You may think that acting is only the domain of film, stage and TV actors, but the talents of thespians are being used to benefit today's business executives, who have to use similar skills in their day-to-day activities in order to be effective leaders.
Long-time Hong Kong-based film director Alfred Cheung is now teaching a new drama class as part of the International Executive Master of Business Administration (IEMBA) programme that is being run at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
The module has been such a success, that it will be introduced in future programmes.
In the class, Cheung teaches body language techniques, movement, how facial expressions work and what they mean, and he uses storytelling techniques to allow students to develop the tools needed to better understand and communicate with others.
'[I teach] basically everything a drama student needs to learn to do,' Cheung said. 'These skills are useful in the corporate world.
'Too much in business is reliant on writing and e-mail. Storytelling helps to reconcile departmental conflicts or personal issues. We have many conflicts due to misunderstandings or personal interests, and storytelling can help break these barriers down.