- textWhat Is Speaking Under Pressure?
- textGetting Started: Preparation Basics
- quizModule 1 Quiz
Module 2: Planning and Analysis Tools
3 lessons- textPreparing to PlanPreview
- textForce Field Analysis and Pros & Cons
- quizModule 2 Quiz
Module 3: Understanding Your Audience
3 lessons- textAudience Profiling and Needs Analysis
- textFinding Common Ground with a Hostile Audience
- quizModule 3 Quiz
Module 4: Controlling Nerves and Engaging Your Audience
3 lessons- textOvercoming Nervousness
- textMaking Your Listener Hear You: Nonverbal Communication
- quizModule 4 Quiz
Module 5: Key Themes, Sentences, and Structuring Ideas
3 lessons- textFinding Your Key Theme and Key Sentence
- textStructuring Ideas: Three Key Points
- quizModule 5 Quiz
Module 6: Organization Methods and Body Language
3 lessons- textOrganization Methods: Time, Place, Aspect, and More
- textBody Language and Voice Quality
- quizModule 6 Quiz
Module 7: Beginnings, Endings, and Expanding Your Presentation
3 lessons- textCrafting Strong Beginnings and Endings
- textExpanding a Basic Plan into a Full Presentation
- quizModule 7 Quiz