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Feature Article:
Leadership as a Performing Art
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They
have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts…”
William Shakespeare, As You Like It
Countless books have been written espousing leadership theories and practices. Much advice has been offered to help
you think and act like a leader. Yet the very essence of leadership seems to involve a secret ingredient, something very
hard to explain, something beyond technical competence,
something more than charisma. Great actors, political leaders,
business executives, even your high school English teacher or your daughter’s soccer coach may have it. These people draw
you in with their magnetism. They possess a certain confidence and energy that allows them to connect, inspire and motivate
you.
What is that magical element that draws you in and makes you
listen? What is this elusive element of leadership, this special
quality that some seem to have and others do not. Can it be learned? Belle Halpern and Kathy Lubar call it Leadership Presence and declare, “YES, it can be learned! Presence is a
set of skills, both internal and external, that virtually anyone can
develop and improve. Most people think of presence as the
ability to command the attention of others. We like to think of
presence in a different and deeper way. For us, presence is the
ability to connect authentically with the thoughts and feelings of
others in order to motivate and inspire them toward a desired outcome.”
What makes Halpern and Lubar’s approach compelling is that
their understanding of presence is derived from their experience
on the stage. Both have been performers most of their lives, and have discovered how useful their stage skills and experience
are outside the performing arts. The convergence of leadership and performance has been examined by numerous
thought-leaders such as Peter Vail, Max DePree, and Warren Bennis, among others. In fact, Bennis states that when you
consider towering and theatrical leaders such as Churchill, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, “you come to realize that
leadership is not just a performing art, it may be the greatest performing art of all—the only one that creates institutions of
lasting value, institutions that can endure long after the stars who envisioned them have left the theater.”
By now you may be thinking: “Sure, I can probably learn some
things from actors, but how can I learn to be authentic from people who ‘pretend’ for a living?” The paradox of the theater is
that in order to pretend, the actor must be real because the only
way an emotion can be authentic is if it comes from within. Think about a time you were moved by an actor to feel deeply, to
understand something more fully or from a new perspective. Remember a time you were truly moved in the same way by a
leader’s presentation – motivated to grow or adapt to changing
times. The goal to connect with you in a fundamental way is the
same for both leader and actor. Actors and leaders face a common challenge. Both must form connections, communicate
effectively, play different roles, and work with others as a team. In fact, all of us can benefit by developing presence for we all
play a variety of roles—parent, manager, spouse, citizen, artist,
business owner -- and we must be prepared to influence and move people every day.
You may want to check out www.cgoodwinassociates.com, a consulting firm that specializes in Leadership as a Performing Art® for more information on this topic.
“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through
you into action. And because there is only one you in all time, this expression is unique.” Martha Graham
Leadership Lessons: The Power of Presence
Finding Your Voice
Every human being carries the power of presence. We express our power of presence when we are able to
bring all four of our intelligences -- mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical. As a leadership coach, I
believe everyone has the capacity to develop leadership presence. In fact, this belief is a cornerstone of my
coaching philosophy. I also know it takes commitment, hard work and, most importantly, a willingness to let
go of habitual patterns of thinking and behaving in order to be successful.
With practice, you can recognize your own unique presence and choose to express it. Halpern and Lubar’s
model provides a useful framework for strengthening leadership presence. You can take an online
self-assessment to measure your personal Leadership Presence by logging on to www.leadershippresence.net.
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P stands for Being Present, the ability to be
completely in the moment, and flexible enough to handle the unexpected.
R stands for Reaching Out, the ability to build
relationships with others through empathy, listening, and authentic connection.
E stands for Expressiveness, the ability to express feelings and emotions appropriately by using all available means—words, voice, body, face—to deliver one congruent message.
S stands for Self-knowing, the ability to accept
yourself, to be authentic, and to reflect your values in your decisions and actions.
From Leadership Presence by Halpern and Lubar
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“No amount of human having or human doing can make
up for a deficit in human being.” John Adams
TIPS, TOOLS AND PRACTICES: Leading Through Being
Since leaders lead by virtue of who they are, commit to expanding the depth of your character to its most essential level—Being. Being is our true nature, our core. Being is the essence at the deepest level of our
character supporting all action and achievement. Being is a state of restful alertness where the mind is fully
awake and the body is deeply rested. Being is a wonderful preparation for action. It is great preparation for
seeing life with new eyes. (Kevin Cashman, Leadership from the Inside Out)
The journey toward Being Mastery is yours to design. To take this journey, you don’t have to go anywhere.
You simply take time to reflect and to be. You can meditate, pray, listen to soothing music, spend time in
nature. The idea is to be still and learn to move beyond your thoughts. Tibetan, Asian and shamanic
traditions use the standing posture and the rhythm of stillness to train people in the art of coming into the full
power of themselves. Standing meditation is an opportunity to access your presence, personal power, and authority.
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Standing Meditation
Purpose: This is a time set aside for introspection,
contemplation, discovery, and honoring the sacred. In standing meditation you experience what it
means to work from a posture of respect for self and others, from a position of strength and
flexibility.
Posture:
Stand with your head erect, your arms at your sides, and your feet placed shoulder-width apart. Your eyes should be open, and fixed softly on a distant point.
Process:
Within this time and posture, you can feel what it is like to stand up for yourself—literally to have two feet on the ground, to take a stand, to stand on your own two feet.
Practice Standing Meditation for 15 minutes each day for 21 days.
Adapted from Angeles Arrien, The Fourfold Way
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Practical Leadership Benefits of Being Mastery
- Our inner calm attracts others to us. People tend to seek out our thoughtful advice and counsel.
- We are better equipped to deal with rapid change around us because we are calm and centered
within.
- Our drive for external success is enhanced by our awareness of deeper, more fundamental values.
The result is that our external success has more meaning, context, and depth.
- We can solve tough, challenging problems more easily.
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The profound rest of Being gives us the ability to refresh ourselves and allows us to achieve more with less effort.
- More life balance is achieved because we have the energy and calmness to meet life’s
challenges. People sense our balance and trust our thoughtful, calm demeanor.
- We have the distinct sense that we are becoming more uniquely and authentically ourselves.
“We convince by our presence.”
Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass
© 2008 Bette George & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved.
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, an e-newsletter by Bette George, website: www.bettegeorge.com email: bette@bettegeorge.com.”
Conversations on Leadership and Life is a bi-monthly e-newsletter written by Bette George of Bette George
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