Transparent Communication: A Communication Skills Tip

Who taught human beings to conceal information? Is it part of our genetic make up or is it a survival mechanism? Because we've all hidden truth or parts of truth at one point or another in our lives. And there is a good chance we'll be presented with a reason to hide it in the future. "When people bemoan the lack of honesty in corporate America and elsewhere, images of Enron, WorldCom and Martha Stewart come to mind. But honesty issues have a significant impact on virtually every workplace,” says author and consultant Steven Gaffney (See his book Just Be Honest.) As an actor, we are taught the opposite of hiding. We are taught to reveal ourselves in the deepest ways. We learn to expose our vulnerability, our uncertainty, and our weaknesses all to help us build a stronger connection to our audience. What I learned as an actor more than 20 years ago continues to inform my actions in life. In the business world, I have noticed there are ways in which withholding information is important. But in communication, I know that honesty is still the best policy. Transparency is something we are all craving. Because we spend a large percentage of our time at work, speaking with truth is especially important for our success. Ask yourself if what you choose to conceal is simply out of habit or really something necessary in order for you to take next steps. Maybe we can create greater trust amongst each other and secure better deals. To be added to Lanartco's Communication Performance Tip of the Week, please connect to this link or send your email address to info@lanartco.com.

The Rewards of Discipline: Communication Skills Tip

When I was 16 years old and attending The Educational Center for the Arts in New Haven, Connecticut, I felt on top of my discipline. 16 years old and determined to meet my acting career head on with practice and dedication. I used to skip the social gatherings and Saturday night parties and opt for a night of character development at a local restaurant where I'd meet one of my acting peers to improvise roles in public. I read acting book after acting book; took multiple voice, dance and drama lessons every week; and found refuge in my regimen. I felt extremely passionate about my work during those years when I whole-heartedly attended to my craft. My energy level was unsurpassed. My ability to turn a negative situation into something positive was plausible and my happiness was apparent to all. And I am fortunate to have found a way to integrate my love of the arts into my current career as a communication trainer and coach. I've learned that the deeper we delve, the more concentration it takes to be sure that we stay on a path with heart. It is easy to look at discipline as painful--think about that last 10 minutes you have on the treadmill or pushing the team in the evening hours to stay excited about tomorrow's big day. These moments help define our character. Our earnestness leads to our rewards. Our willpower is self-inspiring. What are you doing today to focus on something that deeply matters? To be added to Lanartco's Communication Performance Tip of the Week, please connect to this link or send your email address to info@lanartco.com.

Memorization Skill: Communication Skills Tip

Memorization is a skill we learn as actors. First, we are taught to read a script with our fellow actors without any emotion. This is called a cold reading. Then, we begin to read our parts with feeling. Later we stand and stage the scenes while reading through the script. This repetition sets a tone in our memory bank that the information needs to be stored for later use. Once we begin to study our lines to enable us to act without reading, we're already very familiar with our lines. During rehearsals, it is very common to have a stage manager prompting us when we are off script and forget our lines. These cues trigger our memory and allow us to improvise while staying with the story line. How does this relate to your business presentations? By preparing your speech through memorization, you are more able to act on your feet when it's show time. Because you don't want to sound staged, try memorizing the order of your bullet points and watch your confidence soar. To be added to Lanartco's Communication Performance Tip of the Week, please connect to this link or send your email address to info@lanartco.com.

Transforming Insecurity: Communication Skills Tip

I know that when I feel insecure, I don't always project the image I desire. Or, even worse, I may not speak up to make a point. My voice gets restricted, I feel tense in my shoulders and I hold my breath. I am aware of the change in my behavior because I have a heightened sense of myself due to my training as a performer. The good news is, we can all remedy our insecurity. First by noticing how it shows up. Then, by making small adjustments in our physicality or our voice. In acting class, I remember one way of building a character was through acquiring a different physical state. From the frame of the body, one could make assumptions about how the character might use his voice or choose her words. Another way of forming a character was through a vocal pitch or quality. Soon after, the non-verbal aspects would fall into place based on the vocal choices. Now, whenever I notice myself communicating in a way that isn't representative of my confidence and know-how, I look to adjust my body and voice to reflect the image I know will make an impact. Because we can't always tackle our development head on, trying an imposed physical state or vocal shift may be a good solution to adjusting the image you want in your interpersonal communications. To be added to Lanartco's Communication Performance Tip of the Week, please connect to this link or send your email address to info@lanartco.com.