Downtown Vancouver: AAPS PD - Delivering Presentations with Credibility and Clarity
Program Overview
Whether you’re delivering a presentation, giving a project update, leading a meeting, or pitching an idea, this short, skills-first session helps you sound clearer and more credible—fast. You’ll learn a practical structure to get to the point without rambling, strengthen a few delivery habits that build credibility, and build the ability to PAUSE when pressure hits (questions, interruptions, or tech hiccups) so you can recover and stay on message.
In an era when many people are using AI, your delivery is how you stand out.
What You Will Learn
- Read the Landscape: Quickly assess the setting (formal vs. informal, 1:1 vs. meeting, one-and-done vs. first in a series) so you choose the right tone, depth, and pace.
- Structure Your Message: Build a clear message (main point → why it matters → support → ask/next step) and start clean so you get to the point early.
- Delivery Skills That Land: Use pace, pausing, voice, and presence to sound clear and credible (without trying to be “performy”).
- PAUSE + Practice: Handle curveballs (Pause → Answer → Return) and apply it in two short practice rounds with targeted feedback; round two includes a real-world curveball.
How You Will Learn
This session prioritizes practice over theory. Participants get brief teaching bursts, time to draft a real message for an upcoming moment, and structured practice in small groups. You’ll leave with one message structure, one delivery habit to use immediately, and a reset line for when it goes sideways.
Kindly note that this presentation focuses on the actual delivery, not on accompanying support documents or media.
Audience: This session is open to all AAPS at UBC Members and APSA at SFU Members.
Participant Expectations for the Live Zoom and In-person Sessions
- To attend the full session. People arriving late, leaving early, or dropping in and out negatively impacts the experience for everyone. We understand that emergencies happen, but if everyone starts out with a full commitment and focus for the duration of the session, it makes the experience so much better for everyone
- To actively participate in the activities, whether through reflection, writing, small group conversations, or large group discussions. (And using audio and video for online sessions)
- Be open and engaged with the content of the session, even if it doesn't immediately resonate with you. We encourage you to try things out and help us create a positive learning environment for all participants
- To be professional, kind, and courteous to fellow participants and to practice patience, confidentiality, and inclusivity
About Your Facilitator
Diane A. Ross is a lawyer turned certified executive coach, professional leadership mentor, facilitator, and author. For over 15 years, Diane has been designing professional development programs for leaders, individual contributors, and young professionals. She is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach with extensive experience coaching individuals and organizations through strengths-based leadership development. Something clicked when she first did the CliftonStrengths® assessment, and she realized her strengths and purpose did not match her job as a litigation lawyer. She took a leap of faith in herself and her career and pivoted to coaching, teaching, and mentoring. Now she is lit up by helping others learn their strengths so they can also shine bright on the big stage called life.
About Your Host
AAPS is your labour relations organization representing the Management and Professional Staff group to your employer UBC. AAPS is a separate organization from the University, and your conversations with us are confidential. We offer members professional labour relations advice that is in your best interest as an employee. We encourage you to get to know AAPS and your Collective Agreement.
The AAPS Professional Development Program is designed and hosted by AAPS for our members. We offer a variety of topics on management, leadership, interpersonal skills, workplace skills, as well as personal and social development. The AAPS PD Program is designed in consultation with the AAPS Board of Directors and staff. Member Services Officer Sarah Muff is the program's architect and manager. She staffs the PD events. If you have ideas or feedback, please email Sarah at sarah.muff@ubc.ca.
Registration Information
The AAPS Professional Development program is designed for and offered exclusively to AAPS members at no cost. AAPS members can register to attend an in-person, live Zoom session, or access the recorded version. Before registering, please consider your schedule and your ability to actively participate.
The live Zoom sessions require you to use audio, and video is also strongly encouraged. For the in-person and live Zooms, your presence and focus are important for the structure of this session. If that doesn't work for your schedule this time around, no worries, there is always the recorded version.
If you have accessibility requirements or questions, please email aaps.pd@ubc.ca. Zoom auto-captions are always enabled for our sessions. Please let me know if you need a live transcriber, interpretation, or other specific audio or visual supports for in-person or Zoom sessions. If you have other accessibility requirements for in-person sessions or would like more information about the venue, I can also answer those questions.
Register Now for AAPS PD: Delivering Presentations with Credibility and Clarity with Diane Ross