How Improv Classes Gave Me the Tools to Be a Better Public Speaker

In this series, professionals describe the skills they’re building this year. Read the stories here, then write your own (use #SkillsGap in the body of your post).

Simplicity and authenticity are key to delivering effective communications, a valuable skill that I am constantly honing. As president of Halliburton, my communications must reach global stakeholders in the oil and gas industry. In addition to the everyday communications that make a company run smoothly, I also write monthly LinkedIn articles and speak frequently at industry events to help reach larger audiences.

For me, the content is not the most difficult part. The challenge lies in being comfortably authentic when communicating to large groups. Being authentic is simply about being yourself or comfortable in your own skin. It’s easier to be yourself in a face-to-face meeting where you know the attendees and can converse with them personally. But it’s far harder to be genuine in front of an audience when the only voice is your own, or in an article where feedback occurs only after the piece is published.

Here’s how I am working to improve my communications skills.

First, I have a communications plan detailing key messages, frequency, and target audiences. My plan also includes my method of communication such as company town-hall meetings, employee video updates, customer presentations, speeches, and quarterly earnings calls. By mapping this out annually it creates discipline and structure, allowing me to stay focused and make each communication a priority.

Also, I always tailor my delivery to fit the audience — employees, customers, or industry partners. One way I do this is by keeping the message simple and using meaningful analogies to ensure my message is best received.

Next, I increase my knowledge by reading advice from the experts. This can be as simple as following someone on LinkedIn or reading books that transform my thinking. One such book is "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle, which encourages readers to live fully in the present. Although the title may seem unusual for communications skill-building, being present “right now” is a huge step toward being comfortably authentic.

Finally, I continue to practice, practice, practice. Knowing your audience and learning from experts doesn’t add value without practice. Of course, mastery comes by doing but there are other ways to work on communication skills.

For example, I took acting and improv classes to improve my public speaking skills. Not only were these classes a lot of fun, they helped me stay present, think quickly on my feet, and ultimately become more comfortable in situations where you are not always able to anticipate what will come next.

Another critical piece of effective communication is listening. If you cannot get out of your own head and are only concerned about what you are planning to say next, you will likely miss important comments from others and can quickly find yourself lost in the conversation.

I cannot overstate the commitment, discipline, and preparation it takes to elevate my communication skills as it requires hours of planning, preparation, and practice. Ultimately, I must continue to step outside my comfort zone to be able to deliver meaningful messages in a natural, comfortably authentic manner. It’s not easy, but the payoff is great.

Nothing beats hearing from an employee who is motivated to take on a leadership role at Halliburton after a town hall meeting... or a conference attendee who figured out how to solve a challenging problem after attending a panel discussion. In the end, it’s not just the message but what the message inspires us to do.