Find Your inner Rocky
To invest fully and completely in the imaginary circumstances of the story.
That is the job of an actor. Actors must bring presence, authenticity, and curiosity to work every day. Actors are required to act boldy and clearly to engage an audience and create a shared and lasting connection.
When you think of your meeting or presentation as your stage, you can apply the methods an actor uses to boost your own and your team’s personal investment and bring more clarity and boldness to your business story.
At the first rehearsal or kick off of a new project, the whole ensemble and creative staff share their interpretation of the story, so everyone works collaboratively to fulfill the playwright’s vision. One of the first questions an actor asks with a new role is, “What is my character’s objective, what do I want, or need, by the end of the play, film, or story?” Actors write in their script this objective, in a single, clearly defined sentence. Everything actors do and say on stage drives them towards that objective.
The clearest objectives, whether for a comedy or drama, convey urgent need and high stakes. Urgent need and high stakes, require a deep, personal investment and make for more engaging stories and lasting connection with an audience.
To illustrate, I’ll use the familiar character and film, Rocky (the original.) In the first installment, Rocky’s objective is what we would expect -- he wants to win the title. But what does he really need? To win over the love of his life. Every bit of Rocky’s story drives him towards this objective.… “ADRIENNE!!!” That pleading, yearning, bold call at the end of the film connects us to his journey and remains a vivid cinematic moment.
But what does Sly Stallone’s swollen faced, objective playing, boxing ring moment have to teach about telling a business story?
Let’s look at two scenarios:
1. Let’s say you are tasked with delivering a research report (your story) at your next team meeting (your stage and audience.) You could define your objective for that meeting as:
a. “I have to report on the research findings.” OR,
b. “I need to compel the team (your audience) to engage with my thorough and detailed investigation
2. Let’s say you’re that team’s Manager. Your job is to convince the executive team (your audience) to approve and fund your project. Like most companies, the executive team balances a host of competing priorities, so you already have a tough audience. You could define your objective for that meeting as:
a. I have to deliver the benefits and business case for my initiative
b. I need to infect the stakeholders with my team’s passion for this initiative
In both scenarios above, choice (a) is about doing what your audience expects (yawn). Choice (b), the bold choice, requires more personal investment, raises the stakes and shifts your intention. Redefining your internal objective for the meeting changes the way you prepare for and deliver your story. The scenarios also demonstrate the importance of ensemble, each member contributes their best efforts to create a compelling and memorable experience.
If you want to be remembered…if you want to be more connected…get more invested. Find a way to make it matter more. Make the bold choice and #Be On!