What a dubbing mixer taught me about communication

As an actor, writer and communication coach, I spend much of my professional life helping people connect with audiences.

Whether it’s a presentation or a difficult workplace conversation, the goal is similar: to be understood, remembered and have an impact.

Recently, I was reminded of an important communication lesson from an unexpected source.

I had the opportunity to work with a superb dubbing mixer on three creative film projects. I thought the films were largely complete. They had gone through numerous edits and were now ‘locked in’. They just needed the ‘final polish’ from a dubbing mixer.

I was assured that it should all be quite straightforward, ‘nothing too taxing’ I think he said.

Then he got to work.

And the shift was seismic.

By adding numerous subtle sounds, ‘foley’ as it’s called - soft footsteps, rustling clothing, the delicate chime of a china tea cup and other detailed background textures - he completely transformed the viewing experience.

The stories hadn’t changed, but the final details of sound made a remarkable difference; the films were suddenly brought to life and felt richer, more believable, and far more engaging.

Communication is more than words

Appreciating the skill of an experienced dubbing mixer made me think about communication.

Most people focus primarily on the words they want to say. We prepare presentations, rehearse speeches and carefully choose our language.

But, of course, words are only part of the message.

Just as sound design sits beneath the dialogue in a film, there are layers beneath our spoken words that shape how we are perceived: tone of voice; pace; pause; facial expressions; context; the environment; body language; energy levels and more, all profoundly influence how our message lands.

As a communication coach, I often meet people who have the best intentions and feel they say all the right things, yet their message doesn’t connect in the way they want.

The issue is occasionally with the content, but more often than not something is amiss with the delivery.

Your presence is the soundtrack

Think about two leaders delivering exactly the same message. One speaks with a blend of warmth, conviction and authenticity. The other rushes through their words and appears uncertain. The information is identical, but the audience experience is completely different.

The same principle applies in filmmaking.

Without the work of a skilled dubbing mixer, audiences can follow the story and may even enjoy it. But they may not feel entirely immersed in it.

Communication works in much the same way; if your words are the script, then your presence is the soundtrack.

Working with a dubbing mixer reminded me that excellence often lies in the fine details we may not consider important, and/or that our audience may not consciously notice.

Audiences will rarely comment on perfectly timed footsteps or subtle background sounds, yet those elements help create the emotional reality of a film.

Sometimes the greatest improvement in communication doesn’t come from changing the message itself.

It comes from improving the subtle elements that surround it.

If you think an experienced communication coach might help you or your team contact me for a relaxed, no obligation conversation to see how I can support you.

I am trusted as an executive communication coach by numerous organisations such as Abbott, Channel 4 and MSD Merck.