Acting Skills for Business Communication and Leadership

Acting Skills for Business Communication and Leadership

Instructor: Lauren Sage Browning

What you'll learn

Physical Presence: Identify and release tension to develop kinesthetic awareness and reclaim a grounded, natural presence in professional settings.
Vocal Authority: Optimize breath support and tonal range to enhance vocal resonance, ensuring maximum rhetorical impact and clarity.
Professional Intentionality: Use actor-based imaginative preparation to shift from self-consciousness to goal-oriented action in business.
Relational Communication: Master real-time responsiveness and read non-verbal cues through active listening and empathetic curiosity.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

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Assessments

12 assignments¹

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Taught in English

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There are 4 modules in this course

This course establishes a foundation in practical acting techniques designed to enhance communication efficacy and confidence within professional and global business environments. By utilizing physical, vocal, and imaginative exercises from professional actor training, the curriculum provides a structured approach to managing the "performance" aspects of leadership and professional engagement.

This module focuses on the physical mechanics of professional presence. Participants explore actor-based alignment and relaxation techniques to manage physical tension and project confidence. The curriculum establishes a foundation for using the body as a primary tool for authoritative communication in high-stakes business environments.

What's included

4 videos8 readings4 assignments

4 videosTotal 8 minutes

Introduction To Acting As Practical Psychology 2 minutes
Empathy1 minute
Summary: Is Your Workplace Communication Style as Effective as it Could Be?3 minutes
Critique Technique2 minutes

8 readingsTotal 41 minutes

What to Expect2 minutes
About CalArts5 minutes
Acting Terminology 2 minutes
Activity: Reflection5 minutes
Engaging in Empathetic Curiosity5 minutes
Activity: Imagining Someone Else’s Experience15 minutes
Replacing Value Judgements with Observations2 minutes
Activity: Effective feedback for subjective work5 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 34 minutes

Quiz Yourself: Acting Terms 5 minutes
Quiz Yourself: Engaging Empathy in Business Practices2 minutes
Quiz Yourself: Subjective or Objective?7 minutes
Defining your ‘Leader Self’20 minutes

This section applies the "Objective and Action" framework of professional acting to business strategy. Participants learn to utilize imaginative preparation to define clear intentions for meetings and presentations. By shifting focus from self-consciousness to goal-oriented action, learners improve their ability to drive specific outcomes in professional interactions.

What's included

8 videos9 readings2 assignments

8 videosTotal 25 minutes

Objectives2 minutes
Performance by August Gray Gall 3 minutes
Performance by Symone Holmes4 minutes
Tactics1 minute
Interview With Dr. Cindy Molloy (Part 1)7 minutes
Interview With Dr. Cindy Molloy (Part 2)3 minutes
Interview With Dr. Cindy Molloy (Part 3)4 minutes
Obstacles1 minute

9 readingsTotal 61 minutes

Introduction: Guest Actor Performance by August Gray Gall 1 minute
Analysis of Performance by August Gray Gall 10 minutes
Excerpt from “Audition" by Michael Shurtleff20 minutes
Guest Actor Performance by Symone Holmes1 minute
Analysis of Performance by Symone Holmes10 minutes
Tactics as Verbs2 minutes
Introduction: Guest Interview With Dr. Cindy Molloy2 minutes
Anticipating Obstacles to Your Business Goal 10 minutes
Review: Tactics + Objectives5 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 25 minutes

Activity: Setting a Business Goal 10 minutes
Test Yourself: Tactics + Objectives15 minutes

An investigation into the mechanics of the human voice, focusing on breath support, projection, and articulation. Learners apply vocal exercises to enhance clarity and tonal variety, ensuring their spoken communication is both audible and persuasive. This section bridges the gap between technical vocal health and professional rhetorical influence.

What's included

11 videos4 readings3 assignments

11 videosTotal 30 minutes

Breathing Exercises4 minutes
Summary: The Breathing Technique that Can Make You a Better Leader1 minute
Body Posture4 minutes
Physical Postures for Stress Relief and Improved Communication4 minutes
Summary: Effective Communication in the Workplace - Navigating the Nuances of Language1 minute
Active Listening1 minute
The Intent to Understand1 minute
Performance by Fiona Rose Dryer1 minute
Interview with Hannah Keeney (Part 1)3 minutes
Interview with Hannah Keeney (Part 2)4 minutes
Interview with Hannah Keeney (Part 3)5 minutes

4 readingsTotal 22 minutes

Activity: Set an Exercise Schedule5 minutes
Nuance of Language1 minute
Excerpt from CYRANO DE BERGERAC15 minutes
Introduction: Guest Interview with Hannah Keeney1 minute

3 assignmentsTotal 21 minutes

Quiz Yourself: Listening and Understanding1 minute
Test Yourself: Breath Placement10 minutes
Test Yourself: Mirroring Exercise 10 minutes

A deep dive into active listening and the relational nature of communication. This module utilizes improvisation-based exercises to cultivate "empathetic curiosity" and responsiveness. Learners develop the ability to read non-verbal cues and adapt their communication style in real-time to build stronger professional partnerships.