An engineer prepares: a classic acting text reshaped for engineering presentations

Abstract

Engineers can get their hands on extremely fine advice for improving oral presentation skills. However, putting this advice into practice is often frustrating; so professional and student engineers turn to coaches, who must have skills similar to those developed by directors of theatre and film. In fact, in five years of teaching oral communication to engineers, the author has made increasing use of the vocabulary of the rehearsal room and actors' studio. Particularly relevant, though not at all obvious, are the concepts of Constantin Stanislavski, the pioneer of the twentieth century approach to acting. In this paper, the author discusses how adapting these classic acting training techniques and adding them to familiar approaches appropriate to engineering can help engineers improve their talks, elevating them from bland recitations to motivated and directed presentations.