• Start dates

    21 November 2024

  • Waiting list

    23 May 2024

    This date is fully booked. Waiting list is available.

  • Duration

    2 days

  • Programme fee

    € 2,500 (excl. 21% VAT)

  • Language

    English

  • Format

    In person

How can you grow your influence as a leader? This unique two-day course advances your non-verbal skills, as you’ll learn how to create more impact in your communication and interaction.

Learning goals

By participating in this course you will boost your non-verbal communication skills. 

  • Feel comfortable, at ease and confident in the spotlight.   
  • Become more motivating and inspiring as a leader of others.  
  • Develop and authentic presence.  
  • Cultivate good non-verbal communication skills for greater impact.  

This course offers exercises tailored to each participant, along with instant feedback and coaching catered to your situation and goals. You can see impact and growth right away. By the end of the course, you will feel a sense of accomplishment and tangible ideas that you can put into practice immediately.

For whom

Explore if this course is for you

Your roles

  • Manager
  • Consultant
  • Sales manager
  • Entrepreneur
  • Business professional

Your responsibilities

  • Communication with stakeholders
  • Communication with clients
  • Leading a team

Your challenges

  • Aligning your body language and voice with the message
  • Communicating comfortably and confidently with stakeholders

Read what previous participants say about this programme

Dr Jesus Roldan

Team manager Telecoms department at European Patent Office

An exciting way of acquiring a toolbox for aligning posture and voice to enhance a delivered message. During the course one has plenty of opportunities to practise and become aware of all the elements in the toolbox. Further material is provided to support you in daily training of all aspects of the course. Mastering all elements is not an easy deal, but this course definitely puts you on the right track to accomplish it.

David Marqués-Ibáñez

Senior economist and research directorate at European Central Bank

I learned how to communicate more effectively through this RSM programme. You learn about yourself, your strengths and your limitations, and how to improve your presence when communicating. RSM’s teachers are experienced, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. There’s a good mix of participants; you can learn a lot from their various professional backgrounds. It’s an interactive programme, and their feedback helps to find the right tools to have a voice. RSM lived up to its good reputation, and I was impressed with the positive attitude, good organisation, and direct and non-judgmental approach to teaching professionals.

Magdalena Zawiasa

General manager at Mundipharma DC B.V.

I discovered that very few people are aware of their non-verbal communication; quite strange as the majority of communication is non-verbal. I certainly became aware of my own preferences, and learned and practised techniques which will help support my spoken messages, help me avoid misunderstandings, and be more effective in stressful situations. RSM’s The Power of Presence programme combined academic theory and practical exercises in a surprisingly effective way, and I’m really using what I learned, almost every day.

Interested in a programme for your entire team?

Discover our options for customised and in-company programmes tailor-made for your organisation.

Your expert faculty

During the Leading with Presence Programme you will learn from Prof. Steffen Giessner, Amanda Wolzak, and Antonie Knoppers. Occasionally we may substitute other faculty members according to the content of the programme and their availability.

Prof. Steffen Giessner

Steffen Giessner is professor of organisational behaviour and change at RSM. He researches organisational psychology and management. His primary topics are change management, leadership, team management and non-verbal communication. Steffen has authored and co-authored many papers in these areas, and his research has received media coverage in publications including The New York Times, Financial Times, The Guardian, Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Manager and The Wall Street Journal. He has an MSc in psychology from the University of Kent at Canterbury in the UK, and a PhD in psychology from the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena in Germany. 

 

Ms. Amanda Wolzak

Amanda Wolzak is a trainer at RSM and teaches the Essentials of Leadership. As a trainer in the business world, Amanda specialises in voice, presence, storytelling and improvisation. Her previous work in professional theatre and film and drama across the UK, Netherlands, Germany and Finland has enriched her training capabilities. And she calls on the teachings of Grotowski, Le Page, Brecht and Stanislavski in her work. Amanda’s goal is to inspire, invent and challenge students to be in the moment and release tension when presenting to small and large groups. She has worked in Europe, USA, and South Africa with company consultants, HR specialists, technical staff, CFOs and CEOs. 

