The General Election campaign provoked more than ample commentary on the personal presence, presentation style and performance of each the party leaders - not least in the TV debates. It seems that those with the more natural style come out ahead.

This is relevant to the politics of business as well as the business of politics.

The actress and writer Pauline Melville recently took a swing at theatre schools that aim to teach the secrets of ‘charisma’ and communication to business executives.  “In an Alice in Wonderland world, where reality television gets top rating,” she said in a Financial Times article,  “politics and business are engaging with the world of play, fiction and fairytale.” 

I too have my doubts about some of the approaches that are on offer, but Melville seemed to conflate the legitimate development of technique with teaching people to ‘fake it’ or ‘pretend’.

Professionalism and polish is essential for those in the public eye – in business or politics.  They need to be able to get to the point and say what they want to say clearly and concisely.  An artless, unfocussed, unrehearsed speech might be ‘genuine’ but is often tedious and simply will not be heard. 

I think the ‘executive-as-actor’ that makes Melville suspicious is probably the victim of a misapprehension about idea of ‘performance’.  To perform by simulation of someone you’d like to be - but are not - is the road to phoneydom.  It’s like a bright polish on cheap furniture - people aren’t fooled.  Without necessarily noticing the acting, they sense the act.  They lose trust in the ‘actor’ and without trust the rest counts for nothing and breeds the sort of scepticism that Pauline Melville expresses.

We’ve been using the wisdom of performing arts professionals in a business context for 25 years and this work is as far from ‘fiction and fairytale’ as it’s possible to get.  Never have we presumed to encourage our clients - individual or corporate - to act.  To perform with the best that’s in you is the road to effectiveness.

Actors, musicians, sportsmen, singers understand what this sort of DNA-driven performance takes.  It takes, above all tough, practical self-knowledge involving both brain and body and starting with emotional intelligence, now acknowledged as a key component in any relationship-building role, whether doctors with their patients, IT consultants with their clients or factory managers with their machine operators.

The fundamental physical disciplines involved in the performing arts, whether dance, singing, playing musical instruments or actors communicating with an audience, also apply to people communicating in a business context.  They are about using physical states, breathing and posture as well as self-control, energy and expression to be more truly yourself ... the essence of personal presence. 

Jo Ouston
May 2010

In the autumn I wrote to a number of long-standing clients to ask how their career choices had worked out.  Might they, perhaps, have any advice for people making new career decisions now?

Most of those I wrote to were clients of many years standing - one or two since the 1980s and all dating back at least 5 years. I think this long view is important.  With life-changing decisions it’s not always possible to assess the real impact for some years. (And in fact most advisers wouldn’t maintain prolonged contact anyway.)

What a pleasure to see some sun at last after one of the coldest and surely wettest winters for many years. There are buds on the trees and the birds are singing merrily. There is still a chill in the air but surely Spring cannot be far behind …

Talk of green shoots is also in the air with a technical end to recession and some increased consumer confidence. Yet a sense of fragility and uncertainty persists … it scarcely feels like recovery. And anyway, do we want to recover what went before or do we need change?