In-Person Two-Day Workshop For Individuals

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Public Speaking Training for Individuals

The premier public speaking skills training program for professionals focused on building confidence, clarity, presentation impact, and executive presence.

Our Public Speaking Training for Individuals helps professionals become clearer, more confident, and more effective speakers while developing greater executive presence through practical coaching, structured speaking exercises, and real-world presentation practice. Many professionals are highly knowledgeable and capable in their field but feel less confident speaking in meetings, presentations, or high-pressure workplace situations.

About Our Public Speaking Training

Delivered in a supportive small-group format in Toronto, this highly interactive two-day workshop has helped 20,000+ professionals, managers, leaders, and subject matter experts strengthen their public speaking and communication skills for more than 25 years. Participants actively practice speaking, receive personalized coaching, and develop skills they can immediately apply in workplace and leadership situations.

Participants develop the ability to:

Speak more confidently in meetings and presentations
Organize thoughts and communicate ideas more clearly
Reduce nervousness and improve speaking under pressure
Strengthen delivery, executive presence, and audience engagement
Improve voice quality, body language, and speaking style
Respond more effectively during questions and discussion

Through structured exercises, video recording, and detailed coaching feedback, participants improve how they communicate in both formal presentations and everyday professional interactions. The workshop focuses on real-world business communication, helping participants build lasting skills they can apply immediately across a wide range of speaking situations.

We also offer onsite or virtual Presentation Skills Training for Teams and Corporate Groups at your offices across Canada and the U.S.

What Makes Our Training Different

Our Recent Clients

What You Will Learn in This
Public Speaking Skills Workshop

This practical public speaking workshop helps participants become more clear, confident, and effective communicators in real-world professional situations. Through structured exercises, speaking practice, video feedback, and personalized coaching, participants develop practical skills they can apply immediately in meetings, presentations, and everyday workplace interactions.

After this public speaking training, participants will be able to:

Speak with greater confidence and credibility in workplace and social settings
Organize thoughts and communicate ideas more clearly and concisely
Prepare and deliver engaging presentations to small and large groups
Think on their feet and respond more effectively during questions and discussions
Strengthen audience connection, rapport, and overall speaking presence
Develop a more natural, authentic, and conversational speaking style
Manage nervousness and communicate more effectively under pressure
Improve voice quality, body language, and delivery techniques
Feel more comfortable and in control in high-stakes speaking situations

Two of the most valuable components of the workshop are the FOCUS! Method™ and Connecting with Your Audience.

The FOCUS! Method™ helps participants organize ideas clearly and communicate more effectively in presentations, meetings, and impromptu speaking situations. Participants learn how to simplify complex information, structure messages more effectively, and communicate in a way that is easier for audiences to understand and retain.

Connecting with Your Audience focuses on building stronger audience engagement and improving message delivery in real time. Participants learn how to communicate more naturally, read audience reactions more effectively, and create more engaging and impactful speaking experiences.

Who Is This Public Speaking Workshop For?

Our Public Speaking Skills Training is designed for professionals who want to become more confident, clear, and effective communicators in workplace, leadership, and everyday speaking situations. The workshop is especially valuable for individuals who want practical coaching, real speaking practice, and personalized feedback in a supportive small-group environment.

This training is ideal for:

Subject matter experts and technical professionals
Managers and emerging leaders
Executives and leadership professionals
Consultants and client-facing professionals
Sales and business development professionals
HR and people leaders
Professionals preparing for presentations or speaking opportunities
Individuals looking to improve speaking confidence and executive presence

Participants attend for many different reasons, including improving presentation confidence, managing nervousness, strengthening executive presence, communicating more clearly in meetings, and becoming more effective during high-pressure speaking situations.

If you are looking to develop multiple people within your organization, our Presentation Skills Training offerings may be a better fit.

Two-Day Public Speaking Skills Workshop Agenda

Day One

Introduction

Group discussion: Coaching objectives, individual objectives and personal interests are summarized
Speaking practice recording session #1– Intro Talk

Fundamentals of Advanced Speaking Skills

Benefits and consequences of your speaking skills
The elements of verbal communication
The elements of personal performance

The Keys to Effective Delivery

Natural speaking
The keys to Presence and Charisma communication
Audience Interaction

