Gary Genard's

Speak for Success!

"Be a voice not an echo." - Albert Einstein

Theater-Based Techniques for Business Training (Part Two)

The last article in this space discussed Shakespeare's famous line: "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players" in terms of business presentations.

That's because his observation is as true for public speaking and business speaking as it is for theatrical performance. (For help in becoming a more exciting and influential presenter, download our cheat sheet, "4 Characteristics of an Influential Speaker.")

As a former actor, I've always been interested in how the techniques of theatrical performance can and should be put to use by business speakers. These simple yet powerful skills can help engage audiences and transform routine presentations into memorable ones. And they can create a "Wow!" moment in the business professional  who uses them for the first time.

At Public Speaking International, we specialize in business training techniques rooted in theatrical performance. My last blog discussed six of those techniques: stage presence and authenticity, diaphragmatic breathing, focused relaxation, being present in the moment, improvisation, and beats and intentions.

This article examines 5 more techniques that work in everything from team building and presentations, thinking on one's feet, reacting to challenges, responding to the need for change, and negotiating Q & A.  Here they are:

  • Vocal Dynamics. Want to learn how to influence others when you speak? To get people to trust you? To hook listeners’ attention and keep them engaged every minute of your talk? To inspire them with your vision and leadership? If these things are important to you, learn how to use your voice. It’s the most subtle communication tool you own. Not everyone can be a great orator, but each of us can improve our vocal skills for speaking successfully. To illustrate, try this simple experiment: Think of something truly exciting that happened to you, that you personally experienced. It doesn't matter how long ago this took place. Write it down. Now imagine you're relating this story to someone you know well, or even a few friends. First, read it--literally--reading each word off the page as though you were reading a newspaper. Now close your eyes, and for a moment familiarize yourself with the particulars of the story. With your eyes still closed, picture a special person in your life you are telling this story to, someone who has never heard it before. Your vocal dynamics should not only be different, they should be radically so. How many presentations have you heard from speakers who sounded like you did when you were "reading the newspaper"?
  • Body Expressiveness. Standing and moving with authority can make the difference between a mediocre presentation and a memorable one. Powerful speakers look the part as well as sound it. There’s no way around it: good nonverbal communication is essential for successful speaking. To put that much more strongly, you can't create the influence you're looking for without using movement to support and amplify what you say. Virtually every speaker, professional or otherwise, can benefit by "getting out of your head and into your body.”
  • Role-Playing and Simulations. Facing a high-stakes presentation, interview, sales pitch, or client meeting? Participating in campaign debates or media appearances? Need to prepare for a crisis response or challenging Q & A? For these situations and others, role-playing and simulations are essential. Theater professionals know how to set up role-playing scenarios as close as possible to the real thing, if not in particulars, then certainly to more closely achieve your purpose. You’ll be ready, set, and good to go, having taken that challenging speaking situation out for a test drive.
  • Storytelling. Delivering information is one thing . . . telling a story is another. If you want to connect with listeners and get them to tune in to what you’re saying, tell a story. Stories are filled with drama and they’re all about people, which is why everyone responds positively to them. You’ll learn how to “find your true voice” through personal stories, and to use anecdotes that show your connection to your material. It’s a powerful technique for letting audiences know how committed you are to your message and your listeners. Remember the story of "Little Red Riding Hood?" or the Trojan Horse?  I thought so.
  • Using Language. The greatest writer who ever lived was a dramatist, and there’s no one like Shakespeare for teaching us about the power of language. So get in the enviable habit of reading some of the Bard's plays--or much better, seeing them in person on stage. He’ll help bring your imagination to life where the language of your own speeches and presentations is concerned. You’ll learn to speak with more color and impact, and you’ll discover how the sounds of words are related to their meaning. Vivid and powerful language can make a presentation sing! Work with Shakespeare, Churchill, Lincoln, and others who used language well so that you can learn to give that kind of performance when the curtain goes up.
Takeaways from this blog:
  • Your voice can help raise your presentation from everyday to extraordinary.
  • You can't be a powerful speaker without adequate movement.
  • Role playing can help you take your speech or presentation for a test drive.
  • Delivering information usually isn't engaging; telling a story almost always is.
  • The greatest speakers in the world knew how to write for the ear.

Dr. Gary Genard's free resource, Great Speaking? It's About Performance Over Content

 

My previous blogs related to this topic:

 

Tags: Public Speaking Techniques,theater techniques for business training,stage presence

Subscribe to the blog

Follow Gary Genard