Are you someone who dreads talking to the media or giving a presentation? Perhaps you know what you want to say, yet the anxiety of making a formal pitch can trip you up. This is precisely why NAHB Spokesperson Training was developed: to help busy building industry professionals deliver their message in a thoughtful, effective way.

There are two parts to Spokesperson Training, and here’s how they break down:

Spokesperson Training Part I: Question & Answer Skills for Business & Media
Part I is designed to help you master strategies for developing key messages and delivering them effectively for various platforms—from print to social media to in-person business meetings. This training includes instruction, skill-building exercises and practice with on-camera interviews.

Once you’ve completed Part I of the Spokesperson Training, you will be able to:

• Evaluate your audience 
• Develop your messages to be clear and understandable 
• Include compelling and supporting evidence within those messages
• Handle tough questions
• Build a bridge from an “off topic” question or discussion back to your message
• Recognize how to effectively communicate your perspective in interviews and business meetings
• Respond to questions with confidence

Spokesperson Training Part II: Presentation Skills
Part II of the training provides approaches to organizing and delivering a successful speech or presentation to various audiences. After completing this training, you will be able to:

• Identify the different types of presentations: persuasive, instructional, informational and decision-making
• Set the goal of your presentation 
• Conduct audience analysis to develop an appealing message that uses appropriate language and references
• Discover how to effectively use visual aids to maintain the audience’s attention
• Explore body language techniques that are comfortable for you and compelling for the audience
• Implement new techniques for a panel presentation, answering audience questions and responding to multiple points of view 
• Examine best practices for rehearsing and arranging for any requirements in advance

Spokesperson  training is being offered the weekend before the NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS)—as part of the pre-show course offerings.

Each part of the two-part Spokesperson Training is an all-day class that counts for 6 CE hours for all NAHB designations except HCCP. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has also approved this course to qualify for 6 CE hours.

Pre-show courses are available January 6 – 9, 2017 in Orlando. There will be 27 pre-show courses offered at IBS. Nowhere else during the year will you find all of these courses available in one place—at one time. Register for these courses, along with others, at BuildersShow.com.