Emotionally Expressive Business Communication Workshop
03rd and 04th April 2012
1 to 4pm-Bangalore
182 Business Leaders Attended
By Thiyagarajakumar Ramaswamy
The Workshop was a Massive Success! Everybody was excited and happy :)
Thiyagarajakumar Ramaswamy, Director, KalaAnantarupah’s Leadership Stage Mime Theatre, said it best when he explained the power of emotionally expressive business communication. We all do some acting every day of our lives. When someone asks us how we’re feeling- and we respond “great!” When we really aren’t- that’s a form of acting. When we’re out selling a product, talking about it as if it was the hottest thing since sliced bread- that’s what mime-theatre artist do. When you are in front of a group making a speech on stage, behind a podium- you are performing in your own play! At least half of every business moment is a performance. “The best Emotionally Expressive communicator is to be yourself”. This concept was one thing he hoped everyone would take away from his workshop.
Thiyagarajakumar Ramaswamy’s Leadership Stage Mime Theatre-Emotionally Expressive business communication workshop: using mime theatre techniques in Presentations, Training and Business communication”. The workshop focused on the relationship between the use of Leadership Stage mime theatre emotionally expressive techniques and the ability to deliver a good presentation in the business world. Leadership Stage Mime-Theatre artist have the tools to express any color or emotion on a moment’s notice. Mastering these skills brings power, authority and the ability to move, to persuade and to inspire. Mr.Thiyagarajakumar Ramaswamy stressed the fact that passion and energy are the key ingredients for a good presentation, and that presentations should always be delivered from the heart.
Studies show that your words account for only 7% of the message you convey. The remaining 93% is non-verbal, 55% of communication is based on what people see and the other 38% is transmitted through tone of voice. SO think about it, in the business setting, people can see what you are not saying. if your body language doesn’t match your words, you are wasting your time. To begin his workshop, Mr.Thiyagarajakumar Ramaswamy shared the similarities and differences between mime-theatre‘s emotions, expressions and business. He explained that both mime-theatre artist and business leaders have a set curtain time, work with scripts, are critiqued, and most importantly, have the same purpose; to teach and to please the audience. As to the differences, he noted that mime-theatre artist have an army of nearly hundreds to tell them exactly what to say, how to say it, where to stand, when to move, and what to wear, whereas business leaders are limited solely to an army of one; themselves. Because of this difference, practise is fundamental. Mr.Thiyagarajakumar Ramaswamy supported this position by stating that mime-theatre artist believe talent resides within the subconscious and that technique can be improved through practice.
He encouraged the audience to condition the body, mind, eye contact and voice just as mime-theatre artist do, and stated that this will increase technical proficiency to the point that good technique will become a natural part of any presentation.
Mr.Thiyagarajakumar Ramaswamy used research data to support his position on emotionally expressive communication. He referenced one survey which showed that the number one feat of Indian’s is public speaking. At this time, we discussed how nerves make us feel uncomfortable. They cause tension, and our bodies begin to do a multitude of unwanted things at the worst possible time. To reduce the effects of nerves, Mr.Thiyagarajakumar Ramaswamy stressed the importance of warming up the body, the mind and the voice prior to each presentation. He explained that by stretching out the muscles, focusing the mind, and preparing the voice a presenter would become more relaxed and comfortable which, in turn, would allow passion to shine through.
Another survey by Mr.Thiyagarajakumar Ramaswamy showed that 50% of effective communication happens through what is done by a presenter’s physical energy. He defined physical energy as a visible substance that moves and changes. This includes where a presenter stands, posture, gestures and movement about the stage. Presenters should avoid obstacles such as podiums that cut off the torso. He mentioned the torso is not visible; a presentation may not be as believable to the audience. Included are exercises that will:
• Lessen your own tension by focusing on what you are perceiving in others
– learning to “ read the room”
• Help you free body from your mind
• Create a channel through which inspiration can flow
• Allow you to think more quickly on your feet.
• Build an incredible sense of trust in who you are and what you have to offer.
One particularly interesting statistic referenced by Mr.Thiyagarajakumar Ramaswamy resulted from a study of the kids and adult attention span. He explained that humans today have been so influenced by television because of commercial breaks, that people are conditioned to an average 12minutes attention span. Because of the human attention span, he noted that presenters should include a “commercial break” periodically during presentations to keep the audience’s focus. Mr.Thiyagarajakumar Ramaswamy suggested including a power point presentation, a Q & A session, and/or interactions with the audience through story telling as such commercial breaks.
The Leadership Stage Mime Theatre in Emotionally Expressive Business communication training program has developed an exciting new vision of how to empower people,understand the importance of using the different communication tools and businesses to reach greater potentials through leadership Stage nonverbal communication awareness training, a unique take on body language understanding. With his background, being a professional mimer and years of using body language in Management training-consulting services and media marketing; Thiyagarajakumar Ramaswamy brings originality to his keynote speeches, workshops and seminars. His perspective on body language awareness is topical and humorous!! He uses an interactive approach with a sense of excitement and fun to increase people's sense of self-worth and the power of their inherent verbal and nonverbal communication skills.
At the conclusion of his workshop presentation, Mr.Thiyagarajakumar Ramaswamy encouraged us to remember to speak passionately and from the heart. Think about something we are truly passionate about. How do we Act? How do we speak? Determine what it takes to be perceived as passionate Bring those techniques to the professional environment when expected to be “on”. Leadership Stage Mime Theatre workshops are an epiphany for people. They teach individuals and companies the nonverbal tools and techniques they need to develop new mind sets to create new possibilities in their lives, be more productive in their personal and business lives. For individuals and companies that learn and employ these skill sets, the results personally and to the bottom line are phenomenal. The emotionally expressive leadership stage of body language is vital to creating the most effective presence in all interpersonal interactions. Individuals without this emotionally expressive leadership stage are prone to be misunderstood, and find their efforts to communicate their ideas unsuccessful. With the ability to differentiate between the different modes of emotionally expressive body language, anyone can achieve the leadership stage necessary to become successful in whichever endeavour they choose. The audience will be captivated, and we will each be another step closer to being a virtuoso (Super Leader) in the corporate world.
