Speaking up and out: tips for impactful conversations in the workplace

Preparing to present unexpected results? Pitching a new idea or different viewpoint? Or are you asking for a promotion or pay rise? These conversations can make you feel nervous, under-prepared or unsure of how to make the most of the situation or opportunity.

Holding your own in the workplace is an important skill for team members at any level, especially when faced with challenging situations.

Many of us may shy away from participating in these meetings or having these conversations at all. This can contribute to low employee morale and even translate into a stale work environment. Organisations that thrive generally welcome challenging conversations and encourage their employees to actively put their ideas and needs forward. However, even in the most open of workplaces, this is not a skill that comes naturally to many of us.

Theatreworks training can help you build the confidence and skills needed to navigate difficult situations and have impactful conversations in the workplace. Participants are given the opportunity to practice, fail and learn from one another without judgement.

From the safe space of the rehearsal room, our facilitators will take you through techniques used by actors and directors to connect with audiences. Starting with simple ice breakers, movement and breathing exercises, they gradually build up to more complex practices and scenarios as the day progresses.

Participants are given the opportunity to step outside their comfort zones. You will explore and experience how factors like posture, body language and voice projection can impact how others view, communicate and relate to you.

While it’s impossible to distil an entire Theatreworks session into bullet points, past participants have shared some tools and tips they learned and later applied in their workplaces:

• Be present and take up space. Be aware of how your body language and movement can signal your status or state of mind to others.
• Control your nerves. Paying attention to your breathing, posture and voice can help ground you, giving you a confidence boost before a big meeting, presentation or discussion.
• Find connections with others. Whether you are in a room full of people or speaking to someone one-to-one, looking for links or similarities in your experiences can help build rapport.
• Relinquish control in conversations. Remember that listening can be just as powerful as speaking.
• Build conversations, don’t block them. Responding with ‘Yes, and’ or ‘Yes maybe’, rather than ‘No’ invites debate, discussion and helps pave the way for presenting new ideas or viewpoints.

Exercises and techniques like these take practice, but drawing on them can help you to be more present and aware. As well as increased confidence, Theatreworks participants have said that they now feel more mindful and connected to their bodies. They also feel more prepared to speak up, say no or navigate tricky situations in the office, boardroom or day-to-day life.