The FOCUS! Method™

Prepare short, clear, memorable messages on current topics and issues
How to “think on your feet” and respond quickly and persuasively
Creating your own library of eloquent and persuasive statements for client presentations
Partnered work: practicing writing FOCUS! Method™ talk
Coaching: Delivering your FOCUS! Method™ talk
Speaking practice recording session #2– FOCUS! Method™ talk
Advanced listening skills
Preparing for meetings
Preparing persuasive presentations

How to Control the Room

Overcoming speaking anxiety
PowerPoint & delivering from slides
Platform skills

Video Feedback Session

Review at least one video per participant in a group setting – 360 style feedback.
PowerPoint & delivering from slides
Coaching: positive feedback from peers and coach on personal qualities unconsciously conveyed

Day Two

Group discussion:

Coaching and recommendations

Connecting With Your Audience

The keys to effective delivery
Managing pre-performance stress
Natural speaking with effective eye contact
Partnered work: speaking effectively from notes
Coaching: speaking effectively from notes
Speaking practice recording session #3: Connecting with your audience exercise

Speaking Superbly From Notes

Natural speaking with effective eye contact
The keys to effective delivery

Platform & PowerPoint Skills

Gestures and movement
Audience interaction
Powerful PowerPoint and delivering complex information

Eliminating Speaking Anxiety

Relaxation techniques to reduce tension and increase energy
Preparing yourself to speak
How to relax when speaking

Rediscovering Your Natural Voice

Natural breathing
Improving your diction
Simple physical and vocal relaxation and preparation
Group exercises: vocal exercises and stress management

Final Talk

Coaching: Putting it all together
Speaking practice recording session #4: Final talks

Coach’s Recommendations

Final Q&A
Personalized plan for continuous improvement
Resources

Fees & What's Included

Pre-Workshop
- Pre-workshop personal assessment of each participant that helps the coach customize the workshop to the goals and needs of the participants. This will be in the form of an online questionnaire.
During Workshop
- Highly interactive workshop with group exercises, practice, and expert personal coaching in a group setting
- 4 Speaking practice recording sessions
- 1 Video feedback session with 360-style feedback
Post-Workshop
- Recommendations from your Coach
- Copies of your workshop video recordings
- Handbook
- 4-Week Online Refresher Tool

Fee: $2,400 + HST per person

Location: 20 Bay St. 11th Floor, Toronto, Canada

Hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm each day

Meals: continental breakfast, catered lunch, refreshments and snacks provided each day

We limit the workshop to 10 participants to maximize the amount of coaching in a group setting.

Public Speaking Skills Training in Toronto

These are small group workshops with a limit of 10 participants, to maximize time for public speaking practice, exercises, video recordings, and personal coaching. Our public speaking training are held in downtown Toronto, Canada.

Upcoming Dates in Toronto, ON

Bring us to your office for corporate group training

Learn more about our Presentation Training for Teams

Training Trusted by Canada’s Leading Organizations

Commanding Presence Recent Testimonials

A Transformative Workshop for Our Teams

“Commanding Presence delivered a transformative two-day workshop that significantly improved our sales team’s presentation skills and confidence. Their coaching approach works across all experience levels, making Commanding Presence a valuable investment for organizations seeking lasting communication improvement.”

Rosann Savidant

Marketing Manager

A Practical & Inspiring Experience

I can’t thank you enough for such a compelling learning experience. You certainly have a gift of understanding how to help people! Thank you for such a practical and inspiring experience. I refuse to let these learnings fade away!”

Sandy Nicholsan

Director of Finance

Honest, Practical, and Actionable

“I really enjoyed the workshop and am busy working on putting the learning into action. I enjoyed your honesty and candor in which you lead the workshop from which we all benefited.”

Brian Wyncoll

Senior Vice President Enterprise Risk Management and Internal Audit Services

Immediate Results and Lasting Impact

“I witnessed first hand the instant improvements of the speakers in our group. I was amazed by your ability to produce immediate results in some speakers. Thank you for this new awareness that will certainly assist me in all I do.”

Kim Ward, CPA

VP of Finance

You've Raised the Bar!

“I haven’t taken that much from a workshop in a long time! Thanks again – you’ve really helped us raise the bar at Wikimedia. Our people are well-equipped and fortunately, they’ll never be the same!”

Wikimedia_Foundation_logo

Jay Walsh

Senior Director, Communications

I Would Highly Recommend This Workshop

“I would recommend this program to anyone who is committed to improving their presentation skills.”

Rod Crawford

General Manager

Immediate Improvement To Our Teams

“After the Commanding Presence workshop, we started seeing results immediately – the team were able to apply the learnings the following day as they presented to executives, leading my Vice President to commend us on a palpable return on our investment in the course. We look forward to continuing to develop the practical skills in future workshops!”

