Increased interest in the power of oratory and rhetoric Tackles a perennial challenge for many Little comparable competition at this level

Simon Maier is an experienced corporate and public event director and a former managing director of ICM, a Saatchi & Saatchi event management agency company, amongst other large event agencies. He has lectured throughout the world presenting on topics related to communications, presentation techniques and the ingredients of strategy development. He has written speeches for many senior internationally well-known politicians and business leaders.

1. What makes a great speaker? Examples of great - and comparisons with not so great - oratory Understanding oratory: who has or had it and exactly what it is it that they have or had How oratory works and how it can work for you 2. The essentials of great communication 3. Tools of the trade Practical tools and techniques to help you improve 4. Finding your voice 5. Avoiding the pitfalls Perfecting PowerPoint if it must be used, but Presidents rarely use it Why it's not a good idea to make the pie higher 6. Advanced techniques Sharpening your personal style Handling different situations and audiences 7. Speech styles What works when and how Emphasising points Humour Power starts, power closes 8. Review and action planning What to do: a) when you finish reading, b) when you next deliver a speech