Presentation Skills Training
Highly Effective Presentation Skills Training for Associates, Managers, Executives, and Leaders
Presentation & Communication Skills Training with Immediate Results
For over 25 years, our workshops have substantially and permanently raised the presentation skills of both introverts and extroverts in Fortune 500 companies. We specialize in training associates, managers, senior leadership, and those on the leadership track.
Legal Professionals
Sales & Marketing
Accounting & Finance Professionals
Scientific Professionals
Technical Professionals
About Our Presentation Skills Training
We deliver intensive and engaging coaching workshops for small or large groups of subject matter experts. Participants will quickly and significantly enhance their business speaking skills across discussions, meetings, client interactions, and presentations, whether in person or virtual.
Our workshops focus on storytelling. They cover delivering complex information, presenting in high-stakes situations, and preparing information to be understood and remembered. They help professionals develop natural, charismatic personal speaking skills.
Each participant will select one or two of their current presentations or topics to work on during the workshop.
Depending on the size of the group, video recording of their presentations and video review will be included in the workshop
What Makes Our Presentation Skills Training Unique?
Our presentation skills training is of tremendous value to professionals, whether you are in the early years of your career or already a successful speaker and leader.
World-Class
Coaching
You will receive personal coaching and video feedback tailored to your unique speaking skills. The objective is to develop the full power of your natural speaking style and your unique personality.
Pre-Workshop Coaching
Assessment
We provide each participant a detailed pre-workshop assessment to fill out, so that our coach is aware of the areas of need and goals of the participants. This helps the coach customize personal coaching during the course.
Small Groups
You will receive the adequate personal coaching you need and learn new skills in a comfortable and supportive environment.
Video Recording & Video
Feedback
Clients have praised our videotaping sessions as transformational. You will have four presentation recordings in the workshop and receive feedback from your coach and peers.
Enjoyable
Our clients appreciate the comfortable workshop environment and find the experience challenging, enjoyable and very rewarding.
Continuous
Improvement
You will receive a written analysis from your coach with personal recommendations for continuous improvement. Also, the Commanding Presence Handbook has “best practices” to help you keep the momentum of your learning.
Which Presentation Skills Training is Right for You?
Training for Individual Professionals
We hold monthly in-person advanced presentation skills workshops in downtown Toronto, Ontario. This is a two-day coach-led intensive course for a small group (up to 10 participants). The training includes personal coaching, practice and exercises, 4 presentation recordings, and video review with coaching & peer feedback.
Training for Corporate Groups
For organizations looking to train large or small groups of executives and staff, we provide presentation skills training in the following durations: 2-hour, half-day, one-day and two-day. These workshops can be customized to accommodate clients’ needs. They can be held at our facilities or the client’s site. We also offer a French version of the workshops on demand.
Our Latest Articles
The Transformative Power of Storytelling: A Vital Skill for Company Leaders and Managers
In the realm of corporate leadership, the ability to tell a compelling story isn’t just a valuable skill; it’s a cornerstone of effective communication and leadership prowess. Storytelling transcends mere narration; it’s a powerful tool that enables leaders and managers to inspire, influence, and connect with their teams, stakeholders, and clients on a profound level.
Evoking Emotions and Building Connections
Stories have an unparalleled ability to evoke emotions and create connections. Leaders who incorporate storytelling into their communication strategies can forge stronger emotional connections with their audience. Whether conveying the company’s vision, sharing past successes, or addressing challenges, storytelling enables leaders to engage their audience on a deeper level, fostering trust and empathy.
Communicating Complex Ideas with Clarity
Complex ideas or data can often be challenging to convey effectively. Storytelling simplifies the communication of intricate concepts by placing them within relatable narratives. Leaders who harness this skill can break down complex information into digestible, understandable components, ensuring that their message resonates and is easily comprehended by their teams or stakeholders.
Inspiring Action and Driving Change
Leadership isn’t just about steering the ship; it’s about inspiring action and driving change. Stories have the power to inspire, motivate, and ignite a sense of purpose. When leaders weave narratives that illustrate the ‘why’ behind a strategy or change initiative, they can rally their teams behind a common goal, inspiring enthusiasm and commitment to achieving shared objectives.
Creating Memorable and Impactful Communication
In a world inundated with information, it’s the stories that stick. Leaders and managers who master the art of storytelling create memorable communication experiences. Whether addressing a team meeting, delivering a keynote, or pitching a new idea, a well-crafted story lingers in the minds of the audience, making the message more impactful and enduring.
Fostering a Positive Company Culture
Storytelling is an integral part of shaping organizational culture. When leaders share stories that embody the company’s values, successes, or lessons learned, they contribute to fostering a positive and cohesive culture. These stories serve as guiding principles, influencing behavior and shaping the collective identity of the organization.
Enhancing Leadership Presence and Influence
Leaders who are adept storytellers naturally exude a stronger presence and influence. A well-told story captivates attention, commands respect, and enhances the leader’s credibility. It allows them to articulate their vision more vividly, compelling others to buy into their ideas and follow their lead.
Conclusion: Empowering Leaders Through the Art of Storytelling
In the modern corporate landscape, the art of storytelling isn’t just a soft skill; it’s a strategic advantage. Leaders and managers who embrace storytelling as an essential tool in their arsenal enhance their communication, leadership, and organizational influence.