Mary Leigh Burrowes

Operations Manager

You Need to Take This Course

“If you need to improve your public reading skills, your presentations and general confidence building areas in all aspects of your life, you need to take this course.”

Mark Foon

Director, IT- Digital Health and Wellness

This Workshop Really Works!

“The content and format of this workshop really works. It allows you to absorb the material, effectively practice the methods, and learn to improve through watching yourself and others. I also benefitted from listening to other participants speak of their issues with presenting and watching them develop better skills. Overall, I would recommend this to anyone looking to become a more well-prepared and confident speaker.”

Veeva_Systems_Logo

Amanda De Mello

Director, User Experience and Product Design

Excellent Coaching and Meaningful Growth

“I really enjoyed the workshop, it was a great experience for me. I learned many things and now I know that I have a lot of room for improvement. Thanks very much for your excellent direction and assistance; you are a great coach indeed.”

Patricia Pacanchique

Director, Pension Policy and Strategic Initiatives

Transformational Leadership and Coaching

“Peter, I really appreciated your excellent leadership and facilitation of the Commanding Presence workshop. You managed to put us at ease and keep us engaged and present throughout both days, teaching by example, challenging us, and helping us to learn from each other as well. It was a transformational learning experience for me. My sincere thanks.”

Michele McIntosh

OMERS

Powerful Concepts With Immediate Impact

“Thank you very much for the workshop, I really enjoyed it! Definitely I have to work hard on my weaknesses but I came back with very good concepts which I can put in practice.”

Cynthia Garcia Diaz

Senior Financial Consultant

Significant Improvement In My Presentation Skills

” I had a great time in the course, and I really loved the friendly environment! The course felt tailored rather than generic. I want to thank both you and Sylvie for your thoughtful and constructive feedback on my presentations! It helped me a lot. I noticed a significant improvement in my presentation skills after the course, and overall, I feel much more confident 😊”

Glaucia Nicodemos

Senior Manager, Financial Systems

Extremely Useful Workshop!

“Your 2-day workshop was extremely useful and I’ve been applying the techniques and exercises learned since then.”

Marcelo Gomez-Wiuckstern

Director of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs

A Very Safe Space to Develop Skills

“It was a very safe space to test and develop your skills; the trainer, Peter, did a great job.”

Denise Green

Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion

Profound Change. Highly Recommended

“These skills have improved my confidence and poise. It is no exaggeration to say that the effects of this experience have been profound for me. I highly recommend the program.”

R. Mecredy-Williams

CIBC Wood Gundy

Transformational Growth in Communication

“I really enjoyed the course and the opportunity to work with you. I am excited about how using your techniques will help me transform into a more well-rounded and “in the moment” speaker.”

Carly Grossman

Loyalty One

Incredible Improvement in Our Sr. Management Teams

“Commanding Presence has been able to deliver an incredible improvement in the presentations of our senior management team — and improve their comfort level. I’d offer an unconditional recommendation in this program.”

Stephen Johnson

President & Chief Executive Officer

Worth the Time and Immediately Valuable

“This workshop was well worth the time away from the office and very valuable. I came back with much more confidence and have already been implementing what I’ve learned. I will be recommending this!”

Mary Annibale

Information Technology Department

I Wish I Had Done It Earlier

“Two very well invested days…I certainly wished I had done this earlier. Thank you.”

Ghislaine Doufle

University of Toronto

Immediately Improvement From Just Two Days

“After the Commanding Presence workshop, I had a two-day professional development course I needed to lead. The improvement in my speaking was noticed by the professionals in my course with many of them commenting on what an amazing teacher I was.”

Michelle Brown

Director of Finance

I Would Highly Recommend Commanding Presence

“I would highly recommend the Commanding Presence workshop. Peter Hiddema is an amazing trainer / presenter. He is truly charismatic. His presentation style is easy to listen to and learn from and he offered a great mix of Powerpoint, video and practical elements throughout the two do workshop. It was an absolute delight to have such a rewarding experience. “

Jennifer Wall

Director of Finance

“It was amazing to see the improvement in every participant’s presentation skills in only two days. Great course!”

Kevin Little

VP of Finance

“Peter was great facilitator. I enjoyed the course, both the materials and exercises that we did. I’ll use what I learned for my entire career.”

