As written in the pages of the February issue of the IWJ. See form at bottom.
With the fear of public speaking ranking worse than death, the challenge of grooming good presenters is no small task for Kim Lewis, CEO of Prepare to Soar Training and Development. Lewis recently gifted the Idaho Women’s Journal a free seat to its Train the Trainer program, and of course, we’re bringing the review of that program to readers.
Train the Trainer is a 16-hour certification program using the Myers-Briggs® personality assessment, Gagne’s Nine Elements®, and Lewis’s own education and professional work with SkillPath Seminars® as the basis of the program. The outcome is intended to prepare the user to present public training programs of their own creation.
In the first 30-minutes of class, Lewis places attendees into unexpected situations. From an onlookers perspective this seems threatening, but as a potential public speaker it’s a wake up call. To command an audience, Lewis teaches, one must surrender their personal agenda and focus on someone else, everyone else. It’s about the knowledge one can share. This experiment is used as a benchmark to see the growth from the beginning of class to the end of the program.
The program is straight forward. The user is an active participant, is tested on their learning style and learns the styles of others. Lewis illustrates how to meet the needs of various audience members. From there, the format for outlining a presentation is demonstrated and then individual work is expected. The user creates their own topic and using their new knowledge creates a presentation following a given format. For graduation, every member presents their training and is evaluated by Lewis and the other class members. This seems like a standard package, but Lewis has a greater plan in mind.
The big ticket piece… Lewis has organized a semi-annual Empowering Women Conference where those who are certified can apply to present at these conferences. This is where the cash register can ring. Attend a Train the Trainer program, learn how to write and present your own programs, and at the end of the day, it qualifies you to apply to speak at their semi-annual Empowering Women Conferences. On that stage you facilitate learning and can offer material for sale and gain more exposure.
From a business perspective, Prepare to Soar Training and Development has created a winning strategy for women wanting to get their foot in the professional door. These programs can cost more than $1,000, and a flight and several days of accommodations are usually attached as well. Lewis is training local talent for $249 per person.
Lewis’s business is to train individuals to be good presenters and facilitators of learning environments. If you’re looking past the expected and toward a full program to get on stage, the Prepare to Soar training program can stand alone and speak volumes.
ARE YOU INTERESTED? If you’re interested in free information or notices on future Train the Trainer programs, fill in the form below. There is no obligation, but it will keep you in the loop.
