Performance-Hacks-fuer-Deine-Performance_Impulse-aus-Hollywood

Performance hacks: impulses from Hollywood’s award season

vom 8. March 2024

The art of inspiring with just a few words

Every year, when Hollywood rolls out its most glamorous carpet, a world opens up in which not only fashion and beauty, but also the fine art of communication are in the spotlight. Award season is far more than a time of glitz and recognition; it’s a period when every appearance, every acceptance speech offers deep insights into the nature of effective communication.

For anyone looking to hone their public speaking and expression skills, these moments are worth their weight in gold: they demonstrate how to not only express gratitude, but also show personality, move emotionally and sometimes even convey a profound message in a very short space of time.

The fascination of the Award Season lies in the presentation of this art form under high pressure. The winners often have just half a minute to convey their thoughts and feelings – a challenging but revealing exercise in precision, authenticity and the ability to resonate with the audience. The ability to inspire and touch quickly is all the more valuable in a world where attention is fleeting. These principles apply far beyond the stage and can sustainably improve communication in meetings, webinars and presentations.

The art of a convincing 30-second thank-you speech

In the world of big gestures and even bigger stages, the short acceptance speech at award ceremonies shows what really works in communication. These fleeting moments are a profound insight into the art of effective communication, illustrating how to leave a lasting impression with a concise speech.

Dealing with pitfalls and complications

America Ferrera provided an impressive example of the power of authenticity and spontaneous humanity at the 2024 Critics’ Choice Awards. When she accepted the SheHer Award, she began her speech with the revelation that she was waiting for her acceptance speech to appear on the teleprompter. This moment of unexpected honesty made her incredibly approachable and authentic. When her speech then began, although obviously prepared, Ferrera delivered it with such vibrancy and conviction, as if the words were born in her at that very moment. Her ability to present scripted material so vividly and honestly showed that authenticity lies not only in spontaneity, but also in how to convey prepared words with real feeling and conviction.

The story technique for resonance and memorability

Emma Stone, who was awarded Best Actress at the same event, offered a completely different example. Instead of relying on prepared phrases (she obviously had nothing prepared), Stone used a specific technique for her acceptance speech. Her speech was peppered with many small but effective stories that enriched everything she said. These short anecdotes not only made her speech personal and relatable, but also demonstrated her deep gratitude for her colleagues and her passion for the role for which she received the award. A role that is precisely not adapted, does not care about criticism and the view from outside, but on the contrary is incapable of any form of adaptation. Stone’s ability to speak extemporaneously and embellish everything she says with little narratives perfectly demonstrates how to create a deeper connection with the audience while remaining authentic.

These examples illustrate three key elements of an effective short speech:

  1. Authenticity: genuineness through spontaneous revelations or the inclusion of personal stories.
  2. Clarity: The communication of a clear, impactful message, supported by a clear and simple structure.
  3. Emotional connection: Forging an emotional bond through personal insights or sharing stories.

These insights from the Award Season are immensely valuable for anyone who wants to improve their skills in the art of communication. They show that it is possible to convey a message in just 30 seconds that inspires and resonates. By concentrating on the essentials, remaining authentic and building an emotional connection with our audience, we can not only inform and entertain with just a few words, but above all inspire.

Tips for speakers:

These two moments of this year’s award season alone offer us an inexhaustible source of inspiration. For us speakers, they are a treasure trove of valuable lessons to refine and deepen our own art of communication.
Here are some essential tips for making an unforgettable impression as a speaker:

  1. The power of preparation and practice: As America Ferrera and Emma Stone have proven, it makes a difference whether you speak spontaneously or with prepared words. But in both cases, preparation is the be-all and end-all. Know your core messages and practise presenting them confidently and authentically, even under pressure. Use this time to perfect your pronunciation and intonation so that your words really come across to the audience.
  2. Clear structure, even when speaking extemporaneously: A clear outline of your speech (beginning, middle, end) helps you to organize your thoughts and take your audience on a journey. Start by introducing the topic, follow with a story or example that supports your message, and end with a strong message or emotional appeal. This structure is your lifeline, even if you have to speak spontaneously.
  3. Show honesty and personality: Your listeners will sense whether you stand behind your words. Authenticity arises when you bring yourself into your speech – with your thoughts, feelings and experiences. Be honest and genuine, and don’t be afraid to share a personal story. This makes you tangible and your message credible.
  4. Create an emotional connection:  People remember what they feel. Dare to show and share your emotions. Your enthusiasm, your passion, but also your vulnerability are powerful tools to build a deep connection with the audience. Let your heart speak and you will see how your words take on a new depth and impact.

Use your potential

Every speaker has the extraordinary potential to go far beyond simply informing and entertaining with carefully chosen words. It doesn’t take a Herculean effort to inspire profoundly and initiate significant change. An effective way to do this is to use the current awards season: Study the acceptance speeches, identify what works for you – the do’s – and just as importantly, what doesn’t – the don’ts.

This year, our speaker retreats in France offer you the exclusive opportunity to refine your communication skills and take them to a new level in an environment that is bursting with inspiration and creativity. In June, our retreat will focus intensively on the topic of embodiment – the synergetic relationship between inner attitude and posture. We will dive deep to explore how we can appear more authentic and maximize our presence in front of the audience. The aim is to refine your charisma so that it is immediately convincing and has a lasting effect.

In September, we will delve deeper into the topic of resonance. It’s not just vocal power that counts here. It’s about your appearance and the connection to the audience. One highlight is our photographer. It captures special moments and helps you to develop an individual visibility concept. You experience your impact live and receive a customized concept for your presence. This is how you present yourself authentically, convincingly and unforgettably. Take the opportunity to inspire visually and in terms of content!

Our retreats are your springboard. They offer creative support, ideal for anyone who wants to develop their speaking skills.

#ActingForBusiness #ActOfChange #Speakerretreat

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