Jason Han

Information Security Analyst

It Was A Wonderful Experience For The Whole Group

“I want to express how much I enjoyed the workshop. In only 2 days I genuinely feel like the skills you discussed will make a significant difference on my presentations going forward and I can’t thank you enough. Not only we’re the discussions informative, but you have a great way of blending the practicality with humor and light-hearted conversations. I think I speak for the full group when I say it was a wonderful experience.”

Paul McLean

Client Integration Lead

Great Course!

“Great course! Practical and useful for your everyday presentations and meetings.”

Veronica Hernandez

Strategy & Insights Manager, Customer Centre of Excellence

Most Effective Course I Have Ever Taken

“Excellent communication course offered by Commanding Presence. The class sizes are small, which allows the instructor to focus on every attendee. Probably the most effective course that I have taken ever.”

Navtej Sanghera

RBC

The Course Was Phemonenal!

“Just took the 2-day Advanced Communication and Presence course, and it was phenomenal! Sylvie the instructor kept it lively, informative and fun! Definitely well worth it for those that could use some self improvement in those areas.”

David Scacchi

Technical Solutions Manager

I Highly Recommend The Virtual Workshop

“The Interactive Virtual Workshop through Commanding Presence was a pleasure to attend. I found great value in the course and content discussed. The material was very relevant to a new, virtual workspace. It prepares you to pivot your practices to best perform during this time. I highly recommend this course, and would consider retaking in the future in person when offered.”

Jessica Stewart, EIT, CEM

Operations Manager

Improve Your Public Speaking Skills and Build Confidence

“If you’re looking to improve your personal presentation or public speaking skills and build your confidence doing so, the Commanding Presence Interactive Virtual Workshop will help you do just that. The small group setting is ideal when it comes to practicing your newly learned skills in a ‘real world’ environment. Would recommend!”

Willeson Metals

Felix Lee, B.Sc., MBA, P.Geo.

President and CEO

Easily One of the Best Investments I've Made

“I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Commanding Presence seminar with Peter Hiddema, but what I learned was far greater than expected. Peter teaches how to let your true self shine through and how small adjustments can create greater authenticity and impact. I also realized that many people share the same fears around presenting, something best discovered in a group setting. Easily one of the best investments I’ve made in myself in a long time.”

Jennifer Sarsfield

Director, Communications

Commanding Presence Exceeds Expectations

“Sincere thanks to Peter and Michael for their brilliant work with our BDMs last week. The workshop exceeded our expectations and I’ve already heard from members of the group who have expressed their thanks for the opportunity last week – further validation that the program was impactful. I so appreciate all of your effort in adapting the program to align with Fidelity’s style and criteria.”

Michelle Cooper

Sales Learning & Development Manager

The Workshop Was Very Helpful

“I’m glad I attended and thought the program was very helpful overall. Special thank you to Michael for being an excellent facilitator.”

Doane Grant Thornton LLP

Justin Yeung

Senior Manager, Tax

One of the Best Trainings I've Ever Had

“Peter is a brilliant facilitator. One of the best trainings I had so far.”

Lorenzo Orsi P.Eng., MEng, MScM

Director, Rail Control Systems

The Two-Day Workshop Was Great!

“Thank you, Sylvie, for the great two-day session. Will be recommending your program in the future. Lots of learning, takeaways and areas of improvement.”

Jordan Hill

Vice President

The Workshop Was Extremely Helpful

“The workshop with Peter was incredibly insightful, and having these resources will be extremely helpful as I continue to build on what I learned.”

Jahangir Bhatti

Principal, Climate Tech Fund

Public Speaking Skills Resources

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Why Smart Professionals Struggle to Be Concise and How to Fix It

One of the most common communication challenges we see with our clients is not a lack of expertise. It is

Commanding Attention

How Delivery Affects Executive Presence

Great communication is never just about the words. It is about how those words are brought to life.

How to Organize Thoughts & Ideas Quickly in Meetings and Presentations

How to Organize Thoughts & Ideas Quickly in Meetings and Presentations

Many professionals struggle under pressure not because they lack expertise, but because they are organizing complex thoughts while speaking. Unexpected

Cure_fear_of_speaking

Why Professionals Fear Public Speaking and How Confidence Actually Develops

Public speaking anxiety is often less about speaking and more about fear of forgetting information, freezing under pressure, losing credibility,

Why Some Speeches Fail to Connect With Audiences

Why Some Speeches Fail to Connect With Audiences

Strong preparation and expertise do not automatically create audience connection. In our workshops, we frequently see highly capable professionals become