The thought of public speaking can make even the most confident among us break into a cold sweat. But what if we told you the secret to commanding a room isn’t about perfectly polished speeches, but about a bit of dramatic flair?
We sat down with Joseph Arkley from the Royal Shakespeare Company who will lead Norwich Theatre’s new Business in Motion: Public Speaking course. We chatted about how you can ditch the dread and embrace your inner performer by learning a little stagecraft that will transform any presentation into a showstopper.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am a working Stage and screen Actor. In 2019, I moved back to my hometown of Norwich. As an Actor, I’m constantly working in regions other than Norfolk. In 2021, I started working with Norwich Theatre on projects such as the Flourish Awards, to help young people grow in confidence when speaking in public. I’ve now started working with Adults in local businesses. I love working with new clients and sharing tools that have helped me throughout my career as an actor. Any public-facing job involves a form of performance, and I have vast experience in advising on this.
Are there any specific moments in your career that highlight the importance of strong communication off stage
Definitely, one such example was when I filmed The Capture for the BBC. I had to deliver a 15-minute TED talk to 300 supporting Artists at the British Library in London. It was a whole day of shooting. Throughout the process, it was imperative that I communicated clearly with the Director and Director of Photography. I suggested how we should break up the text in order to film it in sections. Amongst the audience were all the Executive producers, which added a huge layer of pressure. The Director and I created clear guidelines so that any note or suggestion from the producers or creative team came via the director. This stopped people from flooding me with direction.
In short, I learned how to adapt the conditions in my favour rather than allowing the situation to govern me. I knew I had done weeks of prep and wanted to limit the sphere of variables that could unsettle my preparation. It took strong leadership from the Director, and I’m eternally grateful to her.
What can we learn from the theatre world when we are preparing to speak in public?
We are in a rapidly evolving world in which AI is embedded in what we watch and how we consume things. Theatre is a live format that has a human connection at the centre of it. To do a play is a chance to allow thoughts to resonate in a room full of people. It potentially allows them to process their emotions and perspectives via watching a group of Actors.
Likewise, speaking in Public is a live event and an opportunity to connect people through a single voice. It’s not always about great, charismatic speeches. Public speaking is a hugely daunting prospect for many, but if one allows that nervousness to exist rather than suppressing it, most people empathise with that most human of traits – vulnerability. Everyone is an Actor; some people adopt more effective masks than others.
What’s one common mistake you see business professionals make when presenting?
They diligently write a speech and then hold onto it for dear life. They don’t risk the possibility of connecting with an audience because they’re too fearful to look up from the page. Although their speech may have sounded coherent in their bedroom, suddenly presenting in front of colleagues or a space that they weren’t prepared for, completely derails their ability to speak. Their rigidity with the script prevents any opportunity to reveal something about their personality to the audience. People don’t remember words; they remember how words connect with them. This can only happen if the speaker considers the way they frame their speech.
Do you have any tips to curb those nerves?
Hundreds, but to put them into words diminishes their value. Come to the session and I’ll show you how to use them. It requires your body and breath. There’s a huge psychological element to this work, but sometimes it requires action rather than words.
If you could give one direction to every business professional before a big presentation, what would it be?
Remember why you’re in this position in the first place. Whether you’ve been selected to do the presentation or had it bestowed upon you by default, you’ve had to navigate multiple obstacles to get here. Many top athletes say pressure is a privilege, and I am also a proponent of this. Feeling nervous means something costs you something. To navigate a big presentation and to resonate with an audience is a very tricky thing. But as with most tricky things, if you find a way to unlock it, it’s hugely fulfilling and can spur you on to greater heights. I say this as someone who was painfully shy throughout most of my school years. One day a teacher asked me to tackle a speech. I was terrified and would have abandoned it had it not been for the patience and guidance she showed me.
How can the skills taught in your course benefit someone beyond just giving presentations, perhaps in everyday business interactions or leadership roles?
This course places an emphasis on your quality of listening as well as your ability to speak. The best creative and business leaders I’ve worked with have an ability to fully listen to you. This then allows them to delegate more specifically and effectively.
What’s the one key takeaway you want every participant to leave your course with?
To de-mystify what public speaking can do to the speaker as well as the audience. I truly believe that everyone can find a voice within themselves that they never knew they had. As humans, we underestimate our ability to adapt. This course will help people to get out of their own way. We will do this by engaging with techniques that have proven to be hugely effective with clients in the Business and Arts world. The techniques are practical rather than cerebral. We will be on our feet, so get ready!
Business in Motion: Public Speaking sessions are at Norwich Theatre Playhouse on 1 Sep, 19 Jan and 20 Jan. The course costs £187.50 per person and includes a full-day training session from 9 am to 4 pm, with tea, coffee, and lunch provided.
Group bookings are also available (for bookings over 5 people). For more information please contact 01603 598556 or email corporate@norwichtheatre.org. To book your tickets please visit norwichtheatre.org.
