Retreats for Public Speaking

Copyright (c) 2010 The College Of Public Speaking

With public speaking as the world's number one fear, you would imagine that there was greater access and resources to affect its alleviation.

The most important thing when planning a retreat is the venue. The venue has got to be right. A busy hotel in the middle of town, hundreds of guests and noisy distractions will not create the correct ambiance for your students. Roads create traffic and monstrous noise, all of those frustrated motorists in a rush to get somewhere.

So we need a venue which is secluded, small and out of town, ideally in rolling countryside. It must also be accessible by public transport and not too far away from a large town or city. The choice of venue will make or break your event. A trip to the countryside and all that fresh air will have a truly calming outcome. You want to create a reflective and calm environment for your class and they'll appreciate that effort.

The main auditorium where you'll be working should be light, airy and spacious. Some of the activities work well with tables and chairs, other activities require the group to work together in an open space. Arrange in advance the student numbers and requirements, a detailed room set up is invaluable.

In a perfect world, the venue will also provide suitably priced accommodation. This must be checked for appropriateness before you start advertising the event. If the venue does not have enough or suitable accommodation, then ask the question, is this the correct venue? Alternatively, you will have to visit and assess all the local hotels and B&Bs and ensure that they are going to be of the required standard for you guests.

This activity is time intensive but an intefral part of the marketing strategy. Providing your students will essential information will warm them to you. However, as part of good customer service, if you do all of the preparatory work on behalf of your guests, it will help them come to the conclusion that you're a serious business and that you care for their needs.

There is also the opportunity to identify a number of different types of accommodation at different budgets. Giving students good options to choose from is the best way of demonstrating that you care.

The next consideration is food. It's not just an army that marches on its stomach. Again, in the ideal world scenario, the venue will be able to provide quality food on site, and manage special dietary requirements. If the accommodation is on site, it's great if the students can eat together as it is part of the shared experience. If the venue doesn't serve evening food, it's useful to find a local pub or inexpensive restaurant where the students can dine and commune together. A major strength of the weekend is to bond the group together in a cohesive and supportive way.

The group dynamic is all important in this type of course. The planning of the weekend and acquiring the ideal venue will almost guarantee a quality learning experience. Good luck!

About The Author Effective Communication Skills are the cornerstone of business success. It's tragic that the world's number 1 fear is that of speaking in public. The College of Public Speaking's offering on overcoming the fear of public speaking is gathering momentum. If you want to know more about our methods, please select one of the following links: Public Speaking Courses Public Speaking London