Film director and actor teaches bosses to communicate better
Having made his name in the world of film as a director, actor, writer and producer, Alfred Cheung Kin-ting can claim a special level of expertise in explaining a premise and winning over an audience. So, when seeing the stilted delivery, wooden expressions and defensive gestures of executives and politicians sent before the TV cameras, or addressing a high-profile conference, he is both amused and amazed.
Here are managers and leaders in key positions who, to the practised eye, simply don't know how to present themselves or their ideas in a way that can properly inform, convince, motivate or inspire as the situation demands.
Sensing a need and an opportunity, Cheung decided to do something about it. Since 2003, he has been offering drama-based training primarily for corporate executives. The aim is to make them see that modern management is not about observing hierarchies and the command structure, but about communication, 'selling' one's opinions, and accepting the realities of the knowledge economy. That takes self-awareness, perception, the ability to open up to colleagues, and a willingness to change, all qualities that can be learned through drama.
'Today's employees are educated, self-centred and believe they know as much as you do,' Cheung said. 'We are managing knowledge workers, not soldiers or farmers. These subordinates don't need commands, so there is a certain bankruptcy of authority. That means managers have to change their mindset from the top down and bottom up, and strengthen their communication skills and body language.'
To flesh out his theories and formalise his thoughts, Cheung studied works such as The Experience Economy: Work is Theatre and Every Business a Stage by Joseph Pine and James Gilmore, and A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink. A visit to Google headquarters in the United States also convinced him that the management methods of Larry Page had superseded those of Jack Welch. There, he saw that knowledge workers were expected to query and challenge. Executives did not decree from on high; they had to persuade, explain and build consensus. To develop a new mindset and the necessary skills, Cheung literally puts executives on stage. During his training courses, they may be asked to tell a story drawn from personal experience or perform a short script, either comedic or based on typical workplace issues. This effectively shows how well they articulate and use facial expressions and body language as they get into the role.
'Probably 98.5 per cent of people have no such training in school, but in eight out of 10 jobs you have to live by these skills,' Cheung said.