Foundation Course

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Introduction 10 Topics | 5 Quizzes Sample Lesson

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What is Strategic Communication? 5min

With so many possible considerations to be made, what does the framework for a communication strategy look like?

Why Does it Matter? 3min

How will investing time in this material add value to my life?

Why Does it Matter? Recap

How Does it Work? 4min

What about Strategic Communication can make what I already do more effective?

How Does it Work? Recap

What Makes it Mine? 4min

What steps can I take to better absorb recorded materials into my own communicative practice?

What Makes it Mine? Recap

Understanding Fundamental Skills 3min

A basic set of Fundamental Skills can combine to create innumerable communicative patterns.

Understanding Fundamental Skills Recap

The Breath-Thought Connection 8 Topics | 4 Quizzes Sample Lesson

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Finding Diaphragmatic Breath 5min

Many disciplines benefit from targeted breathing patterns. Diaphragmatic Breathing is a pattern that both supports the voice and strengthens the connection between our physicality and our thought process.

Finding Diaphragmatic Breath Recap

Think, Breathe, Speak 3min

When we inhale to speak we cue the body to produce sound. If that cue is delivered before we have a thought prepared to articulate, we fill that gap with sounds like “ums” and “uhs.” A simple order of operations can help keep our speech clear and filler-free.

Think, Breathe, Speak Recap

One Breath, One Thought 3min

A listener finds meaning in the rhythm and patterning of a speaker’s voice. That nonverbal punctuation is communicated by breathing points in speech.

One Breath, One Thought Recap

Practicing Directive Thoughts 5min

Some thoughts can be acted upon, and some thoughts are commentaries on actions. In order to take more agency over our own performance, we can pair a Diaphragmatic Breath with an Actionable Intention to create a Directive Thought.

Practicing Directive Thoughts Recap

Physical Orientation 16 Topics | 8 Quizzes Sample Lesson

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The Emotional Center 4min

There is a visceral reaction felt in the body in response to external stimuli, what is referred to in the western tradition as a “gut feeling.” We can use this concept to physically project our own attention, and to insulate ourselves from external attention that feels overwhelming, invasive, or outside our comfort zone.

The Emotional Center Recap

Understanding Line Focus 4min

Focus and Attention can be given, requested, drawn, and denied by the way the torso of the body is physically oriented in space. Line Focus is a concept word that allows us to articulate the flow of that attention.

Understanding Line Focus Recap

Understanding Physical Orientation 4min

We can organize the use of Line Focus into five basic Physical Orientations. Full Front, Quarter Turn, Profile, Three-Quarter Turn, and Full Back.

Understanding Physical Orientation Recap

Understanding Full Front 4min

Full Front is a Physical Orientation that gives and requests the most Line Focus. This can be a position of power, but also one of significant vulnerability.

Understanding Full Front Recap

Understanding Quarter Turn 3min

A Quarter Turn is a Physical Orientation that remains attentive, but softens the amount the Line Focus that is given and received. This orientation removes some of the intensity from a communication and is referred to as a “shared position.”

Understanding Quarter Turn Recap

Understanding Profile 4min

Profile is a Physical Orientation that allows for Eye Focus exchange, but does not allow for the exchange of Line Focus. This orientation minimizes the impact of attention on the Emotional Center.

Understanding Profile Recap

Understanding Three-Quarter Turn 3min

Three-Quarter Turn is a Physical Orientation that denies Line Focus, but leaves the body open an over-the-shoulder sight line.

Understanding Three Quarter Turn Recap

Using Full Back 3min

Full Back is a Physical Orientation in which there is no Line Focus exchange. Although this orientation can be one of non participation, it can also be used to Point Up an eminent action or build anticipation for a reveal.

Understanding Full Back Recap

Frame and Stance 12 Topics | 6 Quizzes Sample Lesson

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Understanding Counterbalance 5min

Counterbalance is a concept word that describes the relationship between the Base and the actions of the torso of the body. Narrow Stances restrict counterbalanced movement, while Wider Stances increase it.

Understanding Counterbalance Recap

Understanding Frame and Stance 5min

Frame is a concept word that refers to the physical structure of the body, and Stance is a concept word that describes the width of the Base used to support the Frame. Narrow, Basic, and Wide Stances can be used as a way to soften or amplify physical presence.

Understanding Frame and Stance Recap

Finding a Ready Position 4min

A simple combination of Counterbalance and availability to gesture create a Ready Position that is easy to depart from and return to.

Finding a Ready Position Recap

Creating a Listening Body 4min

A Listening Body can demonstrate active engagement in response to the verbal content of a communication partner.

Creating a Listening Body Recap

Stance, Symmetry, and Weight 4min

By shifting weight from one side of the Frame to another, a presenter can use Degrees of Symmetry to both soften and amplify physicality as they speak.

Stance, Symmetry and Weight Recap

The Base to Gesture Relationship 4min

The width of the Base influences the accessibility of gesture in space. Narrow Stances influence gesture to remain close to the torso, whereas Wider Stances encourage gesture to extend out in proportion to the Counterbalance available in the body.

