Performing at a consistently high level, day in and day out, requires intense focus and regimen. Techniques used by professional performers can be instructive for Greece’s business leaders. Just as singers and actors warm up their vocal cords and bodies before a performance, business leaders can prepare their voices, bodies, and minds to deliver impactful presentations.
Greece has emerged as a dynamic business hub. With one of the fastest growing economies in Europe, a favorable and transparent regulatory environment, and positive investment reforms, the country is witnessing a surge in foreign direct investment and a meaningful increase in corporate lending by domestic and foreign banks. This evolution has placed a new emphasis on effective public speaking among Greece’s top business leaders. Executives need to articulate a clear strategic vision and develop executive presence, while embracing their unique culture and voice. And when presenting to financial audiences, executives must deliver a credible investment case with conviction. Three techniques are foundational for effective public speaking: low breath, grounded posture, and facial expression.
Low Breath
Similar to how opera singers ground themselves in vocal technique, presenters should focus on the simplicity of breath. A low breath helps business leaders maintain confidence and executive presence during long presentations. Focusing on one’s breath for a few minutes also allows for quiet mental focus—thinking simply about the sensations of breathing or envisioning upcoming goals and successful outcomes. To access low breath, breathe only through the nose. There should be no chest heaving or shoulder movement when breathing deeply. The only sensation is that of the lower ribs, lower back, and abdomen expanding and releasing.
By investing in their communication abilities, Greece’s business leaders can emerge as influential voices
Grounded Posture
Maintaining a neutral, grounded stance helps presenters avoid the pitfalls of slumped shoulders and forced chest projections. A simple exercise aids in finding this posture. Slowly raising the body aligns the vertebrae and allows the shoulders to naturally fall into place. Feel and visualize the vertebrae aligning themselves on top of each other one at a time. The shoulders will find their natural place as the upper vertebrae align. Once fully upright, lift the head lightly envisioning a string gently tugging upward at the crown of the head. Grounded posture projects confidence, leadership, and enthusiasm.
Facial Expression
Much like any instrument requiring tuning before a performance, the face, with its 40-plus muscles, deserves attention. Business leaders, like performers, must warm up their facial muscles to endure the demands placed upon them during high-stakes presentations. Yawning, expanding the jaw, and stretching the lips become more than exercises—they transform into tools for conveying meaning.
Incorporating these techniques into daily routines can contribute to a robust vocal presence, clear articulation, and confident delivery.
Greece’s economic resurgence presents abundant opportunities for business leaders. To fully capitalize on these prospects, leaders must equip themselves with the essential skill of effective public speaking. By investing in their communication abilities, Greece’s business leaders can emerge as influential voices for their companies, industries, and country at large.
