Public Seminar

Seminar Dates

July 21-22, 2010 — Class is full.
Women-only Seminar
Instructor: Nancy Graves

August 26-27, 2010
Instructor: Steven Tomlinson

October 6-7, 2010
Women-only Seminar
Instructor: Nancy Graves

Description

All communication is audience-driven. Our two-day seminar equips you to present your ideas with clarity and power in a variety of contexts: executive-level meetings, business presentations in general, leading meetings, facilitating high-stakes discussions ,giving a talk in a professional setting, global conference calls and in the context of a cross-cultural team.

In any context you enter you must be clear, credible, confident and--relevant. You also must listen actively and be able to "think on your feet", adapting your approach as you discover more about your audience. And, in many settings, you have to stay calm and focused when interrupted and challenged. You have to understand the unwritten rules of engagement and be able to align and attune quickly.

In today's global world you must be a master of new contexts.

The class is small (no more than eight participants) to allow for individualized coaching and a depth of observation and learning from each other. You will bring an upcoming presentation, a critical conversation, a soon-to-be delivered talk, or a sensitive group phone call which you must lead as the substance for a role play and coaching on Day 2 of the class. You will receive candid feedback and coaching from the instructor and from peers.

You will take home a DVD of your work and the comments generated in the session. You will receive suggestions for improving your slides and other visuals.

This agenda in this class is built from the instructor's design and response to individual goals.

The Margaret Keys two-day course teaches you how to:

• How to prepare in a way that lets you "think on your feet" and move the discussion on the fly
• How to reduce anxiety and "nerves" in high-stakes situations or negotiations
• How to gain alignment upfront through "framing"--a precision tool for getting the information on the table quickly
• How to better position data and ideas through "pre-wiring"
• How to manage power dynamics in executive and other contexts
• How to "verbally draft" in preparation
• How to handle challenges without losing your authority or credibility
• How to shorten your conversation or presentation when the situation demands
• How to use visuals and slides as a strategy to support your message

You can expect to experience minimal lecture, maximum dialogue, and occasional videotaping.

Videotaping will be used to enhance and drive the learning process.

Design

Day One

You will meet your colleagues in a series of baseline interviews.

You will learn models for preparation and managing discussion dynamics.

You will see how framing creates clarity and focus and can help you drive decisions.

You will practice frames for launching your presentation, handling questions, and closing strong. You will apply these tools to a specific presentation or conversation you want to practice.

You will watch yourself and your colleagues on videotape and practice giving feedback and coaching.

Day Two

You will test-drive your presentation or conversation in a small group before role-playing with the whole group.

You will get valuable feedback and coaching for the instructor and your peers. You will learn as much from observing and coaching as you do from your time at the front of the room.

Cancellations

Payment is due at the time of registration to secure your place in the class. Should you need to cancel for any reason up to 15 days before the class, half of your fee will be returned to you or applied toward another class.

If you need to cancel in the two weeks before the class, there is no refund.

Registration

Please choose one of the following means to register:

• online registration
  (for credit card payments only)
  
  
• printed registration form
  (for payment by check, company purchase requisition, or credit card)