Key Messages
Unlocking Your Inner Authenticity Through The Art Of Acting
If you want to become a masterful performer on and off the stage, then you need to learn how to “perform like a pro.” According to Michael Port, a former professional actor and performance pro, the secret lies in understanding how to bring your own experiences and personalities into any situation.
Whether it’s a job interview, a presentation or even justa first date, life is full of moments when we must act in order to succeed.
Learning the tricks of this trade can not only help people hone their skills but can also help them unlock their authentic inner voice.
Take improvisation for instance.
It may sound silly at first, but it has proven to be helpful in finding success in areas such as business by allowing one to think outside of the box and tap into their creative side.
Additionally, understanding that we are all natural-born performers can also aide in gaining confidence and being able to fully take ownership of our successes.
Theater Meets Business: How To Leverage Your Acting Skills In The Professional World
Stepping into the limelight can be an intimidating experience for many.
After all, the fear of making a fool of ourselves in public can cause feelings of dread and anxiety.
Now factor in that lots of folks never actually get taught how to do public performances, and it’s easy to see why so many feel this way.
But here’s the thing – we are all actors in our own right.
We often find ourselves playing roles in everyday life – whether it’s while using social media, describing ourselves on a dating sites, Skyping a colleague or talking to our boss at a holiday party.
We might not know it but we naturally understand performance and how to present ourselves in different ways in different situations.
The key is to take this natural ability one step further; think of it as a crash course in acting for your professional life.
After all, successful transitions from actor to consultant have been seen before.
Just take the author of ‘Steal The Show’, for example: by taking his acting background and applying its principles firmly into his professional life, he was able to make a best-selling book out of teaching others how to use theatrics and drama honestly, confidently and advantageously – no matter which situation they end up being placed in.
So yes; performing in public can be terrifying but learning to harness your natural ability as an actor and use drama effectively may just help you overcome your fears!
The Paradox Of Professionalism: Finding Your Authentic Voice In A Pre-Written World
Bringing your true voice to the professional playing field is a great way to genuinely connect with those around you, and make them feel more comfortable.
Take Robin Roberts from ABC’s Good Morning America show: viewers were able to relate to her on a much deeper level after she opened up about being gay.
This honest authenticity resonates with people and goes a long way in establishing trust and gaining respect among colleagues or subordinates.
Sheryl Sandberg‘s Lean In book is another terrific example of harnessing one’s true voice.
By drawing on her personal story as a woman in a male-dominated industry, she connected with readers on a very real level.
When your performance is relatable, it can even spark movements that strive for important social change!
If you’re looking for tips on how you can bring your true voice into the professional space, start by not falling into the perfection trap – it’s not so much what you say but how you say it that counts.
For instance, the simple acts of sympathy of a mother singing the same lullaby over and over again conveys her sincere love and connection – something that transcends all originality.
The Key To True Authenticity Is Adopting Different Roles And Making Them Your Own
Successful people have the ability to adapt and thrive in different contexts, while at the same time being true to themselves.
This is a concept known as authenticity.
It’s often summed up as “being true to yourself”; however, understanding what that really means requires an additional layer of exploration.
Organizational psychologist Herminia Ibarra made this distinction in her 2015 Harvard Business review article.
She argued that having a rigid or fixed “self concept” prevents us from adapting, while instead fostering an intolerance for alternative perspectives.
On the other hand, switching between different roles can be beneficial and lead to success.
A person might act one way in their job – like a battalion leader – yet when they get home might adopt a more nurturing approach with their children.
Furthermore, if someone allows themselves to express their full range of potential they can reach higher heights – think of a chameleon that changes color according to its environment.
For anyone striving to succeed, observing others and learning how they thrive under similar circumstances can be beneficial.
It’s not about pretending to be someone else; it’s about acquiring techniques you can make your own and having the flexibility to switch between various situations while staying authentic at heart..
The Power Of Listening: How To Take Conversations To The Next Level
Being present and focused during a conversation is essential to cultivate effective listening skills.
Seth Horowitz, a neuroscientist refers to this as whole brain listening – a kind of mindfulness approach.
The idea is to be tuned in to what your partner is saying instead of trying to anticipate their thoughts or waiting for the right moment to add your own opinion.
This way we can capture every detail that comes our way, both verbal and non-verbal, allowing us to connect with our conversation partner in a deeper manner.
Actors use this same technique when they perform on stage; they learn not just listen but respond authentically and honestly in order to generate surprise responses that can elevate the performance.
Being mindful of what’s happening around you also makes it easier for you to react naturally and make the conversation more enjoyable.
An example of this would be during a job interview or presentation; by noticing subtle details like body language you can gauge how successful your efforts at communicating are going.
A participant taking notes shows genuine interest while someone expressionless will mean either that your message isn’t getting through or that it needs refreshing.
In any case, it’s imperative that we remain aware and attentive in order for conversations to be truly rewarding!
The Power Of Acting: How Visualization, Power Posing, And Imagery Can Help Beat Self-Doubt
Going on stage is not something that everyone likes to do.
It can bring a wave of uncomfortable feelings and insecurities such as feeling like you don’t belong or aren’t experienced enough to be there.
When this happens, actors use an incredibly powerful weapon: their imagination.
It’s called acting as if – the act of imagining what it would be like to be successful on stage before you even get there.
This technique is backed up by science; a 2012 study found that athletes who practice visualization accomplish better results when taking on ‘real’ tasks.
Imaging yourself in a situation releases the same hormones your body does for real experiences, creating new neural pathways between the left (logical) and right (creative) hemispheres of your brain.
To further enhance their power and presence, an actor can use power posing – imagine a superhero standing tall!
Amy Cuddy, a Harvard psychologist researched this technique and proposed that when we assume these empowering positions our bodies actually produce more testosterone – associated with feeling powerful – and less cortisol- linked to stress reactions.
Thanks to many years of trial-and-error techniques used by actors, when it comes to having confidence on stage you really can fake it until you make it!
Wrap Up
When it comes to delivering an impactful speech or presentation, Steal the Show by Joanna Bloor has it all.
It provides key advice on how to make your inner performer shine and further improve your speaking skills.
It emphasizes the importance of training your listening skills, using acting techniques like ‘as if’ and acting like a chameleon, so that you can master even the most daunting moments in the spotlight.
Above everything else, it offers some actionable advice to improve your speaking – namely pause whenever necessary.
Pausing adds rhythm and helps listeners absorb what you’re saying better.
Additionally, it gives people a chance to take notes if needed.
To sum this up – use this book to take your public speaking abilities to a whole new level!
