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.
In the first twenty minutes, delegates learn about Status and the dynamics of the Performer - Audience relationship. This is taught using a series of theatre games. They learn how small changes to the way they use Space, Time, Breathing, Voice and Energy help them to:
Inexperienced or less confident speakers will want to spend longer on Module One than those who are comfortable standing up and speaking in front of an audience. However, experienced speakers find it useful to explore how to get the attention of an audience when one is sitting down - say, around a boardroom table. Overall, this module helps speakers to develop greater presence.
Actors learn that key to keeping an audience’s attention is Puntuation. Anyone can learn the techniques that do this. In this phase, speakers learn how to use breathing, eye contact and gestures to punctuate their speech.
Experienced speakers find this training enhances their ability because it shows how to use the voice and gestures to punctuate a speech.
Less experienced and less confident speakers can use this technique to both master a situation that they find challenging. Knowing and using these techniques can then give them the basic confidence that can open the way to future development in their speaking skills.
In this module, participants learn how to make more effective use of the Voice. The voice is the most subtle and sophisticated of speaking skills. It is also the most underused. Craft of Communication coaching makes full use of the disciplines in Theatre Voice Training to teach Speakers how to:
In addition, vocal problems like poor articulation, gabbling, underpowered voices, speaking too fast, etc can also be addressed.
This set of skills helps speakers to master those aspects of presentation where an audience’s focus can be distracted away from the speaker. In this module, participants learn how to
This module helps speakers to deal with the most challenging aspects of Presentation.
This module teaches skills to help Speakers deal with situations where the need to change the mind of their audience, or persuade them to another point of view or win round an audience who may be divided, resistant, critical, inattentive, distracted or just plain hostile.
Craft of Communication offer a complete Event Management package. Click here for details
John Abulafia was great, he was friendly and encouraging and never anything but constructively critical. The day went by quickly and yet I managed to take the lot in. It was never boring, the handouts were clear and concise and full of good hints and tips for all of us. Coming from a theatrical background made such a difference: he really worked the room and wasn’t afraid to push us. I found the session invaluable.”
JOHN ARCHER: Director, Hopscotch Productions.
“I just wanted to let you know that I had excellent feedback following my presentation to the Chief Exec, specifically regarding clarity of message and delivery. I came away feeling very pleased with myself. You helped me to unlock something that I've struggled with for years. With your guidance I took a different approach to these presentations and it's paid off. The ownership was mine and as a consequence, the success was mine too: a recipe I intend to keep.”
WENDY O’SULLIVAN: Senior Manager, Smith & Nephew
“I am enjoying my new found approach to presenting and storytelling. The applause is becoming a little embarrassing. My personal mission is to ensure that I spread the message and try and get our guys up to speed. Many thanks, you guidance has been extremely valuable.”
MARK DOTCHKIN: Old Mutual Assurance, Capetown
The voice is the most underused, and underestimated aspect of Communication.
Our Theatre background means we can offer clients training skills derived from the highlysophisticated Vocal Training actors receive. These skills have been adapted for business use.
For example, Module Three begins with an exploration of Pitch. This is the note in the voice: pitch can go up or down. Actors learn how varying vocal pitch has a profound effect on the way an audience perceives them.
Listen to the way these two financial advisers talk to you. Both will give you two pieces of advice. There are two versions of each piece of advice. The script is the same. The difference lies in the way that script is spoken.
Listen and watch both versions. Then ask yourself two questions:
In the first version, the speakers do not vary their Pitch. Their voices sound flat and monotonous. This makes them seem uninvolved and you have to listen harder to grasp the details.
In the second version, both speakers use many variations of Pitch. The voice goes up at the beginning of sentences and is also used to highlight key words. This brings many benefits, such as:
The speaker s eems more approachable, warmer and more understanding. Their words are easier to follow because the changes in Pitch are used to punctuate their speech. The listener feels relaxed, included and understood.
In Module Three, we help clients to use Pitch, and other aspects of the Voice to:
The course can be nuanced to help with
The short answer is “Anyone.” Sessions are always nuanced so as to address the specific needs of each participant, taking into account their experience, level of confidence and the specific situations in which they address audiences. For example, the course can be used to help women executives who want to strengthen the impact and influence in a male-dominated work environment. + More
The Training is 90% practical: you learn it by doing it. The theories about the Audience-Speaker relationship that are taught through games, not lectures. No one needs to take notes because at the end of the course everyone is given a summary of the course in the form of a practical, punchy Guide to Addressing an Audience. + More
The ideal size for this course is a group of six or seven. This gives each delegate a chance to try out the skills they are learning. There are two versions of this course: One-Day and Two-Day.+ More
Speakers addressing a group will always be talking many audiences, for that one group contains many constituencies. Sometimes they will be in conflict with each other. Sometimes they will be in conflict with the Speaker.