Corporate Programs

We guide your people to shine. They experience confidence to share their ideas, insights and expertise freely with clients, customers and co-workers.

Summary of Corporate Programs

• Presentation, Persuasion & Leadership Presence
• Group Facilitation
• Speaking Clearly for Foreign-Born Professionals
• Project Interview Coaching

Presentation, Persuasion & Leadership Presence

Offered at your location, the Self-Expression Center's corporate presentation training programs in Presentation, Persuasion & Leadership Presence teach your key people to deliver compelling presentations and communications. We guide your leaders to develop presence, speak from passion and be persuasive. The purpose of our presentation training program is to elevate speaking skills so that participants feel free to contribute their unique ideas, insights and expertise in meetings, groups and presentations. The ability to connect and compel listeners can substantially increase effectiveness in executives, managers, directors, sales people, team leaders or principals.

Outcomes

Participants will learn how to:

• Deliver compelling presentations
• Articulate your company message clearly
• Make persuasive arguments
• Present expertise credibly in presentations and client meetings
• Exhibit a strong, capable and professional presence in presentations
• Capture and hold the attention of listeners and audiences
• Develop a style of speaking that is authentic and genuine
• Develop confidence to think on their feet
• Be at ease and comfortable in front of groups
• Make genuine connection with listeners and prospective clients
• Build stronger relationships with team members

Our Approach is Different

The Presentation, Persuasion & Leadership Presence Program does not lock participants up in mechanical techniques; rather it frees them to be natural and genuine. Our presentation training approach builds on individual's strengths, allowing barriers to fall away. It honors their uniqueness and enhances their confidence. Participants are guided in a step-by-step manner to build skills easily and effortlessly. The public speaking processes and exercises are totally supportive and non-critical so participants can relax enough to take risks and connect with their best self. Participants experience confidence to speak genuinely and the ability to shine in important professional situations.

Our Flexible Program Formats Are Customized to Your Group

Our presentation training programs are flexible and tailored to your company's needs. We work with you to develop a public speaking training or presentation skill training program that suits your goals and fits your time constraints.

Training is offered in several possible formats, including:

• A Two-Day Foundation Program - offered on two consecutive days or two Fridays
• One-Day Programs
• Building Block Programs - half-day follow up sessions
• Weekly Courses - meeting for two to three hours per week
• Individual Coaching

Group Facilitation

Guiding you to lead group meetings so that individuals are acknowledged and empowered.

Group facilitation is the skill of directing productive meetings in a manner that generates trust and empowers group participants. Group facilitation is a way of being with a group that allows and encourages each participant to contribute his/her insights and expertise. To facilitate means "to make the process easy."

Skills and Topics Covered

• Facilitation - definition and strategy. What is facilitation?
• The role and tasks of the facilitator. It's easier than you think.
• Creating group goals. What results do we want to create together?
• The facilitator does not have to know the answer.
• Setting ground rules that create an atmosphere of safety and creativity.
• Creating rapport in the first session. Setting the tone so the process flows.
• Important steps in directing the first session.
• The five steps of group facilitation.
• Drawing people out. Acknowledging the value of each participant.
• Supporting through affirmative response.
• Warm-up activities to prepare people to cooperate.
• Questioning - How to keep the process moving.
• Roles often taken by group members.
• Strategies for handling difficult situations.
• Letting go of control. Trusting the process.
• Detachment - the skill of being unbiased and non-reactive.
• Slowing down to listen.
• Relaxing into your role as facilitator.
• Holding the space of emotional safety.

Format for Group Facilitation Training

The Group Facilitation Program is best offered in an experiential course format that meets for enough time so that core concepts are taught and participants have the opportunity to practice facilitating a brief session. Suggested formats are a Multi-Session Course Program and a 2-Day Program. .

Allow us to customize a corporate program for you. Sandra Zimmer will personally interview the executive in charge to help identify outcomes needed to achieve your company objectives. After the initial interview, we will prepare a proposal that includes schedules and fees.

Speaking Clearly for Foreign-Born Professionals

Pronouncing the Sounds of English

Foreign-born professionals add significant value to the companies for which they work.  While many speakers of English as a second language have a strong grasp of the English language, a heavy accent may interfere with their ability to be clearly understood when communicating crucial information.  Often others make unconscious decisions about whether to listen, believe, or trust an expert based on the clarity of his or her speech.

Additionally, a foreign-born professional may be reluctant to speak up due to the difficulty of being understood.  When repeatedly asked, “What did you say?”, both the speaker and the listener may lose patience and look for ways to end the conversation.

This inability to communicate effectively may have a direct impact on company image, decrease productivity in the workplace and result in loss of business.  While they do not need to get rid of their accents, the foreign born professional’s everyday English needs to be easily understood by clients, customers, and co-workers.

Results of the Speaking Clearly Training

• Allows the foreign-born professional to be more easily understood and become a more discerning listener.
• Increases self-confidence to share expertise and take charge when opportunities arise.
• Improves the foreign-born professional’s acceptance as an “insider” and a respected colleague who is easily engaged in conversation.
• Increases the foreign born professional’s value to the company, clients, and customers.

Our Program is Customized for your Group of Foreign-Born Professionals

We design a course that meets for at least 6 sessions. Each session lasts 90 minutes.  Classes are limited to a maximum of 8 participants. The participants are taught proper articulation which is positioning of tongue, teeth, and lips, for correct pronunciation. Industry specific terms are used for practicing correct pronunciation.

Project Interview Coaching

Project team leaders are often brilliant at their technical expertise but may lack the presentation and persuasion skills to win a project. If they are stiff and boring at the project interview, they may lose a project for which they are the best choice.

The success of your company depends on developing new business and the ability of your team leaders to present persuasively in project interviews. To win new projects, team leaders must not only be able to present their technical expertise, ideas and processes in a credible manner; they must also be emotionally engaging and compelling so that the client selection panel feels your project team is the clear winner.

Sandra Zimmer coaches project team leaders to prepare and present persuasive presentations designed to address the client's vision for their project. The presentation preparation process adds additional value of creating chemistry among team leaders and sub-consultants so that they work together more effectively once the project is won.

To view a pdf file Presenting to Win that offers details of Sandra Zimmer's coaching for project interviews.

For more information, contact Sandra Zimmer at (281) 293-7070 or (866) 575-7070 or email:

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