Never Mind The Glitz and Glamour…What Can Speakers Learn From Actors? Podcast 61

What Can Speakers Learn From ActingI don’t know about you, but I’m in awe of world-class actors who can command attention and draw you into stories on the stage or in film.

Unlike speakers who get to speak in their own voices about messages they believe matter to audiences they choose to address…

…Actors have a far tougher job of having to credibly inhabit and portray characters who aren’t them – capturing your attention and emotions as they transport you to other realities and entertaining journeys.

While the likes of Judi Dench, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Anthony Hopkins (feel free to add in your own favourites) can make what they do seem ridiculously easy – you and I know that it’s not. In fact, it takes a great deal of skill and craft mixed with an ability to look deep within yourself to conjure up a wining performance.

And if you’re not prepared to embrace and show your own vulnerabilities as you ply your trade, you’ll probably never make the grade. As Johnny Depp puts it:

“With any part you play, there’s a certain amount of YOURSELF in it. There has to be, otherwise it’s not acting.IT’S LYING”.

No wonder it’s such a tough job and few are cut out for it. And that’s before you think about the world actors endure – having to cope with constant rejection, horrible hours (when you get work), mad levels of rehearsal, and (typically) little reward!

Yuk! So maybe, like most people, this wouldn’t encourage you to take to the supposed glitz and glamour of the stage humming “Hi-diddly-dee, an actor’s life for me”.

But, as a speaker, that doesn’t mean that you can’t learn a thing or two from those who do thread the boards – even if they specialise in the world of make believe. You can.

And it’s those lessons (as well as notions that are best left of the stage) that I discuss in today’s expert interview  with professional speaker, leadership development consultant, coach, and long time actress Mary Holmes of Development Solutions when I recently visited with the Professional Speaking Association Yorkshire Region.

On The Pros and Cons of Leveraging Acting Skills When Giving a Speech

Listen in as we discuss:

  • 2 ways acting skills can help you to become a better speaker
  • How following a script can cause your audience to lose out
  • The challenge of switching from performing to conversation that connects
  • Why audience experience must far outweigh your brilliance on the stage
  • What speakers can learn from Dame Judi Dench
  • A critical lesson from an actress turned speaker
  • And more

Your Turn

What are your thoughts about  whether and how speakers can learn from the world of acting?

And Finally — On the Topic of Inspiring More Audiences Via Your Speaking

How to Make Powerful SpeechesI’m delighted to announce that ‘How to Make Powerful Speeches 2nd Edition – A Step-by-Step Guide to Inspiring and Memorable Speeches’ is now available on Amazon: Click Here

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Learn how to conquer speaking anxieties and what it takes to give confident, polished, and persuasive talks.

This book will help you to discover how to transform your speech making abilities; helping you to inspire others with your ideas, every time you take to your feet.

 

 

Photo Credit: Daniel DiMarco

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