By mastering the craft of storytelling, leaders can forge stronger connections, drive change, inspire action, and shape a narrative that resonates deeply within their teams and throughout their organizations. It’s more than a skill; it’s a transformative force that propels leaders towards greater success and impact.
How to Craft Stories for Presentations
Transform Facts Into Stories That Connect and Inspire
The best presenters do more than share information. They create meaning. Whether you are leading a meeting, pitching an idea, or presenting data, storytelling helps you turn facts into insight and insight into impact.
Strong stories do not depend on theatrics. They depend on clarity, structure, and connection. Here are a few ways to make storytelling a natural and powerful part of your next presentation.
1. Begin with a Clear Purpose
Every story should have a reason to exist. Before you choose your examples, decide what you want your audience to remember. This purpose will shape your story, help you stay focused, and make your message more memorable.
If your goal is to promote collaboration, you might tell a story about a team that faced a tough challenge and achieved something together. The point is not to entertain, but to use the story to reinforce your message.
2. Build Connection Through People and Challenge
People remember people. Bring your ideas to life through real characters, decisions, and turning points. When you include relatable experiences or emotions, you create a sense of shared understanding.
Every good story includes a challenge. Describe what needed to be solved or understood, and then help your audience see why it mattered. When people connect to the meaning, they connect to you.
3. Bring the Moment to Life
A story should feel real. Use details that let the listener picture what was happening. Describe what was seen, heard, or felt. Keep those details purposeful so they highlight your message rather than distract from it.
Once your audience can picture the story, guide them toward what it means. What changed? What was learned? What decision or outcome followed? When you connect the story to an action or insight, it becomes memorable.
Turning Facts into Stories
Facts and figures have power, but only when they are placed in context. Instead of saying “Customer satisfaction rose 30 percent,” explain what led to that improvement. Describe what was done differently, how customers responded, and what that result means.
The story makes the data meaningful. The data makes the story credible.
Making Storytelling Part of Your Style
Storytelling becomes easier with practice. Try adding one short example or story to your next presentation or meeting. Notice how people react. Over time, these stories will help you hold attention and make your messages stick.
The Takeaway
Storytelling is not a performance technique. It is a communication skill that helps people understand, relate, and act. When you tell stories that clarify what happened, why it mattered, and what came next, you create presentations that people remember long after the slides are gone.
Commanding Attention: The Role of Delivery in Effective Speaking
Great communication is never just about the words. It is about how those words are brought to life. Your tone, timing, and physical presence shape how your message is received and remembered. Research shows that more than half of what people take away from a message comes from non-verbal cues such as body language, facial expression, and vocal tone.
In Commanding Presence workshops, we show speakers how small adjustments in delivery can turn a good presentation into a powerful, memorable experience.
The Power of Vocal Delivery
Your voice is your most flexible and expressive instrument. The way you use tone, pace, and volume influences not only what people hear, but how they feel about what they hear.
Tone and Pitch:
Your tone communicates emotion. A steady, lower pitch signals calm and authority. A lighter or higher tone conveys energy and enthusiasm. Experiment with contrast to emphasize key ideas and keep your delivery dynamic.
Pace:
Speaking too quickly can make your message feel rushed or overwhelming. Slow down enough for your listeners to process your ideas. A measured pace shows confidence and allows your message to land.
Volume:
Vary your volume to create contrast. A strong, clear voice adds impact to key moments. A quieter tone can draw your audience in and create intimacy. The shifts between the two are what hold attention.
Using Silence with Intention
Silence can be one of the most powerful tools in public speaking. A pause invites reflection, signals importance, and allows the audience to absorb your message.
Use silence to:
- Let a key idea sink in.
- Build anticipation before an important statement.
- Mark transitions between topics or sections.
Pauses may feel uncomfortable at first, but they communicate confidence and control. A speaker who can pause comfortably shows mastery of both message and moment.
Authenticity in Delivery
The most engaging speakers are those who sound and act like themselves. Authenticity does not mean being casual; it means being real. When you focus less on performing and more on connecting, your natural voice and personality come through.
Practice noticing how you speak when you are relaxed and genuine. Do you raise your pitch when nervous? Do you speed up when excited? Self-awareness allows you to adjust habits that get in the way of presence and replace them with habits that build trust.
Body Language and Presence
Your physical presence communicates before you ever speak. Alignment, movement, and eye contact all signal confidence and credibility.
- Posture: Stand balanced, grounded, and open. Good posture projects confidence and steadiness.
- Gestures: Use purposeful movement to underline ideas, not to fill space.
- Eye Contact: Connect with individuals across the room. Eye contact builds trust and keeps the audience engaged.
Every physical choice should support your message. When words, tone, and movement align, your delivery feels natural and convincing.
The Takeaway
Delivery is where intention meets impact. Your words matter, but how you use your voice, body, and pauses determines how deeply your message connects.
In your next presentation, choose one area to focus on — perhaps your pace, your posture, or your pauses — and notice how it changes the way people respond. With practice, your delivery will not only capture attention but hold it, allowing your message to land with clarity and confidence.
That is the essence of a Commanding Presence.
