More Than Words
Tonight I embarked on a new course, More Than Words, a speaking course by professional coach, thespian and all round talented good guy David Griggs. I intend to write my thoughts after each weekly session in the hope that I can review these posts later to see what else I can glean from them. Feel free to skip my musings. :)
Night 1 of 6. The Introduction.
I somehow missed an email. I only know this because when I turned up and was introduced to another victim of this evil genuis, David Griggs, I asked her what she did for a living. She squealed with delight and said in a whisper, 'We aren't supposed to tell, its secret'. I chuckled at her performance, thought her somewhat nutty and continued chatting on other topics.
I saw a vaguely familiar face from my day at Hills. I called to the face and she turned. I asked her if she used to work at Hills and she guiltily whispered in the affirmative. Bewildered, I smiled in welcome to her and turned away to stew in my confusion.
It wasn't to last long though because we did that dreadful Getting to Know You session in which we say our name and state what our motivation for coming was. Mine was simple: In my role I frequently have to convince people of things and have a hard time doing it. As a small person my opinions are frequently disregarded, and I want to be taken more seriously.
Then the exercises began. I won't bore you (if you're there) with the details but we focused on breathing deeply to both calm the mind and project the voice. We played remarkably silly games which, if I told you what they were, would make you question my sanity for paying $900.00 of good, hard earned money to participate in.
Upon reflection just towards the end of the session I realised that what David was doing was getting us to throw off the shackles of adult responsibility, reject logic and scientific knowledge and embrace our inner children. He peeled back the layers of facts, figures, time pressures and role demands to get to the creative side of us which is where our engaging personalities actually are. As we age we have all creativity squashed out of us. Its still there, but because it isn't used it shrinks, it atrophies. We forget it.
After all, even if you know a subject you won't be listened to unless you're engaging in some way, and being creative is a great way to capture that audience.
Did I enjoy my first night? Well, mostly. Some of it was very, very uncomfortable. I had to stare into the eyes of another participant for a minute, while he stared into mine with equal intensity. I then had to do it while I recited the alphabet. Backwards. I pretended to be a part of a machine. I then had to pretend I was spruiking the machine. I had to throw away respectability and authority and just be... a child. I had to try to remember the names of the other participants. I'm dreadful with names. I always have been.
I had to bare my soul a little, and it pained me. But we were all in it together, and it was wonderful.
I also noted on the long drive home from the city, late at night when I'm normally in bed, and after 9 hellish and emotional days at the Caravan and Camping Show, that not only was I awake, stimulated and ready to party, but I REMEMBERED NEARLY EVERYONE'S NAME.
Am I looking forward to session two?
You better damn well believe it.
Posted from Dreamwidth
Night 1 of 6. The Introduction.
I somehow missed an email. I only know this because when I turned up and was introduced to another victim of this evil genuis, David Griggs, I asked her what she did for a living. She squealed with delight and said in a whisper, 'We aren't supposed to tell, its secret'. I chuckled at her performance, thought her somewhat nutty and continued chatting on other topics.
I saw a vaguely familiar face from my day at Hills. I called to the face and she turned. I asked her if she used to work at Hills and she guiltily whispered in the affirmative. Bewildered, I smiled in welcome to her and turned away to stew in my confusion.
It wasn't to last long though because we did that dreadful Getting to Know You session in which we say our name and state what our motivation for coming was. Mine was simple: In my role I frequently have to convince people of things and have a hard time doing it. As a small person my opinions are frequently disregarded, and I want to be taken more seriously.
Then the exercises began. I won't bore you (if you're there) with the details but we focused on breathing deeply to both calm the mind and project the voice. We played remarkably silly games which, if I told you what they were, would make you question my sanity for paying $900.00 of good, hard earned money to participate in.
Upon reflection just towards the end of the session I realised that what David was doing was getting us to throw off the shackles of adult responsibility, reject logic and scientific knowledge and embrace our inner children. He peeled back the layers of facts, figures, time pressures and role demands to get to the creative side of us which is where our engaging personalities actually are. As we age we have all creativity squashed out of us. Its still there, but because it isn't used it shrinks, it atrophies. We forget it.
After all, even if you know a subject you won't be listened to unless you're engaging in some way, and being creative is a great way to capture that audience.
Did I enjoy my first night? Well, mostly. Some of it was very, very uncomfortable. I had to stare into the eyes of another participant for a minute, while he stared into mine with equal intensity. I then had to do it while I recited the alphabet. Backwards. I pretended to be a part of a machine. I then had to pretend I was spruiking the machine. I had to throw away respectability and authority and just be... a child. I had to try to remember the names of the other participants. I'm dreadful with names. I always have been.
I had to bare my soul a little, and it pained me. But we were all in it together, and it was wonderful.
I also noted on the long drive home from the city, late at night when I'm normally in bed, and after 9 hellish and emotional days at the Caravan and Camping Show, that not only was I awake, stimulated and ready to party, but I REMEMBERED NEARLY EVERYONE'S NAME.
Am I looking forward to session two?
You better damn well believe it.
Posted from Dreamwidth