Status: a Key Idea, an Essential Skill

The DVD opposite demonstrates the importance of good communication in an issue that faces us all right now - finding a bank that will protect your savings. The issue is Confidence. You need to be absolutely certain that your money will be safe, and confident that your investments could increase in value.

You visit two banks. In both, you meet a distinguished looking man who tells you about the bank’s record in Asset Management.
Both Asset Managers look remarkably alike.
Both deliver exactly the same speech.
But which man - and which bank - do you trust?

Watch the video on the right and then ask yourself these questions:

1. Which Man seems to own the space he is occupying?
2. Which Man takes his time explaining his message?
3. Which Man uses his voice to punctuate his words into sentences?
4. Which Man is comfortable with seeing, the client?
5. Which Man is comfortable with being seen by you, the client?

Then ask yourself how any of these five factors influence the way you feel about both the man and the bank he represents.

Through these clips, and the questions that they raise, you are beginning to explore one of the Key Ideas in Craft of Communication training. It is the most fundamental Concept in acting - Status.

But, of course, the two Asset Managers were played by the same actor. The differences you experience are all rooted in the Status that actor is playing.

The First Asset Manager’s Body Language and Tone of Voice were exhibiting the characteristics of Low Status.

The Second Asset Manager’s Body Language and Tone of Voice were exhibiting the characteristics of High Status.

All actors learn how to raise and lower their Status by making small changes to their posture, eye-contact, breathing, the image they have of the space they occupy, etc… These techniques enable the actor to raise and lower their Status at will. Mastery over Status enables the same actor to play a King or a Servant, a Tycoon or a Tramp.

John Abulafia has adapted all these theatre techniques to enable Craft of Communication clients to control and change the impact they have on others. In the business context, learning how to raise and vary status is a key communication skill.

Once a client learns how to raise their Status at will, we then explore how High Status can help them to

• Develop Gravitas
• Get the attention of an audience before they even start speaking
• Keep the attention of the audience over a long time span
• Inspire confidence and trust in others
• Influence an audience, even if they are inattentive, conflicted, apathetic or downright hostile.

Once clients have mastered Status, we then explore how this key skill can enhance their performance in:

Presentation, Facilitation, Running Meetings, making a point during discussions, dealing with difficult people, groups and/or situations, One to One Meetings with clients or colleagues, Running and Developing a Team, Interviews, Phone and Conference calls, Media Interviews, Video conferencing …. and many other areas of their working life.