Meeting/Event Information

Scared Scriptless: Improv Training for Presentation Skills

Communicating ideas clearly and presenting them openly in a public forum is an essential component of success across several domains of life. Being a good public speaker can help advance a career and form strong collaborations. It can help promote ideas and move people to action on issues that affect them directly. To do any of these things well requires a fair amount of standing in front of an audience and delivering a presentation, an idea, or a body of work. And sometimes the only thing that stands between us and the audience is fear.

Glossophobia is the fear of public speaking, and the antidote is to be found in an actor’s playbook. In it we find opportunities for role playing, character development, speech, voice, pace, volume, body language, countenance and fun. Yes, fun. Research shows that people believe us, have longer attention spans and better retention when they witness the presenter enjoying him/herself.