BOBST managers working through communication exercises in a masterclass setting

Leadership Development · 2-Day Masterclass

BOBST Leadership Presence

32 rising managers discovered that technical expertise is only half the equation — and built the communication skills to lead with authority.

32 Managers

2 Days

Masterclass Format

4.7/5 Satisfaction

89% Applied Within 2 Weeks

The Context

Technical excellence was never the bottleneck.

BOBST's internal assessment identified communication as the single most significant capability gap across its middle management layer — above technical skills, strategic thinking, and team management. These 32 managers had been promoted for results, but the communication demands of cross-functional leadership required a different set of muscles. BOBST's L&D team brought in Impactful Speaking to build them in a focused, 2-day immersive format.

Participants engaged in a structured communication exercise during the BOBST masterclass

The Problem

Strong on content. Losing credibility in the room.

Within their own teams, these managers were authoritative and clear. But when the audience changed — a cross-functional review, an executive steering committee, a town hall — the structure loosened, confidence dropped, and the message blurred. Their communication was creating an invisible ceiling on their influence.

Presentations ran long without landing the key point for a senior audience
Feedback conversations avoided the real issue; meeting facilitation lost control of the room
Executive updates answered questions no one had asked
Training had to be practical — these analytical managers would immediately discard anything abstract

Phase 1

Self-Awareness & Baseline

Honest diagnostic of each participant's current communication patterns — strengths, blind spots, and the specific habits that were limiting their impact. Video feedback included.

Phase 2

Structure Frameworks

Practical message architecture tools for the four most common leadership communication contexts: upward presentations, cross-functional meetings, feedback conversations, and team alignment talks.

Phase 3

Presence Under Pressure

Techniques for maintaining composure, authority, and clarity when challenged — including live practice with unexpected questions, hostile scenarios, and time-compressed delivery.

Phase 4

Application to Real Cases

Each participant applied the frameworks to a real upcoming communication challenge — an actual presentation, meeting, or conversation — and received targeted coaching on it before leaving.

"This wasn't the typical communication training. It was practical, uncomfortable in the right ways, and immediately applicable."

BOBST Masterclass Participant, Middle Management Cohort

Participant video interview — coming soon

"The best training is the kind that makes Monday morning different. That's the standard we design every masterclass around."

— Damien Gauthier, Impactful Speaking

"I used the PREP framework in my executive update on Tuesday. For the first time, I finished on time and my VP asked a follow-up question instead of just nodding. That's different."

BOBST Manager, Engineering Division

Participant delivering a structured message in front of the group during the masterclass

Group feedback session with Damien Gauthier coaching a BOBST manager

89% Applied techniques within 2 weeks

4.7/5 Participant satisfaction rating

Track Adopted into BOBST leadership program

89% of participants reported applying at least one technique within 2 weeks of the masterclass
Measurable improvement in upward presentation quality scores tracked by L&D team
Masterclass adopted as a core component of the BOBST leadership development track
Participants left with personal communication frameworks tied to their real upcoming challenges
Cross-functional meeting effectiveness reported as significantly improved in follow-up survey

Is communication the hidden gap in your leadership layer?

We design masterclasses that work for analytical, results-driven managers — practical, direct, and immediately usable on Monday morning.

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BOBST Leadership Presence

Technical excellence was never the bottleneck.

Strong on content. Losing credibility in the room.