Maths was never my strong point but I always had a penchant for Venn diagrams. More of that later…

Jimmy Stewart and Beau

When I work with people who have to deliver team building messages or business presentations I often refer to a youtube video of the wonderful Hollywood heart string grabber, James Stewart, reading a poem about his dog named Beau. It’s pretty emotional stuff so grab a box of tissues and enjoy:

Now – I’m not saying JS is faking it, in fact I think quite the opposite. But I’ve seen him read this poem on at least three separate occasions and there are remarkable similarities in the way he delivers it and the precise emotional journey he appears to be travelling. Of course, he’s using his consummate acting skills to take us on the journey with him.

But just because he is repeating the same message and pattern of delivery does that mean he isn’t being authentic?

Is it simply a case of skilful manipulation?

Even if Beau never existed would it matter?

The Truth

Actors chase a Holy Grail which in the biz is known as the “truth”. It really means: Do we, the audience, believe in the performance enough to lose ourselves in the story of the movie, or feel empathy with the character? And they have to be able to repeat this “truth” many times over.

Venn Diagrams

Well obviously actors are acting so it can’t be the truth as we know it, but what an actor looks for is the three point overlap in the middle of the Venn diagram – let’s put an X in there. The X, in this case, stands for the cross over points between the actor’s life, experience, and emotions, (circle 1) and those of the character (circle2) in the story (circle 3). Essentially the starting point is the bit the actor can identify with and actually believes in – the X. This taps in to very real feelings. The actor can hook into that belief and relive those feelings time after time.

This can niftily translate into you, your message, and your organisation.

The X Factor

If you find yourself required to deliver or repeat a message you may not one hundred per cent relate to, it’s worth looking for your own X factor in what you are saying. Look for the bit that you believe in and has real meaning for you. If you can find your own kernel of truth that authenticity will transmit to your staff, your team, your organisation, or your customer.

In this way you start to be able to add your own personal brand  to what you are doing and saying. The message becomes yours with your footprint on it. You have found the X factor.

This is what we look for in our management and leadership training courses for presentation skills.

Simon Cowell would be proud.

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