Want to Become a Much Better Speaker? Take an Acting Class.

You want to really boost your public speaking skills -- but you've hit the ceiling on help available from books, training DVDs, and speech coaches.

Raise your sights by taking an acting class.

Your goal isn't to become a good actor -- or even a so-so one.  Your goal is to stretch your idea of who you are and who you can be to an audience.

Great speakers –- Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, MacArthur, and JFK -- had a touch of the actor in them.

In most acting classes, you'll be the fish out of water.  That's okay.  You have your own big picture strategy.

Take the acting exercises seriously and work at them.  You'll have an opportunity to see how other students convey emotion and create mood.  Good actors create a strong, emotional connection with the audience.  This is exactly what you want to do to become a really effective speaker.

Acting is a journey out of yourself to somewhere else.  Think of it as therapy, with an audience. 

When your acting class is successful at making you a better speaker, you'll probably never be able to quantify what happened or why. 

Your logical brain can only carry you so far.  But your whole brain can work wonders when you let it out to play.

 

Comments

[Terry Gault]

Pete,

Before I became a presentation coach and trainer, I was an actor for 20 years. I know that I could not do the work that I do today at the same level without that experience. In effect, I had a 20 year head start.

Actors learn how to use behavior (movement, their voice, gesture) and their thoughts to help tell a story and convey a character. With that experience I learned that identity is quite fluid.

I tell clients in my workshops, the question I want you to ask is not, "What is my style?" but "What do I want my style to be?" Not "Who am I?" but "Who do I want to be?"

Acting will certainly help experienced presenters tap into new creativity and expression. I also have suggested that clients get singing, improv or movement training. All would help you learn to use your "instrument" in new and exciting ways.

Great post!

[Jeff]

I think that this is probably the best public speaking advice I have heard in quite a while. One day I may have the guts it takes to do it.

[Jeff]

I think that this is probably the best public speaking advice I have heard in quite a while. One day I may have the guts it takes to do it.

[acting classes north hollywood]

it's true, acting classes builds up professional confidence that will help you to become a better speaker. Like myself, i used to be a shy-type person but because of acting classes, i am now at full confidence and ready to face the audience.

-peter

[The North Face]

Like myself, i used to be a shy-type person but because of acting classes, i am now at full confidence and ready to face the audience.