Craft of Communication is a new kind of training company for Managers and Executives who wish to develop their Communication Skills. The company was set up by John Abulafia, the international theatre and opera director. His experience and skills are the bedrock of this new method of training. He is now in great demand as a Management Trainer, Executive Coach and expert in Communication Skills in both the private and public sectors.
Event Management Services
A conference is more likely to be successful if all the constituent elements - the layout of the space, lighting, sound, the structure of the day, style of scripting, PowerPoint design, style of delivery - are telling the same story.
As a highly experienced theatre and opera director with an international reputation John Abulafia has has the broad range of skills and experience to integrate all these elements so that Style faithfully reflects Substance. He worked on a conferences held by the Ministry of Defence in September 2003 and February 2004. He designed the space, worked with the technical team on sound, lighting and projection and coached the speakers, who were all high-ranking officers from the Army, Navy, Air Force and civilian officials from the Civil Service.
He also worked on of Helly Hansen’s June 2004 marketing launch of their new range of sportswear. This used twelve speakers in five auditoria, included a video feature and a fashion show. In addition, he coached all the speakers who were all product managers.
The Space
He has directed in theatres and opera houses in the UK, US, Europe and Israel. Most have a traditional proscenium arch layout, but some are in-the-round. He has also created site-specific work at the Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Proms, at the Tate Gallery, at a hilltop Castle in Moravia and in the courtyard of Somerset House. Thus he has the skills and experience to convert any given space, however challenging, to help a client create the ambience they need to achieve the goal of the event. At the heart of his design is the creation of a good, helpful Speaker-Audience relationship.
The Design
Having worked with design and technical teams on complex opera and theatre productions, he is well placed to advise on all aspects of design. He will work with the client and technical team to create an appropriate atmosphere through use of lighting, visual imagery and slide design. He can advise on PowerPoint and the Images the client wishes to use to carry their message.
The Script
John Abulafia has a novel published by Faber, has written for TV, Theatre, and has had experience as a journalist and speechwriter. Thus he is well placed to help clients with the structure and text of their presentation. He can also ensure that important themes are carried through into each individual presentation.
The Speakers
He can train and rehearse the speakers for the day so the style of speech embodies the chosen ambience and the themes of the day using his training techniques in Presentation and Public Speaking.
The Breakout meetings
He can coach those facilitating these meetings so the tone of the meetings embodies the chosen ambience and the themes of the day. He can incorporate coaching sessions to those running the sessions using his training techniques in Facilitation Skills
Client Feedback 1:
“The response to the conference has been extremely positive. A great deal of this is due to all your coaching and guidance. Thank you so much for all you have done. ”
MARY O’GORMAN: Defence Logistics Organisation, MOD.
Client Feedback 2:
“I would like to express our teams’ thanks for all your work on this product launch. The entire event was a great step forward for the company and you made a significant contribution to that.”
RICHARD COLLIER: Helly Hansen.
Client Feedback 3:
“John made the team feel very much at ease. He was clear and concise and his exercises brought out the key factors required in making good pitches. Coming from a theatrical background made such a different too – he really worked the room and wasn’t afraid to push us.”
TORY PETERS: The Research Centre; a training programme for Independent TV producers run by Channel 4
On the Performer - Audience relationship:
"Acting lesson Number One: the greater my energy as a performer, the greater the concentration of my audience. That’s a law - like in physics."
ROBIN WILLIAMS interviewed by Michael Parkinson.