Suffolk University’s SBS Graduate Programs Office hosted an interactive Business Presentation Skills Workshop facilitated by Charlotte Dietz of SpeakWell Partners. The workshop, which was part of the office’s SBS EDGE professional development event series, emphasized the power of making a good first impression that will last all the way through a presentation and even well beyond that. The number one skill employers are looking for is proficiency in technical communication, and as such, this workshop focused on developing a professional presence from start to finish.
Before even addressing an actual presentation, the first part of the workshop focused on fundamental business skills. Employers state that the biggest problems they encounter when meeting applicants are that 33% have bad posture, 26% have a weak handshake, and 67% don’t even make eye contact! These are the first things people notice when they meet you, so it is crucial to start with mastering the basics of appearance, posture, eye contact, and handshakes. First impressions must include a “balanced body and a balanced mind” to communicate openness and mindfulness. Additionally, this part of the lesson focused on the significance of having insightful and engaged conversations, as well as practicing active and receptive listening.
The second part of the workshop delved into the tools necessary for preparing and delivering a presentation. Charlotte instructed the class, “don’t write content until you have a strategy, and don’t have a strategy until you have an audience.” To do this, devices such as goal setting, audience analysis, and storyboards were used. Later, the class worked together in groups of 3 to deliver a 3-5 minute presentation around various business topics and implement the several skills they had learned over the course of the workshop.
At the beginning of the class, Charlotte instructed everyone to write down one area they wanted to make progress on. At the conclusion of the workshop, the class then participated in reflection and feedback regarding the presentations and the workshop itself, during which they said that they felt more confident in their skills than when they entered the room. Overall, the workshop brought together people with different experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives who all worked with each other to create an engaging and meaningful lesson about the importance of personal and professional presentation skills.
Want to learn more? Charlotte is hosting the second part of her Business Presentation Skills Workshop Series in the spring! Keep an eye out for it, as well as other upcoming EDGE Event Workshops, by visiting this website.
-Lia Gabrielle, MBA ’18