Influential people are confident, and the confidence displayed draws Others in. If we can also fold in a little Storytelling, that can help us engage Others at a deeper, much more emotional level. In this context, Storytelling is powerful; it’s a presentational enabler that allows our message to become much more compelling, memorable, and persuasive.
That sounds great, until we are arrowed and asked to stand up and speak, isn’t it?
The very thought of rising up in front of others and present our perspectives, often causes fear to course through our veins, doesn’t it? In fact, psychology informs us that these anxious feelings are a natural reflex for most people.
However, the reality is very different for most of us; very few presentations turn out to be significant ones {you know, those grand formal affairs, with large audiences, big PowerPoint decks, and loads riding on the outcomes}. Though a little fear may at first feel justified, what we put inside our head holds us back.
But, what if we could change those thoughts?
We can, and that’s encouraging because most “presentations” are short, much more “routine”, less formal, and often quite mundane – they may not even need PowerPoint! Think about the regular sharing that takes place all around, such as in small impromptu gatherings, status updates during regular team meetings, progress updates in a project team, suggestions & ideas made to your Manager, even, product & service proposals with a Client.
“Routine” perhaps, yet they’re all ideal opportunities to influence and persuade others, aren’t they?
This Workshop therefore takes an emotionally intelligent approach to presenting. Our focus attends to our anxieties & fears, to mindfully harness them, blend in presentational techniques, and shape them with ideas to hone our Storytelling skills. In doing this, we’ll provide a creatively authentic space that affords Participants scope for safe, enjoyable, practice.
Mr. Patrick O’Brien, CMgr
With a constant appetite for change, Patrick came to realise one very important thing: it’s the People that matter in business, personal development and growth counts. His learning delivery approach therefore focuses on building those important soft skills. Training thus scaffolds atop three firm foundations.
First, for learning to stick, it needs to be fun; enjoyment & engagement are precursors to absorption & adoption. Next, for learning to be relevant, it has to be real; it needs collaboration, openness, and a little intensity. Finally, for learning to be desirable, it must match expectations; it has to substantially deliver what it says “on the tin”.
Patrick therefore designs Workshop experiences that masterfully combine Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) with a deep Coaching mentality. Both are invitingly interlaced using Improvisational techniques. His diverse background and experience also allow him to facilitate inclusive and valuable learning moments. These are highly engaging, empowering, and, enjoyable.
His life’s journey has straddled different countries and cultures in Ireland, England, New Zealand and Singapore. He has worked his way through a variety roles, from individual contributor to Managing Director, in the corporate world. And, he has built considerable business experience along the way in working across sectors such as government, technology, manufacturing, finance, consulting, aviation, telecommunications and the Internet.
His formal education is well rounded: Honours in IT, Masters in Marketing and MBA in Finance. He is also a “Master Practitioner” of NLP, and an enthusiastic author with Articles regularly appearing in the local media. In whatever form you experience his work, you’ll always feel his curiously cheerful sense of enjoyment; it shines through.
Patrick is an active member of many international Professional bodies, such as the Chartered Management Institute, the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Institute of Directors. He is proud to be one of only a small handful of “Chartered Managers” in Asia.
With a warm Irish wit, a love of the “craic” and a big beaming smile, audiences in over twenty-five countries have found his disarmingly unpretentious and conversational approach to learning, to be refreshing and rewarding experiences.
