Talkshop, the country’s leading consultancy for management communication, designed and conducted Speech Training and Presentation Mastery for Spokespersons for the National Irrigation Administration (NIA). The 16-hour executive virtual class, which was completed last 4 March 2021, enabled two batches of NIA managers to take their presentation skills and styles to the next level.
Talkshop recognized that as Department Managers, Project Managers, and Division Managers — the participants had interacted with a wide range of audiences in various occasions and platforms. In this context, Sheila Viesca, TalkShop CEO, drew from their extensive experience as spokespersons in management meetings, press conferences, senate hearings, stakeholder and public presentations to make the training modules responsive to their current communication needs. The training approach was also calibrated to the virtual setting to be interactive and collaborative while allowing opportunities for individual creativity and introspection.
Ms. Viesca stresses, “The managers of the National Irrigation Administration play a valuable role in the agency’s vision to professionally and efficiently contribute to the inclusive growth of the country and to the improvement of the farmer’s quality of life. Not only are they in the frontline of engaging internal stakeholders, they are also the voice of NIA to the farmers, the media, other government agencies, sectoral organizations, and communities. Their ability to communicate the agency’s agenda — clearly, coherently, convincingly — will impact on the image, reputation, and credibility of NIA.”
Speech Training and Presentation Mastery for Spokespersons can be customized to the training needs of any company and the specific roles of the target trainees. The scope of the program is extensive, zeroing in on soft and hard skills pertinent in effective communication with any audience profile and size. It covers analyzing a prospective audience to determine how to engage them. Often deprioritized, audience analysis is a prerequisite in planning focused, relevant, and appealing presentations.
Without taking away from its benefits for face-to-face interactions, the program is equally deliberate in helping the participants master the art of public speaking online as the times have normalized increased time and preference for virtual alignments and presentations. Enhancing online rapport, expounding ideas creatively, and capturing attention through visuals and other techniques are all integrated in the learning activities.
Moreover, Ms. Viesca, who has been leading TalkShop for the past 2 decades, seamlessly built into the program modules that consider the importance of listening attentively, valuing feedback, and responding to questions professionally at any point in the presentation. These include: identifying and applying effective listening and soliciting and handling feedback to ensure message accuracy. The program also includes Basic Media Training to introduce interview skills and Q&A techniques to spokespersons and build their confidence when dealing with journalists of any medium.
Ms. Viesca punctuates, “While Speech Training and Presentation Mastery for Spokespersons is a program that has evolved the art of public speaking to be responsive to the new normal — make no mistake about it: this program remains to stand on the bedrock of effective communication, whether in person or online: purpose, clarity, coherence, and confidence.”
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