80:20 Performance Solutions Ltd

Confidence in Public Speaking

The Situation

Situation in a Nutshell: David is a trainee pilot and has to undertake a series of assessments as part of his qualification. He is sailing through the technical competencies with no problems but the aural assessments are proving more problematic, specifically group discussions and presentation work. He initially contacted 80:20 Performance Solutions to see if we could coach him with public presentation skills. The feedback from a recent assessment is that he has failed this aspect of his training and has just one opportunity to succeed at a resit in a fortnights time.

Symptoms: David feels nervous and panicky and a sense of a complete loss of control when confronted with any group aural exercise. Knowing that he has just one more attempt at passing this aspect of the assessment has exacerbated the problem which has begun to affect his sleep.

Desired Coaching Outcomes: The ability to relax in the aural assessment, confidence in expressing himself and an improved ability to know how and when to interrupt someone if they are doing all the talking. Additionally what to do if he has little or nothing to contribute to the subject of the discussion.

Coaching Considerations: Nerves every time he thinks about the assessment is a clear sign that David's state is not resourceful so working on state management is a priority as behaviour and decision making is a function of state. Building a resourceful state will also take care of any issues of confidence. Normally chatty and relaxed it is likely that when his state is corrected David will have plenty to say for himself.  Some very simple practical techniques for interacting with others in an assessment situation are also likely to be advantageous.

Application and Outcomes

Coaching Format: the coaching techniques applied were a mixture of New Code NLP to build a more resourceful state and some practice of practical conversational tools to improve David's ability to manage conversations. This included:

• Conversational Pacing and Leading: used to help with interruptions, using other people's content when he has none of his own, agreeing with people, disagreeing with people.
• Use of Analogue Marking and Body Language: to deliver with authority, congruence and credibility. 
• Use of Specifier Questions: useful for drilling into the detail of other people's contributions.
• Simple Calibration Techniques: to enable him to communicate more effectively.
• New Code NLP: state building games to collapse the unresourceful state and establish an optimal state for the assessment.
• Some Simple Self Hypnosis: relaxation techniques to use in the nights running up to the assessment.

Results: David passed his assessment and reported feeling 'totally in control and confident' during the aural portion.