Communicating from Behind a Mask - Lessons from a voiceover actor
In my acting journey, I’ve explored voiceover work, where we learn how to act in the medium of radio, narration like you’d hear on a documentary or in a commercial, animation, audio books and the like. So we’re just using our voices right? Nope, it was still a very physical performance, because what our faces and bodies are doing can be heard in our voice.
This is why, when I’m out and around others with masks on, I am even more aware and intentional about smiling at others from behind the cloth.
Smiling brings with it a plethora of benefits, for you and for the recipient:
Studies have shown that smiling, even when we don’t feel like it, has the ability to improve mood because it sends signals to our brain that we are happy. (This is not to say that we have to walk around with a fake smile, it’s simply a nice tool to have if you need a pick-me-up.)
Smiling releases endorphins, which lower stress levels.
Emotions are contagious, whether you are smiling behind your mask or frowning, the other person will feel that and may mimic that emotion at a subconscious level.
As we return to work with masks on, I encourage you to keep this in mind. Even though your people can’t see your mouth, please continue to smile at them. They will still be able to hear it in your voice, see it in your eyes and feel it in the energy that you give off.
If you are looking for a resource for virtual teams or teams who still need to keep their distance while in the office, I’ve created a workshop, Virtual Improv for Remote Team Building, to give teams an opportunity to do just this, laugh together, while learning how to communicate and collaborate in a more positive and creative way.