Mr. Antonie Knoppers

Antonie Knoppers is a trainer, coach, facilitator, guest speaker and actor. He trains individuals and teams on leadership and personal development, presence, communication skills, storytelling, and presentation through his company D&A Trainingen. He is co-author of Leading with Presence (Emerald Publishing 2021) and wrote How To Have Effective Zoom Meetings—And Make Them Less Boring for Forbes magazine (March 2021). He is adjunct faculty at RSM and guest faculty at Nyenrode University and the University of Maastricht. Antonie holds a Master’s degree in International Economics and Finance from Brandeis University (Summa Cum Laude) and a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of San Diego/Old Globe Theatre.

 

More information

Programme dates

21 - 22 November 2024

Waiting list

23 - 24 May 2024
 

These dates are fully booked. Missed out on a spot? Contact our Programme Advisor, Erika Kataveli, to be placed on the waiting list. 

Programme fee

€ 2,500 (excl. 21% VAT) including course materials, lunches, and snacks. This fee does not include hotel accommodation.

25% discount for alumni from Erasmus University Rotterdam and RSM.

A programme for your entire team

All of our short courses can also be delivered as personalised in-company training to groups of employees from the same organisation. This enables us to develop a comprehensive programme that focuses on your organisation’s own unique situation and issues. 

Frequently asked questions

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) offers a dynamic learning environment for professionals looking for new skills and knowledge in business and management education. 

  • RSM is consistently ranked among Europe’s top business schools.
  • World-class professors and a globally oriented faculty deliver business leaders with an innovative mindset.
  • A prestigious Triple Crown accreditation puts RSM among the top 1% of business schools worldwide.
  • With our no-nonsense approach, RSM's goal is to give you the tools to put your new skills and knowledge directly into practice, for real impact.
  • It’s about you: during your programme you can discuss your specific business challenges and receive personal coaching.
  • You will meet a new network of peers in an RSM programme: extend your network, share experiences and become inspired by your fellow participants.

This programme takes place in Bayle building on the Woudestein Campus of Erasmus University Rotterdam, just 15 minutes by public transport from Rotterdam city centre. Our modern and lively campus has innovative study facilities, sustainable design, and calming green spaces.

Most programmes start at 09:00. Finishing times are different for each programme. There’s also an approximate schedule in each programme’s brochure and on its webpages. When you register for a programme you will be given access to Canvas, our online learning system, and the full schedule is in Canvas. Your programme manager will hand out a detailed schedule on the first day of your programme.

Class sizes are usually between 12 to 24 people, but it does depend on the programme. We aim for a balance between allowing capacity to guarantee individual attention, and achieving a good group dynamic and networking opportunities.

Yes. Alumni from RSM and Erasmus University Rotterdam receive a 25 per cent discount. RSM alumni are those who have completed either a Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, PhD or at least one executive education programme of more than 40 hours duration. Participants of open programmes of less than 40 hours do not receive a discount. Companies sponsoring several participants may also be offered a special price.

These programmes are excluded from this alumni discount:

  • Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Excellence Programme
  • Leadership Challenges with Data Analytics
  • Urban Digital Innovation Executive Leadership for a Green Deal
  • Executive Master in Customs and Supply Chain Compliance
  • Business Valuation
  • Port Executive Leadership Circle
  • Corporate Communication programmes
  • Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship programmes
  • RSM Customised Programmes
  • Programmes offered outside RSM Executive Education

Programme fees include tuition, programme materials, plus lunch and refreshments throughout the programme. Hotel accommodation is not included, unless mentioned otherwise in the programme information.

If you require hotel accommodation, we recommend the Novotel Rotterdam Brainpark Hotel and the Bilderberg Park Hotel. Both hotels are located in Rotterdam, accessible to the university, and participants can benefit from special rates.

Please note that due to high demand, we advise you to book your hotel stay for any program as early as possible with a flexible rate.

Our general terms and conditions apply when you register for an open programme. Please review them to learn more about our policies for cancellation, deferral and substitution.

If you have more general questions, we recommend you explore our more in-depth FAQs page. If you are looking for personal advice, then please contact one of our advisors using the contact form below.

Erika Kataveli

Programme advisor

It's my priority to help you identify how you can meet your professional objectives, so reach out and let's make a plan for your personal development.