All the skills I use in strategic communications, I learned in the theater.
Even if you’ve never worked backstage or onstage, try preparing for communications work as an actor, director, designer or technical artist would. Learn these skills yourself and teach your clients when appropriate. Begin in these areas:
Shakespeare’s Globe, London. Photo by Katie Thebeau.
Public speaking skills
Actors learn quickly that public speaking is all about practice, practice, practice. You may not need to be fully “off book” for your next presentation, but you do need to be prepared to address your audience confidently and without reading directly off the page. Practice your speech alone and in front of coworkers. Ask for feedback. Drill yourself on sections where you often become tongue-tied or lose your place.
Theater professionals know that words are only as powerful as the way they are delivered. When you prepare to speak to a crowd or a single reporter, practice confident body language and measured pacing. Learn to project and avoid filler words like “um” before speaking at an event.
Be your own costumer, and consider what image you want to project. What fits your brand? What will appeal to each audience you address? You may not always have control over all technical aspects of a presentation, but to the extent that you do, ensure that everything is in proper working order before you begin. If you are using visual or audio aids, practice with them, and ask for feedback to be sure that they add, not detract from your speech.
Prepare for problems
Stage actors must be prepared for anything, and so must you be if you are speaking on behalf of a client or your own business. Learn your lines — but also learn to ad lib. Actors train to improvise lines and actions that fit their characters in the event of a problem onstage or a forgotten line. In this vein, prepare your communications plans, including crisis communications, carefully, but recognize that you cannot anticipate every possibility. Know your talking points and practice responding to impromptu questions.
It’s not just the spokespeople who need to be ready to jump into action. Just as the backstage crew often has problems to address behind the scenes, each member of your team should know what their role is should a crisis arise.
This is just an overview. What other theater skills can you think of that help, or could help communications pros? Check back for part two of this post for more, and tell us what you would add @MosherMullen.
