Definition of Rehearsal:
An event at which a person or group practices an activity (such as singing, dancing, or acting) in order to prepare for a public performance
a : a private performance or practice session preparatory to a public appearance
b : a practice exercise
Merriam Webster
That’s the dictionary definition and, interestingly enough, it firstly pertains to “singing, dancing or acting”, as if rehearsing is a tool only available to us creative types that partake in theatre or music. We have seen that this is not the only time practice is useful.. Rehearsal simply means trying something out before it gets in front of the intended audience. Strengthening your tools so you can persuade or impress others to get a desired result. Have you ever run a conversation around in your head before actually having it? I think we all have, especially if the impending conversation involves making a case for something you want that the other person may not want. E.G. “Honey I’m thinking we need to start thinking about getting a new car/lounge suite/child”. What we are doing is rehearsing the conversation in our head to get the best possible outcome for ourselves and it is just as applicable in the workplace.
The workplace is fraught with potentially challenging and unpredictable situations, such as giving a presentation, attending or giving a work review or a difficult conversation with a peer or team member (what we like to call a “critical conversation”). These situations can all benefit from a rehearsal, however short of talking to yourself in the mirror, how do we achieve that? The simple answer is to work with a professional who can give you real time feedback about how you look, sound and come across. Working with that feedback and altering your behaviour is going to get you closer to being in control of your outcome when the real situation arises. So many unexpected things can happen, and we cannot control external circumstances, so why not have some mastery of the things you can control: your voice, body and the way you you articulate your message.
If you don’t feel comfortable working with a colleague or friend, why not look into booking an objective, professional rehearsal coach? At Peers and Players we specialize in directing you and developing your skills for the best possible work performance. We can guide you to you mastery of communication skills for dealing with those challenging situations and critical conversations.
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