Self-marketing lessons from the art of acting
When it comes to authentic leadership, your ability to present (and therefore market) yourself effectively is often just as important as your technical skills. Interestingly, there are many parallels between successful leaders and talented actors. As the World Economic Forum points out in a fascinating article, leaders can learn a lot from the stage when it comes to presence, communication and influence.
Both leaders and actors need to be able to persuade their audience, come across as authentic and exude a strong presence. Let’s explore some valuable self-marketing lessons that you can transfer from the stage to the office.
- Master your stage presence
Actors know that their mere presence on stage can influence the audience. In the same way, you can learn to fill the room with your presence.
Presence tip: Work on your body language. Pay attention to how you move through your corridors. Do you have an upright posture? Do you take up space? A confident posture conveys competence and authority, and an expansive gait can give you assertiveness. - Find your authentic voice
Great actors adapt their voice to their roles, but always remain authentic. As a leader, it’s important to find and use your own authentic voice. As Brené Brown shows in her inspiring TED Talk on vulnerability and authenticity, true connection and leadership can only come from authenticity.
Voice tip: Practice listening to yourself when you speak. In order to speak with conviction and passion, it is important that you get into the regulation of your voice in the first place, and the first step is to learn to listen to yourself. And while you’re at it, observe how you sound when you’re fully convinced and how you sound when you’re not… - Master the art of storytelling
Actors bring stories to life. As an authentic leader, you can use this skill to communicate your vision and inspire others. Storytelling is particularly important when it comes to communicating complex ideas or changes. Take a look at my blog post “Inspire with just a few words!” where I go into more detail.
Storytelling tip: Wrap your successes and experiences in captivating stories. Decisions are never made because of the facts we are given, but because of the emotions they have triggered in us. Stories support exactly that: they help to influence decisions the way you want them to! - Always be prepared and stay flexible
Actors know their lines, but are also prepared to react to unexpected situations. if you want to lead authentically, you should be equally prepared and adaptable.
Improv tip: Prepare thoroughly for presentations and meetings and be prepared to spontaneously go different ways. Your ability to react flexibly can set you apart from others, especially when it comes to change. - Use the “spotlight effect”
Actors know how to draw attention to themselves. As a manager, you can learn to use this “spotlight effect” to your advantage.
Self-marketing tip: Actively look for opportunities to showcase your expertise. Sign up for project responsibilities, write articles or share your knowledge if it contributes to your goals. Take every opportunity to talk about your expertise and position yourself as a responsible leader. - Develop your personal “brand”
Many actors have a distinctive feature that sets them apart. As an executive, you can learn from this concept to strengthen your personal brand. As experts at Harvard Business School point out, personal branding is essential for executives in today’s connected world.
Self-marketing tip: Identify something unique about your leadership style or personality and make it your trademark. Maybe it’s your commitment to sustainability, your ability to simplify complex topics through storytelling, or your innovative approach to problem solving. Consistency is key: make sure that your trademark is visible in your communication, your decisions and your appearance. This is how you create an athletic brand for yourself. - Practice, practice, practice
Actors spend countless hours rehearsing their roles. As a manager, you should also work on your skills.
Performance tip: Practice your presentation and communication skills. Ask for feedback and continuously work on improving. Experiment with different storytelling techniques to get your message across more effectively. - Understand and shape your impact with the egometric method
I am currently in the third week of an intensive deep dive with my egometric method for the dvct. The sessions have made me realize again how transformative it can be when we become aware of our impact on others and can begin to consciously shape it.
A central aspect of my egometric method is the realization that we can understand how we affect others and harness this understanding with acting techniques. In every interaction, whether professional or private, we leave an impression on others. It makes sense to be aware of this!
Self-marketing tip: Take a conscious look at the impact you have on others. The egometric method offers tools to identify your impact potential and use it in a targeted manner. By understanding how you come across to others, you can shape your presence as a leader authentically and effectively.
Remember: every interaction is an opportunity to make your intended impact. Use this knowledge to appear consciously and effectively in every “scene” of your professional life.
Conclusion
The world of acting and modern methods such as the egometric method offer you as a leader valuable lessons in authentic self-marketing. By integrating these techniques into your daily leadership routine, you can strengthen your presence, convey your messages more convincingly and ultimately increase your impact as a leader.
Remember: every interaction is an opportunity to strengthen your authentic personal brand and demonstrate your leadership presence. Use the power of storytelling and the insights from the egometric method to bring your vision to life and make it compelling. The curtain rises – it’s time for your authentic performance!
