Presentation skills and public speaking role play training activity

Scenario 1: Presenting to Senior Leadership

• Objective: To practice delivering a high-stakes presentation to senior executives.
• Instructions for Trainer:
  • Assign one participant as the Presenter and others as senior executives.
  • The Presenter must deliver a presentation on a strategic initiative, convincing the leadership of its importance and benefits.
  • Debrief by discussing the Presenter’s ability to engage the executives, the clarity of the presentation, and the persuasiveness of the arguments.

Scenario 2: Delivering a Training Session

• Objective: To practice delivering a clear and engaging training session to colleagues.
• Instructions for Trainer:
  • Assign one participant as the Trainer and others as trainees.
  • The Trainer must present a topic, ensuring that the trainees understand the content and stay engaged.
  • Debrief by evaluating the Trainer’s ability to communicate complex information clearly and keep the audience engaged.

Scenario 3: Pitching to Potential Clients

• Objective: To practice delivering a persuasive sales pitch to potential clients.
• Instructions for Trainer:
  • Assign one participant as the Sales Representative and others as potential clients.
  • The Sales Representative must pitch a product or service, addressing the clients’ needs and persuading them to make a purchase.
  • Debrief by discussing the effectiveness of the pitch, the Sales Representative’s ability to handle questions, and the overall persuasiveness of the presentation.

Presentation and Public Speaking Role Play

Scenario: Delivering a Persuasive Presentation

• Participants: Presenter, Audience (3-4)
• Objective: The Presenter must deliver a persuasive presentation that engages the audience and achieves the intended outcome.

Situation: The presenter is tasked with delivering a presentation to a group of potential clients, persuading them to choose the company’s services over competitors. The presentation must be clear, engaging, and convincing.

Instructions for the Presenter:

• Begin with a strong opening that captures the audience’s attention.
• Clearly outline the key points and benefits of your services.
• Use visual aids and examples to support your arguments.
• Engage the audience with questions and encourage interaction.
• Conclude with a compelling call to action, encouraging the clients to choose your services.

Instructions for the Audience:

• Listen attentively to the presentation.
• Ask challenging questions to test the presenter’s knowledge and persuasive abilities.
• Provide feedback on the clarity, engagement, and persuasiveness of the presentation.

Debrief:

• Discuss the effectiveness of the presenter’s delivery and engagement with the audience.
• Reflect on the structure and content of the presentation.
• Analyze how well the presenter handled questions and persuaded the audience.

Presentation and Public Speaking Role Play

Scenario 1: Presenting to Senior Leadership

Issue/Problem: Jessica, a department head, needs to present a proposal for a new product line to the company’s senior leadership team. The stakes are high, as the project requires significant investment.

Objective: Jessica must deliver a persuasive presentation that secures approval for the project.

Conversation:

Jessica: “Thank you for the opportunity to present our proposal. Our team has identified a gap in the market for eco-friendly home appliances, and we believe this is a strong growth opportunity for our company. We’ve conducted extensive market research, and the data shows a growing demand for sustainable products. If we move quickly, we can establish ourselves as a market leader in this space.”

CEO: “This sounds promising, but what’s the expected return on investment? How do you plan to manage the risks involved?”

Jessica: “We’ve projected a 25% ROI within the first two years, with a break-even point in 18 months. To manage risks, we’ve developed a phased approach to the product launch, starting with a pilot program in select markets. This will allow us to gather data and make adjustments before a full-scale launch. Additionally, we’ve partnered with established suppliers to ensure product quality and cost control.”

CFO: “What’s the initial investment required, and how will this impact our current budget?”

Jessica: “The initial investment is $5 million, which includes R&D, production, and marketing costs. We’ve identified areas where we can reallocate funds from underperforming product lines to minimize the impact on our current budget. This approach allows us to invest in growth without significantly increasing overall expenses.”

COO: “How will this new product line align with our existing operations? Will we need to make any major changes?”

Jessica: “Our existing operations are well-suited for this product line, as we’re leveraging current manufacturing capabilities with minor adjustments. We’ve already identified the necessary changes and have a detailed implementation plan to ensure a smooth integration.”

CEO: “It sounds like you’ve thought this through. What’s your timeline for the pilot and full launch?”

Jessica: “We plan to launch the pilot program within six months, with a full launch scheduled for the following year, depending on the pilot’s success. We’ll be monitoring key metrics throughout the process to ensure we’re on track to meet our goals.”

CEO: “Thank you, Jessica. This is a well-prepared proposal. We’ll discuss it further and get back to you with our decision.”

Jessica: “Thank you for your time. I’m confident that this project will drive significant growth for our company.”