HELLO PSA!
You must be after some more information. So glad you found me!
Below is a deeper dive into some of the topics we spoke about and some more information on what we did together!
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BODY LANGUAGE
70-90% of our communication is non-verbal.
How much time do you give to your body when planning your keynote?
Try these things:
Using different levels to change the status
Practicing your keynote without words, just with your body to see what occurs
If you run workshops, play around with facilitating in different places, removing desks or things that create barriers.
If the idea of body language and using it as a tool, and are looking for more guidance - check out LABAN and his movement theory, CLOWNING to understand physical theatre and Zen Zen Zo if you want some classes to connect you.
IMPROVISATION
Improvisation, or the art of making up theatre, has its roots in therapy through Neva Boyd. It has grown to become not only a tool for actors but also an exercise in presence, energy, and creativity.
The two we focused on today are:
‘Yes And….’ Saying Yes and to things will help advance stories, audience engagement or tricky questions
Notice More - This will create an energy and a connection between yourself and your audience and add a touch of surprise and delight
For more information, visit Viola Spolin, Impro Aus, and Second City
Try consciously saying ‘YES AND..’ to a range of things and watch the habit build quickly
IMAGINATION
Humans are the only known species to have an imagination. It sits in the same part of the brain as our memories and can be a powerful tool for speakers to take their audience ‘on a journey’.
Today we looked at:
How quickly the imagination can be activated. For better or for worse
How often, unless we give clear images to our audience, they make up their own stories
Imagination can be powerful in influencing and guiding a crowd. More so than statistics or facts.
If you’d like more information, visit this Tedx Talk, The Imagination Matrix
PLAY
As I mentioned, there is much contention about the definition of play, as research into play as a learning and cognitive tool is relatively new. Dr Stuart Brown, leading Play scientist and author of ‘Play: How it shapes the brain’ defines it as this:
“Play is state of mind that one has when absorbed in an activity that provides enjoyment and a suspension of sense of time. And play is self-motivated so you want to do it again and again”. (Dr. Stuart Brown, pg 60)
It is a primal response in us.It is preconcious and preverbal and the ability to play is not only vital to being happy,but also sustaining social relationships and being an innovative,creative person.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Learning is the primary process by which we navigate life. It is the way we make decisions; solve problems; work on teams; engage with work and colleagues; learn new knowledge, skills and mindsets; and, the way we live, in general.
Yet, few people consider how they learn.
Some 50 years ago, David Kolb identified an ideal process of learning that is probably different than the way you learned in school. By understanding and using this process, people improve their effectiveness and unleash their potential. When teams, organizations and institutions do this, they leverage the power of using a shared language and operating system that acts as a catalyst for learning and development.
APPROVAL / DISAPPROVAL
Viola Spolin is considered the mother of improvisation and is the creator of Story Theatre in the US.
She coined the phrase ‘Get out of your head and into the space’ and discusses our human need for approval that is imparted on us from a very early age (need approval from parents, friends, teachers, bosses)
The brain becomes so attuned to monitoring thoughts it filters out thoughts it considers won’t gain us approval.
The body has no such mechanism. and once free from the mind, will express itself without judgement, thus allowing us to be free of the approval/disapproval syndrome
Resources I love
There are many people doing great work in this space. Below is a few of my favourites
PARTICIPATORY THEATRE
Give me ideas
If you are interested to know more about how I can work for YOUR team or speak at your event, let me know. I can send you all the bits and bobs - or better yet - we could have a 15 minute discovery call
