Briefing Preparation
At DG Associates, Duke Gerhardt conducts training seminars for clients in communications skills (how to prepare and give a professional presentation).
He has successfully supported numerous company's in their need to present a professional oral's presentation to the Government or a commercial client. In this process, he provides an overview of presentation skills needed to win, helps develop briefing slides, and coaches both individual and group rehearsals.
Among the companies that have been supported in their oral presentations are Boeing, Raytheon, TBE, DRS-TEM, AEgis, Nelnet, ASRI, Westar, CGI-CMI, CGI-JFMS, BAE-TMI, BAE-Merkava, COLSA, Dynetics, MTC, RSA, Grant Thornton, and BDM.
In all instances, his military background has been helpful in crafting the presentation and insuring that the oral's team was focused on the RFP requirements and the appropriate win themes.
Oral's Coaching Seminars
Duke's approach to the oral's training/coaching process is outlined below:
1. Read the RFP -- understand all requirements related to the presentation and slide content.
2. Brief the entire briefing team on oral's coaching objectives.
3. Review draft slides and meet with each member of the oral's team.
4. Develop a schedule that assigns briefers and give dates and times for slide submissions and rehearsals.
5. Gather information about the physical layout of the actual presentation site.
6. Conduct one-on-one training session with each member of the oral's team.
7. Conduct an informal walk-through of the briefing to insure that the slides and key points are known to the entire briefing team. Work out briefer transition technique and appropriate protocols.
8. Conduct informal rehearsals (generally 3-5), where the timing and actions of each briefer are observed and critiqued at the end of the presentation. The 2nd and following informal rehearsals include a selected audience to provide feedback to the oral's team. The last informal rehearsal is considered a "red team" review and is observed and critiqued by senior members of the supported company.
9. A dress rehearsal is conducted prior to the actual presentation, and critiqued by a invited "gold team."
