Transforming Your Leadership Performance: Insights from Paul Ryan
Welcome to our Team Talk series! Today, I’m delighted to welcome Paul Ryan, a professional actor with an extensive stage and screen career, who’s also a founder of Improve On You – an initiative aimed at enhancing leaders’ and team members’ presentation skills. Delivering the message in the right way is critical for high- impact Leadership – the key reason I invited Paul to share his experience and practical tips on the Leadership TEAM TALK podcast/vlog.
This blog is based on an interview with Paul Ryan – If you prefer to watch or listen to gain your insights head over to the AlternativePerspectives YouTube channel or watch here:
Getting to Know Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan may be a familiar face to many, given his varied roles in both television and theatre. He’s portrayed Nigel Farage in Channel Four’s “Brexit: The Uncivil War” alongside Benedict Cumberbatch, and recently featured in an episode of “Ghosts”. Additionally, he’s well-known for his role as Gramp in the children’s show “Waffle the Wonderdog”.
“Before I had the Botox, I was a lot more recognisable.” — Paul Ryan
Paul also starred in “The Trial of Christine Keeler” on BBC, and spent several years in “Mamma Mia” as Harry. His career highlights provide rich material for discussions on leadership and team dynamics. And even more importantly helping you make an impact as a leader!
The Intersection of Acting and Leadership
One of the main reasons Paul joined us today is to share insights that leaders and teams can derive from his acting experience. Paul is also the founder of Improve On You, a business focused on making leaders and team members more effective in their communication, both online and offline.
Enhancing Communication Skills for high-impact Leadership:
Paul started coaching presentation skills over 20 years ago due to the intermittent nature of acting jobs—what many actors refer to as their “bread and butter” money.
“It’s a notoriously difficult game,” Paul explains, but through his expertise, he’s been able to aid numerous individuals in enhancing their public speaking and presentation skills.
Here’s what Paul suggests for improving your communication:
- Understanding Fight or Flight: Recognise how high stakes can make you anxious and disrupt your usual communication style.
- Bringing Fun to Learning: Paul believes that adding an element of fun can make serious learning more effective.
- Control Anxiety: By controlling anxiety, leaders can communicate as naturally and effectively as they would in casual, friendly settings.
When It Matters Most
“When the stakes are high, the brain starts to fry,” says Paul.
This is critical for leaders, especially when delivering a sales pitch or an external presentation where the stakes are considerably higher compared to internal meetings.
Mastering the Art of Public Speaking
The skill of public speaking can be nerve-wracking. Paul emphasises that confidence is a key element and it can indeed be learned. Here’s how you can master it:
- Poise Under Pressure: Focus on maintaining poise when the stakes are high.
- Emotional Connection: Passionately communicate your ideas to engage your audience.
- Management vs. Leadership: Recognise the differences between managing tasks and leading people.
Key Techniques for Effective Communication
Paul shared several techniques to help leaders bolster their communication skills:
The 60-Second ABC
For those in leadership, a concise and compelling pitch is crucial. Here’s Paul’s “A, B, C” formula for your 60-second pitch:
1. Audible:
Ensure you are heard. Open your mouth fully to utilise your soundbox. In the Team Talk Leadership video that accompanies this blog, Paul takes us through a jaw-drop exercise.
2. Brief:
Strip out unnecessary content. Paul suggests cutting your content in half to maintain brevity and clarity.
3. Committed:
Deliver your pitch with conviction and emotional engagement.
Squeezing the Lemon
A technique Paul swears by to ground himself and reduce nerves is “Squeezing the Lemon”.
Tune into the accompanying Team Talk video to participate and learn the squeezing the lemon exercise.
Confidence as a Skill
“Confidence is a skill, and you can learn it,” Paul assures.
Understanding the physiological responses to stress and learning techniques like posture adjustment can help mitigate the fight-or-flight response.
Yerkes-Dodson’s Law
A small amount of stress can sharpen performance, while too much can hinder it. Recognise the signs and take steps to manage stress effectively.
Resilience in Leadership
Resilience is crucial for leaders. It involves perseverance, courage, and the ability to push through challenges.
“Resilience is its own reward. I’m still here, and that in itself is an achievement.”
Director Insights for Leaders
Drawing parallels between directors of stage & screen and business leaders, Paul shares valuable insights:
- Authenticity: Effective directors are genuine and personable with their cast, creating a supportive environment.
- Clear Communication: They balance personal interaction with clear, honest feedback.
- Encouragement: Fostering an environment where team members feel valued and supported.
Tips for New Leaders
New directors and leaders should not feel the need to have all the answers.
Encouraging input from the team can foster collaboration and enhance problem-solving.
Final Thoughts and Resources
Paul leaves us with some recommended reads to enhance your communication skills:
- Winning Body Language by Mark Bowden
- How to Network Your Way to Success by Paul Ryan
Both books offer invaluable insights into making a powerful impact with your communication.
“Don’t be afraid to break out of your comfort zone. Go into stretch. That’s when the adventures start.” — Paul Ryan
Thank you for joining us in this enriching conversation with Paul Ryan. His blend of acting and leadership coaching offers unique perspectives valuable to any leader looking to improve their impact.
For more insights and resources on leadership and team development, visit our leadership Team Talk page and stay tuned for our next Leadership Team Talk episodes.
About the Author
James Gentle is the founder of Alt P.
An independent business specialising in leadership and team development. With a focus on empowering teams and fostering growth through awareness, motivation and effective communication.
Remember, effective leadership is about continuous learning and adapting. Keep pushing boundaries and exploring new ways to connect and lead your teams!