Presentation Skills and The Alexander Technique
The Alexander Technique is more than just a way to improve your posture; it can revolutionise your communication skills, enhance your sense of confidence and improve your function in all that you do.
But what is the Alexander Technique?
Created by F.M.Alexander, a stage actor with a perpetually strained throat, the Alexander Technique comprises a series of concepts and instructions, known as ‘directions’, which are designed to act as sign posts showing the way to optimum function for the mind and body.
The theory being that as babies and young children we function with ease and perfect poise, but as we age, as a result of life’s psychological buffetings, we develop unhelpful physical habits without even noticing. This throws our internal compass, or kinaesthetic awareness, out of kilter, so we can’t tell that we’re standing poorly or not breathing freely or that we hold huge tension in our shoulders.
The technique has found its way into performance training for actors, dancers and musicians, as well as being recognised as a viable and evidentially substantiated alternative health treatment for stress, back ache and other common ailments.
So far, so dull...
...so how can it help us present and communicate?
Firstly, the Alexander Technique is process focussed: the end result is not necessarily as important as the way you get there. Put another way, if you pay attention to the proper process the desired end result will naturally emerge.
In presentation terms, this translates as proper rehearsal with continued self-awareness.
More on that later.
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