Workshop "The Art of Self-Presentation and Public Speaking"

The Art of Self-Presentation: Why It Matters for an HSE Professional

Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) professionals interact with a huge number of people daily. The success of implementing safety initiatives directly depends on how they present themselves, conduct negotiations, and defend projects. During the webinar, speaker Tatiana Borisova breaks down the key aspects of public speaking and self-presentation, emphasizing that these soft skills are critically important for effective work and career growth.

What Influences the Effectiveness of a Presentation

Many believe that the success of a presentation depends solely on preparing the slides. However, the speaker demonstrates by example that material preparation accounts for only about 30% of success. Of immense importance are:

• Competent and eloquent speech. The ability to control your voice, pause, and avoid filler words holds the audience's attention.
• Self-confidence and self-esteem. How a speaker carries themselves in public is read by the listeners and affects the level of trust in the information.
• Flexibility and the ability to answer questions. The capacity to adapt to a situation and not get lost when faced with unexpected questions is a sign of high professionalism.

The "Ladder of Public Speaking": From Improvisation to Mastery

The presentation details the process of preparing for public speaking. The speaker notes that the best speeches, which seem effortless and improvised (like Steve Jobs'), actually require colossal preparation. To develop these skills, it is recommended to:

• Record yourself on a voice recorder. This helps you hear your speech from the outside, identify filler words, and work on intonation.
• Use video recording. Video allows you to evaluate non-verbal communication: facial expressions, gestures, and posture. This is much more effective than rehearsing in front of a mirror, as the brain tends to distort the perception of its own reflection.

How to Answer Difficult Questions: 7 Techniques

One of the biggest fears for speakers is difficult or provocative questions. Tatiana Borisova emphasizes the importance of separating the person from the function: the question is not asked to you personally, but to your professional role. During the webinar, 7 techniques for handling difficult questions are analyzed:

• Refuse to answer (without excuses). Clearly define the boundaries of the topic if the question goes beyond them.
• Refer to a source (redirection). Direct the listener to a competent person or document if you do not have the exact information.
• Make a joke. An effective way to relieve tension, but it requires a good sense of humor and appropriateness.
• Evade the answer. Give a general answer without going into specifics (often used by politicians).
• Answer part of the question. Highlight one aspect of a long question and answer only that.
• Answer the specific with the general (or vice versa). Shift the focus from a specific problem to the bigger picture.
• Answer sincerely. Honestly admit that you do not know the answer, or share your personal opinion, emphasizing your humanity and openness.

What you will learn from this webinar:

• How to overcome the fear of public speaking and insecurity in front of an audience?
• What preparation methods help make a speech more convincing and professional?
• How to properly react to provocative questions and not lose your temper?
• Why is it important to separate the personal and professional when responding to criticism?
• How to use video and audio recordings to independently improve your public speaking skills?