If you have never done it before (and even if you have!), public speaking can be intimidating. Motivating a crowd of people, keeping their interest, and ensuring that you keep your own energy up no matter what their reaction – it’s no small feat! Our next guest teaches people a special skill that can help them with this, in business and on the stage…
Please introduce yourself to our readers…
My name is Milo Shapiro. In 2000, I left my I.T. career (computer programming and project management) to apply my passion for improvisation to the business world.
Can you tell us what company you work for?
I work for IMPROVentures.
What is your title there?
CEO: Creative Energy Officer
What are the exact responsibilities of your job?
Everything from delivering the training to taking out the trash. Solopreneurship.
Over time, my role has morphed to include these three main things:
- I deliver teambuilding programs where, out of the hundreds of improvisation games I’ve performed with troupes, I pick out ones that beginners can have a lot of fun with that also focus on listening skills, creative problem solving, and building upon the ideas of others.
- I give motivational speeches at conferences that also include getting the whole audience playing these games in pairs.
- I coach people in their public speaking skills to make them come across “Prepared, Polished, and Powerful” and have written two books on the topic.
What is it about your job that makes you love it?
I took my craving to be creative and playful and work with people and applied it to solid business soft skills people really need.
What particular skills or talents are most essential to completing your tasks?
Listening, empathy, risk-taking, confidence, conveying a warmth and trustability
What level of education would you say is required to perform your role?
Formal? None. It was my training in improv and through Toastmasters that set me up to succeed. But if I were just an actor/improviser, I don’t think it would have been enough. My 15 years in the business world (computer programmer and project manager) was important to my being able to relate to my clients and to be able to improvise speech segments that they can relate to.
Do you find that you bring your work home with you? (And is that a good or bad thing?)
24/7/365. Home based business means getting up early for some clients (I coach as far off as Tokyo via Skype) or taking calls sometimes as late as 10pm. Weekends are work catch-up times. But the trade-off is that twice this week, there was nothing happening mid-day so I went for a swim. Still, I probably am in work mode 60 hours per week. But as I enjoy my work, it doesn’t bother me. It does, though, sometimes bother people in the rest of my life.
How does this job compare to other jobs you’ve held in the past?
Infinitely more satisfying. My successes are my payoffs, not a hope for an acknowledgement on an annual review that may or may not lead to anything financial.
What is your favorite food?
The whole Thanksgiving feast with the turkey and trimmings!
Thanks so much, Milo! You can find him on Twitter.