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Business · Workplace skills

Speak with Confidence: A Practical Guide to Public Speaking for Work and Business

Overcome nerves, structure your message, and deliver presentations with clarity and impact. This course is designed for UK adult learners who want to build practical public speaking skills for meetings, pitches, and professional events.

360 min8 modulesBeginner friendly
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Free to take. This course does not use any Learning Credits.

What you’ll be able to do

By the end of this course, you will be able to prepare and deliver a clear, confident presentation to a small or medium-sized audience, using simple techniques to manage anxiety, engage listeners, and handle questions effectively.

Course outline

A clear route from first principles to practical confidence

  1. 01

    Module 1: Finding Your Starting Point

    • What kind of speaker are you? A self-assessment
    • Common fears and how to reframe them
    • Setting a realistic personal goal for your speaking
    • Your first 60-second speech: a low-stakes practice
  2. 02

    Module 2: Building a Clear Message

    • Knowing your audience and what they need
    • The three-part structure: opening, body, close
    • Crafting a strong opening that grabs attention
    • Ending with a memorable takeaway or call to action
  3. 03

    Module 3: Managing Nerves and Building Presence

    • Breathing and grounding exercises for before you speak
    • Using posture and eye contact to project confidence
    • Turning nervous energy into positive energy
    • Practising with a partner: a safe feedback session
  4. 04

    Module 4: Using Your Voice and Body Effectively

    • Pace, pause, and pitch: making your voice engaging
    • Gestures and movement: what to do with your hands
    • Using your space and props (like slides or notes)
    • Recording yourself: spotting habits and improving
  5. 05

    Module 5: Handling Visual Aids and Notes

    • Slides that support, not distract: less is more
    • Using handouts, flipcharts, or props effectively
    • Writing speaker notes you can actually use
    • Practising with your aids: timing and transitions
  6. 06

    Module 6: Engaging Your Audience and Handling Questions

    • Techniques to keep your audience listening
    • Asking and answering questions: a two-way skill
    • Handling difficult or unexpected questions
    • Practising a Q&A session with the group
  7. 07

    Module 7: Speaking in Different Work Contexts

    • Speaking up in team meetings and briefings
    • Pitching an idea or product to colleagues or clients
    • Giving a short update or report without a script
    • Networking and introducing yourself with impact
  8. 08

    Module 8: Your Final Presentation and Next Steps

    • Preparing your final 5-minute talk
    • Delivering your presentation to the group
    • Giving and receiving helpful feedback
    • Creating a personal action plan for continued growth