Presentation Training: How To Select Your Presentation Skills Trainer

If you are ready to improve the presentation skills of your team and are looking to hire a presentations skills trainer you might be wondering "How do you choose the right presentation skills trainer?"

This article will offer you some tips and ideas on the questions you should be asking of your prospective presentation skills trainer when planning a presentation skills training program for your people.

Ask these five direct and revealing questions of your presentations skills trainer to help you select a superior trainer.

Are you a natural born speaker?

This is an important question because if the trainer is a natural born speaker - they will not likely be a good instructor. The best teachers and trainers are those who struggled to learn the skills. They remember the pain of how difficult it was for them and thus can better help your people. You don't want a self appointed Prima Donna as your presentation skills trainer. Do you?

It's a good sign if the trainer briefly describes some of his own pain and struggle to become a better presenter. You don't want an individual who claims to have a gift.

Other than training, what other types of presentations have you delivered?

You probably heard the expression "those that can, do and those that can't, teach". Be sure that your presentation skills trainer is not just a teacher or professor telling students how to do something that they have never done. Almost anyone can tell the theory of delivering a sales or boardroom presentation but it's another story to actually deliver the real thing and relive the mistakes and lessons for you.

What have you written and where else have you been quoted and published?

If the presentation skills trainer has any substance he will have written something. The real question is who else thinks it's worth quoting. A few articles is a good start but does not make one an expert. Ask to see copies of several articles written over a period of several years. Look for evidence that the individual is raising and answering provocative issues. If he wrote or contributed to a book, ask for a copy to see if that resonates with your needs and values.

Who says that you're good?

There are two things that you are looking for here. Who (companies or organizations) have they worked with and for how long? The other important element that you want to see is client testimonials. You want testimonials from clients that detail the results and show the names, titles and companies. Anonymous testimonials are fools gold. Recognition from other experts is helpful. The third area of recognition is the media. Where has your expert been quoted, interviewed or published?

What have you done recently to improve both your presentation skills and presentation skills training?

There are two things that you are looking for with this pointed question. You want to hear that your presentation skills trainer has attended training programs to refresh or upgrade their skills. You want to hear that this person has invested in their own expertise by working with a presentation skills coach. You might also ask about the books that they have read lately or books that influenced them greatly. Here's a simple tip - ask them what two or three books - other than their own they would recommend to you to improve your presentation skills. If they can't immediately name at least three and the reason for their picks, you can write them off your list.

When selecting the best presentation skills trainer for your people it's important that you ask the right questions so you make the right choice. Ask the questions that establish the expertise, approach and fit for training your team on improving their presentation skills.