How King’s College London built communication confidence across three programmes

Staff masterclasses, a two-day intensive for senior managers and a bespoke programme for PhD students. Around 85 people trained so far, and the university keeps coming back.

At a glance

Staff, three cohorts

60

Professionals trained, and 100% would recommend the programme

Senior managers

+97%

Increase in confidence presenting on new or complex topics

PhD students

5.0/5

Overall programme rating from the cohort

The challenge

Across King’s, capable professionals had grown into senior roles without ever being taught how to present, persuade or hold a room with senior stakeholders.

Before the staff masterclass, 87% of participants rated their public speaking confidence as low or moderate. Nerves, structuring thoughts under pressure and speaking in front of senior people came up again and again. The PhD students told a similar story: average confidence of 5.6 out of 10, and most had never had formal communication training.

What we delivered

Three programmes built on the B.I.G. Framework and our P.R.E.P, S.T.A.N.C.E, C.L.E.A.R and S.T.O.R.Y frameworks, with live practice under pressure and direct feedback from LCG trainers.

  • A communication and presentation masterclass, run for three cohorts of staff
  • A two-day intensive for 15 senior managers and project leads, with individual video review
  • A bespoke programme for 10 PhD students, covering research talks, vivas and conferences

Programme by programme

Staff masterclass

9.4/10

Average rating, with 9.6 for the facilitators and 82.4% able to apply the skills straight away

Senior managers’ intensive

9.6/10

Programme rating, with 9.5 out of 10 for how likely they are to use the skills

PhD programme

+36%

Average rise in self-rated speaking confidence, from 5.6 to 7.6 out of 10

Confidence presenting new or complex topics nearly doubled in two days. Every measure of confidence rose.

Want this for your team?

Or just email us at hello@leadershipcommunicationgroup.com. Tell us who your team is, what they present and where it isn’t landing, and we’ll reply with an honest view.