The Refresher and Polishing Skills courses are built to address topics specific to your profession’s needs as ongoing support. Together we choose topics from the following selections to build 4 hour Mini Courses. We have several Mini Topics that can be interchanged and personalized for your specific needs. If there is a topic you would like us to address that is not listed, we would be very happy to discuss designing an effective way of teaching it for you.

 

THE REFRESHER PORTION: 2 hours

 

REVIEWING THE 3 KEY ELEMENTS: 30 minutes

The Refresher Portion consists of two parts. The first reviews the Three Key Elements of The Hendrie Method™, perfecting the individual aspects of Background Imaging™, Rhythm Pattern Styles™ and Conversational Connection™. The Exercises are active group and partner exercises, reinforcing how to use the technique and coach others.

 

PRESENTING AND COACHING: 90 minutes

Next, is your personal presentation, videotaping and coaching. Depending on whether the participants have been taught the Formula for Speeches and whether this is one of several follow-ups planned, there are four choices:

Choice A: Preparing and presenting one of our speeches or commercials.

Choice B: Preparing and presenting an Impromptu presentation, with a personal topic of your own choice.

Choice C: Preparing and presenting a ‘ready-to-go’ one minute Impromptu mini presentation on your main business topics.

Choice D: Preparing and presenting a group presentation.

 

THE POLISHING PORTION: 2 hours

Choose a selection from our Mini Topics Menu to build a personalized course for your group.

 

MINI TOPIC 1: FORMULA FOR SPEECHES: 40 min (Most Clients’ #1 CHOICE for the first Refresher)

The focus is on writing from a presenting point of view; how to determine the main point you want your audience to walk out the door knowing; utilizing stories, Conversation Questions, and Headlines to motivate and enhance retention; plus, keeping your listeners awake by staying on topic and being brief.

 

MINI TOPIC 2: USING AUDIO VISUALS/POWERPOINT: 30 min (Most Clients’ #2 CHOICE for the first Refresher)

The focus is on understanding how to utilize Visual Aids/PowerPoint to enhance your presentation and the impact of your message; and to increase your listener’s attention span and retention. We go over problems to avoid and guidelines for the successful use of the different kinds of visuals and handouts, and a technical preparation checklist.

 

MINI TOPIC 3: CONTROLLING FEAR & STAGE FRIGHT: 30 min

We learn different methods for effective fear control, utilizing behavior modification techniques, response conditioning and tricks passed down from generations of actors.

 

MINI TOPIC 4: BACK BREATHING & VOCAL DEVELOPMENT: 30 min

Back Breathing is a controlled breathing technique that develops your voice and sustains your breath. When your vocal variety is too limited, the effect is like playing the same few notes over and over. Back Breathing produces a fuller tone, making you easier to understand. Back Breathing teaches you to breathe deeply and slow your breathing rate, which keeps you from running out of breath and is an excellent relaxation exercise.

 

MINI TOPIC 5: PODIUMS; LECTERNS; CHAIRS; PHONES; & MICROPHONES: 15 min

We learn ways to minimize the problems with communicating behind a podium; understand the importance of movement and vocal variety with seated presentations or communicating by phone; and how to use the different types of microphones.

 

MINI TOPIC 6: PAUSING; USING NOTES; AND LOSING YOUR PLACE: 15 min

It happens to all of us; let’s learn how to handle losing your place. We discuss the importance of pausing; planning pauses in your speech for emphasis and control; reading vs. connecting; and how to handle notes.

 

MINI TOPIC 7: ANALYZING GREAT SPEAKERS; HUMOR & SMILING: 15 min

One of the tools of the Secrets Course is understanding what makes a speaker great. We take what we have learned and analyze a great speaker using the 3 Key Elements. We discuss the importance of humor for contrast, the science of smiling, its impact on our attitude, and how to practice a natural smile.

 

MINI TOPIC 8: ART OF COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY THROUGH EMAIL, TEXTS & LETTERS: 20 min

Everyone’s dilemma…what to do about interpreting that darn email tone? This Mini Topic is focused on the art of communicating effectively through email, texts & letters; business etiquette 101; email etiquette; what to do when your email is misinterpreted; what to do when you can’t determine someone’s email tone; tips to help your email not be taken the wrong way; how not to annoy someone with email…you get the idea…the ins and outs of courtesy in today’s tech world.

 

MINI TOPICS ON CORRECTING INEFFECTIVE HABITS

 

MINI TOPIC 9: VERBAL HABITS & HINDRANCES: 15 min

We go over the why’s of filler words, such as ‘like, um, uh’ and throat clearing, to understand why they are so hard to stop, and then teach exercises and ways to practice silencing this habit. We teach what to do when you must say words difficult to pronounce, including foreign languages, plus personal and product names. We learn how the exercises of the 3 Key Elements help you effectively communicate with an accent. Have you ever wondered why smart educated people mispronounce words?

 

MINI TOPIC 10: CORRECTING INEFFECTIVE PHYSICAL HABITS: 15 min

Do you have habits that get in the way of your communication? We go over behavior modification exercises for correcting pacing; swaying and rocking; overusing or under using arm movements; plus, facial tension, tics and stuttering.

 

MINI TOPICS ON FIRST IMPRESSIONS

 

MINI TOPIC 11: FIRST IMPRESSIONS: YOUR WORKSPACE & VOICE MESSAGE: 15 min

Often, your voice message is a person’s first impression of you and is a repeated impression. We discuss tips for your outgoing voice message; courtesy rules when someone leaves you a message and when you leave a message. Do you know what your workspace says behind your back? How your workspace influences your attitude and others’ impression of you? Here are tips on organizing the clutter to help ‘lighten up the load’.

 

MINI TOPIC 12: FIRST IMPRESSIONS: YOUR WARDROBE AND STYLE: 15 min

We will take a look at suggestions for appropriate and inappropriate wardrobe; makeup, common sense on common scents, personal grooming, casual Fridays, and dressing for on camera. We can incorporate your company policies in humorous and effective ways.

 

MINI TOPICS ON ATTITUDE

 

MINI TOPIC 13: HOW WE PROCESS INFORMATION EMOTIONALLY & PHYSICALLY: 20 min

We discuss the different ways we process information; the interaction between the physical and our emotions; how our experiences impact our body language, which influences our attitude and others’ attitude about us. We learn how we can control the nonverbal and improve our emotion responses.

 

MINI TOPIC 14: CONSEQUENCES OF DISTRACTIONS & MULTITASKING: 15 min

One of the unintended consequences of distractions & multitasking is its influence on our Background Images, attitude, tone and voice. We discuss the impact that checking our email, reading a text, or eating while talking on the phone has on our ability to communicate and the message it sends to your listener.

 

MINI TOPIC 15: INFLUENCE YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT; YOUR IMPACT POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE? 30 min

What kind of work environment do you want? Your impact is either positive or negative, never neutral. We take a look at how we influence our environment without necessarily realizing it and how to change. We look at the impact of complaining and bringing personal problems into the work place. We discuss how to improve office dynamics and how to connect with your peers. We discuss the nonverbal ways we communicate through body language, eye contact, tone, Rhythm Pattern Styles and Background Imaging. We teach how to control your responses and create a positive impact.