71. What Improv Can Teach You About Speaking Under Pressure (Patricia Ryan Madson)

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Patricia Ryan Madson. Patricia Ryan Madson is a world authority on improvising in everyday life. She is the author of IMPROV WISDOM: Don’t Prepare, Just Show Up. Her book has been translated into nine languages. Patricia is a professor Emerita from Stanford University where she taught since 1977. In their Drama Department she served as the head of the undergraduate acting program and developed the improvisation program. In 1998 she was the winner of the Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel Award for Outstanding Innovation in Undergraduate Education at Stanford. She is a frequent speaker for business and educational groups. Her corporate clients have included: IDEO, Google, Gap Inc.’s Executive Leadership Team, The Lucille and David Packard Foundation, the Banff Centre for Leadership, Sun Microsystems Japan Division, Apple Computers, Adobe Systems, and Price Waterhouse.  In this episode, we talked about how the principles of improvisation can help you become a more engaging presenter, and communicate with greater authenticity and impact. What You'll Learn:- How to balance preparation with being fully present- How improvisation can make you a better speaker – even if you fear public speaking- Why performance anxiety is really about self-focus – and how shifting your attention can help- How to handle mistakes during a presentation - A simple way to start using improv today to improve your communication skills instantlyWe hope you enjoy it! ———————Patricia Ryan Madson:Book: Improv Wisdom: Don't Prepare, Just Show Up Website: www.improvwisdom.com  Blog: www.improvwisdom.blogspot.com  Email: [email protected]  Recommended books: Constructive Living by David K. ReynoldsImpro: Improvisation and the Theatre by Keith Johnstone ———————IDEAS ON STAGE RESOURCES  Books: ‘Confident Presenter’ (https://www.ideasonstage.com/resources/confident-presenter-book/) and ‘Business Presentation Revolution’ (https://www.ideasonstage.com/business-presentation-revolution/book/)The Confident Presenter Scorecard: https://ideasonstage.com/score   Free Web Class: https://www.ideasonstage.com/uk/masterclass   Free Mini-Course: https://bit.ly/confident-presenter-mini-course