The Base to Gesture Relationship Recap

Navigating Space 14 Topics | 7 Quizzes

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Navigating Space 4min

We can use the concepts of Level, Horizontal, and Plane to describe the way the body travels through and occupies space.

Navigating Space Recap

Understanding Plane 4min

Plane is a concept word that allows us to describe physical positioning forward or backward on a line. This can be travel-focused, moving from one location in space to another, or more localized, inclining or declining the torso in relation to the object of interest.

Understanding Plane Recap

Understanding Level 5min

Level is a concept word we can use to describe the elevation of our Line of Sight in space. Level Dynamics can be influenced by both physical choices and by aspects of an architectural environment.

Understanding Level Recap

Understanding Horizontal 5min

Horizontal is a concept word that we can use to describe lateral movement and positioning. This idea can be understood from both the personal and the external perspective.

Understanding Horizontal Recap

Understanding Micro Plane 3min

Micro Plane is a concept word to describe inclinations of joint oriented parts of the body such as the crown of the head, arms, and hands. These inclinations can modify the information provided by the Plane in space occupied by the Base of the body.

Understanding Micro Plane Recap

Level and Physicality 4min View Topic

Level and Physicality Recap

Level and Architecture 5min

Certain architectural environments are designed to enforce Level Dynamics as a way to influence an interaction.

Level and Architecture Recap

Gesture 10 Topics | 5 Quizzes

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An Overview of Gesture 5min

Gestures that are organic and gestures that are deliberate can support meaning making through the employment of basic patterns.

An Overview of Gesture Recap

Understanding Rounded Gesture 5min

Rounded Gesture is a flexible gestural pattern that is supportive of narrative based verbal exchange.

Understanding Rounded Gesture Recap

Understanding Linear Gesture 5min

Linear Gesture is a gestural pattern that is supportive of verbal content that is fact-based and direct.

Understanding Linear Gesture Recap

Practicing Extended Gesture 5min

Extended Gesture is a full-bodied approach to gesture that sends physical energy into Counterbalanced space around the body.

Practicing Extended Gesture Recap

Understanding Collected Gesture 3min

Collected Gesture is a reserved approach to gesture that focuses on keeping the energy of the arms and hands weighted and well controlled.

Understanding Collected Gesture Recap

Voice 10 Topics | 5 Quizzes

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Understanding Vocal Production 4min

Breath, Resonance, Modulation, and Articulation all work together to create speech- and each of these components can be adjusted individually to influence how the voice is perceived by an audience or communication partner.

Understanding Vocal Production Recap

Vocal Placement 6min

Focusing the voice into the soft palate of the mouth helps a speaker to improve projection and clarity.

Vocal Placement Recap

Articulation Exercises 5min

Tongue twisters are an important part of any performance-prep routine.

Articulation Exercises Recap

Resonance Exercises 6min

A few simple exercises can be explored to gain more agency over vocal resonance and warm up the voice as part of a performance-prep routine.

Resonance Exercises Recap

Modulation Warmup 4min

Modulating the pitch of the voice as you speak adds character to your content and allows an audience to better engage in active listening.

Modulation Warmup Recap

Strategic Advantage 20 Topics | 10 Quizzes

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What Are Given Circumstances? 5min

Given Circumstances are an analytical tool to develop situational awareness. Our Given Circumstances comprise one of three governing components of a communication strategy.

What are Given Circumstances? Recap

What Makes an Intention Actionable? 4min

In order to work toward a Desired Outcome, we need to provide ourselves with goals and intentions that can be deliberately acted upon.

What Makes an Intention Actionable? Recap

Organizing Actionable Intentions 5min

Actionable Intentions can be organized to influence what an audience will think, feel, sense, and report to others about a shared interaction.

Organizing Actionable Intentions Recap

Selecting a Desired Outcome 5min

Our goals for a communication should drive the way we employ our Fundamental Skills and interact with our Given Circumstances.

Selecting a Desired Outcome Recap

Understanding Point of Influence 4min

Point of influence is a concept word that describes a fundamental skill deliberately placed at the center of a communication strategy.

Understanding Point of Influence Recap

Choosing a Point of Influence 3min

We can quickly and easily select a Point of Influence for a communication by adopting physical amplification that matches our Actionable Intention.

Choosing a Point of Influence Recap

Selecting Operative Words 3min

When delivering content out loud, we have the power to influence how an audience understands a thought by controlling the Point of Emphasis in each line.

Selecting Operative Words Recap

Pointing Up 3min

Pointing Up is a concept word that describes cueing an audience toward an imminent action or event.

Pointing Up Recap

Deciding What to Wear 5min

The wardrobe you select for a performance or a public communication will either enable or restrict your balance, your breath, and your access to dynamic physicality.

Deciding What to Wear Recap

Capturing and Maintaining Attention 4min

The flow of attention in an interaction can be influenced by people, objects, and events. With a basic understanding of the Attention Cycle, we are better equipped to deliver prepared content and to improvise with greater effect.

Capturing and Maintaining Attention Recap

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Course Includes

8 Lessons
100 Topics
50 Quizzes
Course Certificate

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