The purpose of this Business Acting course is the
acquisition of greater expressive power
for later use in business communications.
This is done through learning & then practicing in class exercises
specific communication tools borrowed from Acting & live theatre. This participatory & experiential course
concerns itself with live communication in public space, & with empathetic
listening and assertive influence among live people present in the room.
The course teaches Seven Stages
to Expressive Power -- steps through which a Speaker motivates & inspires
Listeners, & presents the Speaker’s “Best Possible Self”. The Seven Stages guide participants through
a change in self-perception, & provide practical tools of influence rooted
in the basic concept of “Action”.
This is not a course in professional
lying. Instead, it teaches expressive power to
better communicate what you believe -- in live, interpersonal, face-to-face
communication.
This course does not prescribe pat, “correct”
answers regarding correct behavior in a boardroom, etc. Nor does this course try to mimic the acting
of movies or television – acting that would be rendered ineffective if
reproduced before a live audience.
Instead, the course teaches basic techniques in
interpersonal communication, and helps participants become more purposeful,
expressive & effective and how to overcome their own inhibitions or
less-effective methods of communication.
Instead of attempting to turn out uniform, interchangeable public
speakers, the course prepares participants with an innovative arsenal of
unexpected yet practical tools of influence, so that they can present their
Best Possible Selves.
Stage One of the Seven Stages is “Enthusiasm,
Curiosity & Respect” -- which the participant must bring to the course
& make evident in all exercises.
Participants must work from a desire to have greater control in how one
influences others.
The course has been referred to as “cross training
for business people”, or even “the fundamentals of charisma”. This course will not improve your PowerPoint;
instead, it will improve the person in
front of your PowerPoint.
Key
take-aways of this course are:
a)
Understanding the concept of “Action” & knowing how to use it to
influence others;
b)
a new, empathetic & assertive Speaker-to-Listener mindset;
c)
visual, aural & temporal communication tools with which to create a greater human connection between
Speaker & Listeners, including:
focus, body language, posture, stillness & movement, gesture, key
words, inflection, vocally commanding a room, progression of thought,
objective, & dynamic diversity;
d)
new awareness of your public self & public credibility;
e)
methods to manage tension or “stage fright”;
f)
& greater involvement of your humanity when communicating.
