At social events where we may not know many people, it is easy to feel out of our depth. We may struggle to start a conversation with strangers, and end up feeling uncomfortable instead of confident. How can we change this scenario? What skills can we learn to ensure we enjoy ourselves - and leave a good impression on others?

Presence is that enigmatic, “can’t-quite-put-my-finger-on-it” quality that some people simply have. They walk into a room and immediately command attention – without saying anything!

Presence is made up of a number of things – the most important of which is confidence. The funny thing about confidence is that, even if you don’t feel it, you can pretend to feel it, and by pretending to feel confident, you actually start to feel confident. I call this “fake it ‘til you make it!” And the best way to fake it is with your non-verbal behaviour - how you use your voice and your body language.

Anyone can learn to use both their verbal and non-verbal language to cultivate presence and appear confident. This course will show you how.

Many people suppress their own feelings, needs and wants because they’re not sure how to go about expressing them without upsetting others. Some people express them too forcefully. The outcome in both cases is always unsatisfactory to one, if not both, parties.

It is possible to ask for what you want, let people know how you feel, and say no if necessary without being pushy or aggressive. The key is learning to be assertive.

Assertive people communicate in a way that is clear, open and respectful of other people, ensuring they enjoy healthy, positive relationships - both at work and at home.

This course teaches you the fundamental skills and attitudes you need to enjoy the many benefits of being more assertive.

Some people define diplomacy as the ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip. I don’t call this being diplomatic - I call it being assertive!

Whether you are dealing with patients, clients or colleagues, HOW you communicate ultimately determines whether your relationship is clear, open and honest - or fraught with tension, misunderstanding and arguments.

In this talk I explain what it means to communicate assertively, why this is beneficial and how to achieve this kind of relationship with your patients, clients and colleagues.

Have you ever looked enviously at someone who has presence - that enigmatic, 'can’t-quite-put-your-finger-on-it' quality - and wished you could have it too? Have you ever wondered why people just don’t respond well to you? Are you having trouble getting your message across?

Perhaps the answer lies more with how you’re saying something, than what you’re actually saying.

This talk will help you be more aware of the message you’re actually giving beyond the words you’re saying, and show you how to use your voice and body language to appear confident and have presence.