Leadership Lessons from the Performing Arts
We’ve given presentations on this topic in the past and if you weren’t aware, we published a free eBook in 2025.
Recently a friend who’s both a writer and actor, Mike Kimmel, gifted me a copy of his book 50 Secrets Nobody Tells You in Hollywood and asked me to review it. While his target audience is actors and aspiring ones, lo and behold, there are lessons that leaders (and everyone) can learn from Mike’s stories and musings.
Listening. Two Ears. One Mouth. Do the Math. How many times have you wanted to say that to someone? Let someone else talk and in the process listen and learn. Quieting your body to quiet your mind allows you to focus. Practice active listening where you can absorb and be fully affected by the words of others in every situation.
Situational Awareness. Pay Attention. Eyes Open. Head on Swivel. Understand your environment and the people in it. Be an active observer as well as listener. Learn to read the room, especially people's emotions, so you can address any situation appropriately.
Preparation. Be Mega Prepared. Preparation is key for an actor performing a part, and for a leader making a presentation or conducting a meeting. Understand your learning type. Are you an auditory, visual, or tactile learner? When preparing to present, incorporate every different learning style so each technique reinforces the others.
Feedback. Get Used to Criticism. You Will Get It. Accept it graciously but learn to distinguish between the helpful and legitimate versus the completely unwarranted and inappropriate. Use the helpful criticism to learn, improve and grow. But don't be distracted by the criticism that's unwarranted.
Renewal. Recharge Your Battery. From time to time, we all need to step away to reboot, refresh, and smell the roses. This isn't a luxury. It's a necessity to avoid feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and becoming burnt out. Failing to do so, will affect performance on and off the job, and more importantly, one's health. Doing so will reenergize you.
Details and Facts. Overcome Skepticism with Specificity. Providing specific information that people can verify builds trust. Vague statements and platitudes can erode your credibility as a leader.
Get Out of Your Comfort Zone. Expand Your Radius. Widen Your Circle. Experiment with new things, both in your personal life, such as take up a new hobby, and in your professional life, such as volunteer to be on a task force that's outside of your area of expertise or learn a new skill. In this ever-changing world, being flexible is critical.
Share Successes. Beware The Green-Eyed Monster. It’s important to be humble and gracious. Congratulate others on their accomplishments. Acknowledge when staff members contribute. The ability to congratulate others, celebrate victories, and recognize achievements makes you stand out in a crowd as a class act.
Leadership lessons can be found in the most unsuspecting places. Have a keen awareness and look for them. In the meantime, you can download Leadership Lessons from the Performing Arts today.
And Mike would love it if you picked up a copy of his book. He shares his insights through stories which are insightful and entertaining.