Workshops + Teaching
Work with Martha to develop a customized program for your organization. Whether you want to spend several hours or several days to improve your team’s communication skills, Martha can deliver a program to meet your needs. Below are sample topics she can address in her lively, interactive sessions.
Overview:
Communications Topics for Speaking
and Writing Workshops with Martha Weeks
principals of story-telling
Learning the principals of storytelling is an invaluable business communication skill and essential to crafting powerful presentations. My workshops use a process taught at the Stanford Business School called AIM to help analyze your Audience, identify your Intent and craft a Message that will give your stories their shape, meaning and authenticity.
Building on the AIM process, I use a method to develop effective story structures and a strong narrative arc. Finally, participants put these tools to work crafting and sharing stories and getting feedback from the group and me.
Executive Presence, body language & confidence hacks
Through improvisational acting games, time for self-reflection, and physical exercises including yoga, deep breathing, and power poses, we explore insights into executive presence and body language and ways to speak with ease and confidence. Understanding the relationship of storytelling to your conversations and connections is part of an integrated professional presence.
Practicing our power poses.
networking
The research on power and influence shows that people who are well networked are three times more influential than those who aren’t.
I reframe networking from a dreaded “must-do” to an opportunity to build reciprocal relationships and lifelong connections. We explore the value of mentors and sponsors, and how participants can present their own expertise and incorporate new insights from others.
We look at the ‘why’ of each participant’s story and practice conversation tactics to benefit introverts and extroverts alike. Participants have the opportunity to refine their own story, or elevator pitch, and receive feedback from peers.
We explore the characteristics of good writing for business through editing tricks and exercises that will help express a clear purpose, develop an awareness of your audience and find the appropriate tone for what you want to achieve including email strategies for effective messages.
writing for business
During her writing workshops, Martha asks participants to write a thank-you note.
“High energy, engaging, thoughtful, friendly, she made the space feel safe which is huge when doing something uncomfortable.”
Martha hosting a webinar for Stanford’s LEAD online business education program.