3 acting tricks to help you cope with stressful situations

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

They come in handy in a job interview, a business meeting, and during any interactions with people.

Try to remember the last time you were an actor. Maybe in a school play or karaoke with colleagues. Or maybe at a meeting with your boss, when you were discussing the increase in salary.

At first glance, the third situation is out of the ordinary, but not for Amy and Michael Port, professional actors who have become specialists in public speaking. According to them, most of us constantly have to play, even if we ourselves do not notice it. “We need to say toasts, say goodbye speeches, present ourselves in interviews, negotiate,” says Michael. "And these are all situations in which the stakes are very high."

To excel at them, try thinking like a professional actor. They use special techniques to create a believable version of reality on stage. And for ordinary people, these tricks will help them create the version they need.

This does not mean that you have to manipulate others or pretend. Just communicate so that others are imbued with your point of view.

Think of the theater: Juliet can make audiences feel why she must marry Romeo. You may need to convince the landlord to replace the broken stove, or arrange with the parents of your child's friends to arrange a joint event.

“We spend days trying to influence other people and make them feel things,” says Amy. “Even if we do not set a conscious goal, we still try to get what we want and evoke a reaction from those around us.” In some cases, a lot depends on this, and Michael and Amy advise using the following techniques in these situations.

1. Understand your ultimate goal

The actor always performs with a clear idea of what he wants to achieve from the audience. Take this into service. Before the next challenging situation, ask yourself the question that the actors ask when working on the character: "What is my ultimate goal?"

That is, think not only of the short-term consequences, but also of the long-term.

For example, Michael said that when meeting Amy's parents, he did not rack his brains about how to make a good impression on them. He thought he wanted a harmonious, close-knit family in the long run. Therefore, I made decisions corresponding to this great goal.

2. Think about how you want the other person to feel

The way the actor speaks and moves during the performance also serves to achieve the goal and helps to make the right impression on the audience. This is called acting out the scene. In ordinary life, the reception is useful, for example, at an interview.

Let's say you want the employer to understand that you are an open person and know how to cooperate with others. Then for you to “act out the scene” is to tell you how happy you are to interact with new colleagues and learn something from them, perhaps even mention someone by name.

If you want to show that you know how to work independently and you don't have to babysit, please report on the helpful courses you took (of course, don't lie if you haven't). Or about the methods that were used in the past to optimize work.

Of course, this does not guarantee 100% success. “People don't always react exactly the way you would like,” says Michael. "But if you can learn to act out one scene after another smoothly, following your goal, you can improvise and be flexible."

3. Accept your fear

A calm attitude towards discomfort is the main property for those who perform. And perhaps most of all the inconvenience is caused by the fear of a negative assessment of others. We are afraid that we will not be accepted, ridiculed or criticized.

Therefore, many of us try to avoid risks, but, as Michael says, it kills any good performance. It’s hard to win someone over when you’re constantly trying to drown out the alarm signals in your head.

Learn to manage your fear. Remind yourself that this is a natural feeling. If, before an important conversation, your palms are sweating and your stomach is cramping, this only means that you are a living person.

Just before a stressful situation, identify your biggest fear associated with it.

Try to be as specific as possible. Do not limit yourself to the phrase "I am very scared" - find the reason for your fears. Maybe you’re afraid of not being liked, worried that someone will hear your voice shaking, or you don’t want to let someone down. Psychologists call this concretization of one's state emotional detailing. Those who are better at doing this tend to find it easier to manage and respond to emotions.

Finally, just do the right thing. Agree with the seller to reduce the price of the car, start communicating with a potential client, make a presentation. “To perform well on stage and thrive in difficult situations, you need to take risks and not worry about criticism,” reminds Amy.

Of course, acting like that won't make you Meryl Streep. But they will help you speak and act more deliberately. As a result, you will have better control over interactions with others, rather than letting stress lead you.