Why It’s Important to Brush Up On Your Acting Skills
April 26, 2017
By Brian Maynor
“Ready…and ACTION!”
Whether it’s preparing for an interview or a presentation, the natural tendency is to focus on the material, however, few people spend any time analyzing and rehearsing their character. It may seem odd to develop a character along with your presentation materials, but it is actually ingenious.
Knowing the material frontwards, backwards and every way in between won’t do any good at combating the stiff delivery, shaky voice or the tendency to sound robotic when our nerves and anxiety kick in, but adopting a few tips from acting class will.
Here are some great tips for how to develop and practice your character:
1. Prepare your mindset. Interviews and presentations are just like auditions; you are either performing to land a new job or for an audience, so it only makes sense that the content is only one part of the process. The character you play is equally, if not more, important.
2. Acting and authenticity are not mutually exclusive. Read any interview or presentation coaching material and they are bound to extol the virtue of authenticity, as they should, but you aren’t sacrificing it when you develop a character for the process. Our character will still be authentic to our true selves, but it will also help us to grow and gain new skills at the same time.
3. Outline the qualities of your character. The first step in any good character development process is to identify and understand their qualities and motivations. That means you should write down the traits, attitude and behavior a successful applicant or presenter would embody and convey.
4. Rehearse, rehearse, and rehearse. Understanding your character will only get you so far. If you want to bring your character to life, you need to practice and rehearse, like all good actors. Some of the qualities you want to present may be new or a stretch, so if you want to deliver them convincingly you will need to spend time practicing. This may include trial runs with friends or colleagues if you tend to feel flush, anxious or nervous when you’re the center of attention or feel under scrutiny.
Nerves are inevitable, but you shouldn’t let them derail all of your hard work and time preparing. Luckily we are all born with the natural ability to perform to some degree. We simply have to spend as much time on creating our character as we do the material. Then there will be nothing to worry about with either the content or the delivery.
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I am always curious to hear from you and what you see in the workplace. Send your questions, comments and pet peeves to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.
About Brian Maynor
Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.
