The Secret Code of Talent: Part IV - The Balance of Both the Hard and the Soft

Part IV of a series about talent: The final installation

Hi Actor,

3 Installations down and we have covered the "What" and "How" of Hard & Soft skills. In this final post we will be exploring the balance of the two. That's right, we need both the soft and the hard skills as an actor - and they need one another! Aw 🥹! We will finish the article with a note on which of them you should prioritise in your practice too.

Symbiosis of the HARD & SOFT

• A violinist's precise finger placement (HARD) X her ability to interpret the emotion of the song (SOFT)

• A quarterbacks ability to deliver an accurate spiral (HARD) X his ability to swiftly read a defence (SOFT)

Where the Two meet for the Actor

Scene work: Being word perfect (HARD) X Focusing not on the "words" but entirely on the story you're telling (SOFT)

Performing: Accurately analysing and pulling the information from the "text" (HARD) X Interpreting & allowing yourself to experience the story fresh each rehearsal or performance (SOFT)

The use of Accent: The accent needs to be accurate (HARD) X still be played through you natural voice (SOFT).

Cold Reading: The accuracy of picking the words up off the page, keeping your faces & eyes up as often as you can (HARD) X keeping a sense of discovery and play based primarily on intuition (SOFT)

Voice - Theatre Actor: You need to have the resonance, breath support and articulation to be able to hit the back row (HARD) whilst being fully focused on your scene partner, not on how loud you are (SOFT).

General fitness: Exercises like resistance training (HARD) X the way we move through our day physically with intention.

Analysis: Gathering information (HARD) X interpreting all the complexities of the human spirit from the written word (SOFT)

Film Work: Technical understanding of the frame and the constraints that come with that (HARD) X Fully being locked into the circumstances and working with other actors in a back and forth fight for what your character wants.

Self tape: Understanding the technical elements of a self taped scene X being present - unencumbered by those technical elements.

Human Behaviour: Knowing that humans, for example, "touch their face" every 30 seconds X knowing the right moments in the scene to do so as a way of "human expression" not just touching your face for the sake of it. (Thanks Les)

Generally: Just anything technical (Always Be Consistent) X anything based off instinct (Reading, Recognising & Reacting)

Note: There are many more examples of skills the actor requires. Have a think of them for yourself - label the skills HARD and SOFT. Find where the two meet and practice them accordingly.

Now the BIG question:

"Which one of these should, I, the actor, prioritise?" Well in the case of the violinist mentioned above: The Precise Finger placement.

In the case of the Quarterback mentioned above: His ability to deliver an accurate spiral.

In the case of an actor:

• Being word perfect

• Analysis

• Accent Accuracy

• Cold Reading Accuracy

• Voice: Resonance, Breath & Articulation

• Understanding the frame and it's technical makeup

• Understanding the technical elements of a self tape

• Learning interesting technical human facts that you can sprinkle into your work.

• Technical stuff in general.

We actors need to prioritise the HARD Skills because they literally form the foundation of everything else.

Coyle leaves us with an image.

Your talent is a big oak tree. A massive, thick trunk of hard skills with a towering canopy of flexible soft skills up above. Fist build the trunk. Then Work on the branches.

When we take our time to slowly, carefully and accurately work on the hard skills it frees us up to then play and explore and fall and fail (and get back up) with the soft skills. The slow work literally holds up the playful work.

Final few thoughts to wrap up the series on hard and soft skills:

Break everything down into chunks and see the skill for what it is. Always work slowly on the foundations (hard) and then dive experimentally and aggressively into the soft stuff.

An important note to make here is that foundations are not just for beginners. In fact, the worlds top performers practice their foundational exercises religiously, ever single day. Even the stuff they were perhaps taught as children. They truly understand that the hard skills are integral to being able to do the soft, fun, playful stuff.

Going forward

I've spoken about this before but I think it is an important note to finish the series on. Make mistakes and learn from them. Your work should push and challenge you. Reach beyond your current abilities - just that little bit more each day. We want to be operating in that zone of optimal discomfort. Reach and repeat, reach and repeat.

I have a question for you: What hard/ accuracy based acting skills would you like to take another look at & work on slowly? Comment below or reach out directly. Give this series a share and don't forget to like it! If you haven't already, subscribe! Appreciate you, as always! Talk soon,

Lachy Disclaimer: The insights shared here are drawn from Daniel Coyle’s books 'The Talent Code' and 'The Little Book of Talent'. I’ve reinterpreted his findings through the lens of acting practice. I've also taken grabs here and there from his book 'The Little Book of Talent' to assist.

Lachlan is an Australian Actor who has been working within the industry for a decade. He’s worked in Film & Theatre.

© Lachlan Stuart 2025