Convincing people is an art. But not a black art. Persuasiveness is a craft. A craft can be learnt. In our rhetoric training words become tools. Theory and practice. Techniques and tricks. Bring them together, and you’ll convince people.

Rhetoric has a goal. Together with you, we discover the goal of your speech, and the strategy to achieve it.

We practise with you what you need. General skills. Or the deployment of a particular speech. A planned appearance.

And it’s all the authentic you, and no one else! You can speak as you like. From the sheet, with bullet points, or without notes. It’s you we hone. Your words. Your voice. Your body language. You.

The topics covered in our rhetoric training include:

• preparing a speech: the basis for success
• structure of a speech: structure means security
• the brief statement (exercise): brass tacks!
• articulation (with exercises): speak clearly and you’ll be understood
• tone and volume (with exercises): your voice as a weapon
• the tools of the trade (with exercises): what tricks do Shakespeare, Al Pacino and Obama use?
• body language: speaks louder than words
• breathing: more than just inhaling air
• stage fright: make it your friend, not your enemy
• your own attitude to the speech: without empathy it’s a useless exercise
• the written speech (exercises with example speeches): you don’t want to sound like you’re reading from a sheet
• speaking without notes (exercise): the climax – apply what you’ve learnt
• the right mix: reading – improvising – back to reading
• making an (almost) unknown speech: when time’s breathing down your neck
• things get serious (exercise): addressing sceptics/opponents – the next step, a bit harder

The exercises are mostly on camera and recorded. Afterwards, they are analysed on the monitor. In addition we use a digital player with numerous examples – positive and negative alike – from politics, business and sport.

It goes without saying that we tailor the sequence and content of every single training session precisely to your individual situation and specific requirements.