Kristian Gant
Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Smith+Nephew
I really enjoyed the course and thought Charlotte Rowarth had a very effective teaching style. I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to improve their presenting skills, but especially to new engineers or engineers who are looking to improve how they present themselves.
Why the Confident Presenting course?
“I have had leadership-type roles in the past and worked in environments where you have to lead. But I wanted to do some development work on myself and formalise my leadership. You can always learn new skills.
“With my manager’s encouragement, I looked at various IMechE courses. As far as I am aware, no other institutions offer these kinds of programmes. I considered all sorts of courses, but Confident Presenting appealed for a few reasons.
“Firstly, I have always been a bit shy and never enjoyed the presenting process. Getting up and speaking in front of a lot of people felt intimidating! Secondly, I’d presented informally but never anything formal. I’d always been nervous or felt I had bumbled my way through. Lastly, I want to move into engineering management – and presenting to senior staff and to customers is part of that.
“In short, I wanted to improve my confidence and improve my skills, so that I could better myself.”
What was your experience of the course?
“There were six of us on the course and a good mix of people with a wide range of different experiences. The trainer, Charlotte Rowarth, introduced herself and then launched us straight in – she said, speak to the person next to you for ten minutes, find out these things about them and then present them to us all. It was like, ‘Woah, we’ve started and are in at the deep end!’
“It was a really good exercise because you are not only presenting someone you’ve never spoken to before, but you are also presenting yourself. There was a lot of practical work like that. In fact, I’d say that has been the experience of all the IMechE courses I have taken. It’s never ‘death by PowerPoint’, there’s always a lot of emphasise on the ‘doing’. I enjoy that approach because you learn something but also have to put it in to practice.
“Over the two-day course, we studied and played with all kinds of different ways one can present, including how to ask and answer questions. This was tied back to practical applications like selling a product – in our case, a random object in the room. The process was about the presenting technique and how you answer questions or objections.
“The course culminated in each of us giving a 10-minute presentation on a subject of our choice. I did mine on travel as that’s always been a big part of my life, but there was a wide range of subjects. This was followed by constructive feedback, which I found very helpful. You could also get a video of your presentation to watch back.
“I really enjoyed the course and thought Charlotte had a very effective teaching style. I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to improve their presenting skills, but especially to new engineers or engineers who are looking to improve how they present themselves and how they are seen by others in a work environment.”
What are the key reasons someone should attend Confident Presenting?
1 “You will come away with an awareness of how you come across when you present, what your style is, and what you need to do to improve your presentations.”
2 “You will understand what skills and techniques can make for a good presentation. And how you can use them effectively.”
3 “At the end of the two days, I left with more confidence, and I think you will, too. The course is called Confident Presenting – and it did improve my confidence in presenting!”
What’s been the impact?
“There was a change in leadership at the company and we do more presentations now than previously. That’s a good thing. Part of that change is that I must present to the senior vice president every month. I feel the nerves building before it’s my turn. Following the course, I have been able to use techniques I learned to calm myself down which has helped massively, and I now feel confident getting up and presenting to others.
“I now make sure I have thought through what questions I might face – you never know for sure what questions are going to be asked or what the mood in the room is going to be like, for reasons that are nothing to do with you. Previously, I might have tried to fudge my way through. Now, though, I am fully prepared with an understanding of what questions I might face and why.
“In my role, I also run project meetings, sometimes with external companies. I use the skills we were taught to consider the best approach – for example, being a storyteller or a technical expert – and choose the most appropriate for the situation. These sessions bring in another aspect we looked at, of asking effective questions and providing feedback. We put a lot of emphasis on giving feedback in our company – after all, if no one ever tells you you’re doing something wrong, you’re just going to carry on doing it. The course has improved how I offer feedback.
“To be honest, I think I use what I learned on a daily basis and often subconsciously.”
Three pieces of advice you’d give future attendees
1 “Think about the subject area you want to cover in the final presentation, as there isn’t a lot of time to prepare for it in the course.”
2 “Consider practising presenting beforehand to help you understand your strengths and weaknesses. A bit of pre-course self-assessment, if you like.”
3 “Go with an open mind and be ready to try anything in a safe environment. I really think it’s the best approach.”
What’s next?
“I’m currently mentoring one of the apprentices at work. It feels like I’ve gained a lot by attending this course, so I am trying pass on some of the skills and knowledge I have learned to my mentee. I am sure it will help. I am also currently undertaking further career development so I’m sure this and other courses will help with evidencing my skills and achievements!”