4 Communication Skills For Experienced Performers
Posted on January 18, 2012 by Baxter Dickson
Shortly after I came on staff at VoicePro®, I participated in its Speak Present Influence! workshop. With years of performance under my belt and “stage presence” to spare, I was confident I would shock and awe everyone with my speaking prowess. Within five minutes, my ego was put in its place. My small supportive audience praised my enthusiasm but stated I failed to engage them personally. As the program continued, I realized I was fighting years of bad performance habits. Learning how to improve my speaking skills was a humbling experience and demonstrated that even experienced presenters have room to improve.
So, based upon my personal experience, I give you four ways for seasoned performers to become better communicators.
#1 Connect
Most experienced performers have no difficulty conveying excitement for their subject. Being in front of a crowd is exciting, let alone speaking about a subject they view passionately. Problems arise when they’re required to connect with their audience—to really see them and speak directly to them. It would be distracting for Romeo to make eye contact with the audience while proclaiming his love to Juliet. In Romeo’s case, the audience is a spectator rather than a participant. In your case, the audience is a participant. They want to be engaged and successful engagement includes looking your viewers in the eye. As public speaking coach Robert Graham describes, imagine having small conversations with each of your audience members. The end result is a personalized experience for them all.
#2 Motivate
One of the common cliches in theater is the question, “What’s my motivation?” Even though it’s often asked humorously, it’s a question you need to ask about your audience. What do I want them to do as a result of this presentation? Stage performers have the benefit of an audience looking for entertainment. Your viewers need to know why they should care. Why is there a new office policy? Why are we adding new products? Why should I purchase your services? When people understand how they will benefit, they’re much more likely to embrace your ideas.
#3 Embrace Stillness
Inexperienced speakers lock up when they get in front of groups. The reverse is true of experienced performers: they can’t stop moving. Waving arms may be great on a movie screen (Jim Carrey comes to mind), but they don’t convey confidence or power. For instance, I talk with my hands and had no idea how frequently I gesticulated out of impulse. While I thought I was being expressive, my audience was distracted and my grandest gestures lost their impact. By standing still and moving less, my gestures have greater impact on my viewers. Physical expression and vocal expression are very much alike. If you’re constantly yelling, no one will notice if you yell a little bit louder. But if you whisper and then suddenly raise your voice, people may jump out of their seats. In the same way, let your physical expression grow out of the power of stillness.
#4 Learn Ideas Not Lines
Speaking the correct line in familiar material is essential for a performer. Beginning to belt “Sweet Home Missouri” sticks out when “Sweet Home Alabama” is playing. Luckily, your business audience has no idea what your “script” is. So, by putting your improvisational skills to use you’ll be less likely to stumble over key phrases or specific wordings. If you do happen lose track of where you are, no one will suspect—unless your overt embarrassment lets them know. Focus on memorizing your main ideas, then relax and let your expertise speak for itself.
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