| Several years ago I watched the Academy | | | | something from you that gives them what they |
| Awards show from start to finish for the first | | | | need to achieve excellence? (Or are they on their |
| time. In the years before that, I could only watch | | | | own? If they're on their own, then what's the |
| about 30 minutes of the show before I got bored | | | | point of being their leader?) |
| out of my mind. But this particular year I didn't | | | | - What do you inspire them to do? |
| have to work the next day, and after 30 minutes | | | | - How do you draw them in? |
| I wasn't bored. Billy Crystal was hosting and he | | | | - How do you teach them? |
| was hilarious. At the time, I just wanted to be | | | | - How do you inspire them to reach new heights? |
| entertained. | | | | If you are able to identify several ways in which |
| I don't think I've watched many more "Oscars" | | | | you inspire people to excellence, good for you! |
| shows from start to finish since then. However, | | | | If you're not sure of your answers to these |
| once I added TiVo to my electronic equipment | | | | questions, it may be time for you to stretch as a |
| collection so I could record shows on the TiVo | | | | leader! Your uncertainty indicates a real need for |
| hard drive (and fast-forward through commercials | | | | leadership development. Please don't ignore the |
| and any boring parts), watching a long show such | | | | signs. Look for some assistance to help you |
| as the Academy Awards became easier. So in | | | | become an inspiring leader. |
| 2005, I intended to watch the Oscars for only an | | | | While you may not be a movie director with |
| hour or so (which, with TiVo, would mean I would | | | | scores of actors to inspire, use the metaphor to |
| get to see about two hours of the show!). Yet, I | | | | imagine yourself as that director. What director do |
| found that I kept watching it beyond the first | | | | you most emulate? Penny Marshall? Woody Allen? |
| hour. | | | | Martin Scorsese? Which director would you like to |
| Why? I'm not a big movie buff. I certainly don't | | | | emulate? How are you going to get there? |
| care about Hollywood. And Chris Rock, who | | | | For Those Who Report to Leaders |
| hosted that year, is funny, but he's not funny | | | | If you report to a leader, contemplate these |
| enough to keep me glued to the tube for 3 hours | | | | questions: |
| (TiVo or no TiVo). | | | | - Can you identify how a leader has helped you |
| As I thought about this later I realized that I | | | | do more excellent work in the past? |
| actually enjoyed some of the acceptance | | | | - What did he or she do? |
| speeches. (Not all of them, mind you; for some of | | | | - Think about the person you currently report to. |
| those speeches the TiVo fast-forward button | | | | Can you identify ways in which he or she inspired |
| came in handy.) But, you know what? When | | | | you to excellence in the past year? What did the |
| some of the winners talked about how their | | | | leader do? What was present in his actions? What |
| excellent work (which led to their winning an | | | | was absent in her behavior? |
| Academy Award) was a direct result of being | | | | - What do you really want from this current |
| inspired by a leader they worked with on the | | | | leader? |
| project (usually a director) or on a previous | | | | - What will you do if you don't receive it? |
| project (such as a mentor in their field), I was | | | | If you report to someone who constantly inspires |
| somewhat captivated. | | | | you to excellence (like Martin Scorsese or Clint |
| The winners were not bullied into excellence, not | | | | Eastwood), you are very fortunate! Take notes, |
| scared into it, nor yelled at. Rather, they were | | | | relish it, and apply it to your own leadership style. |
| inspired to excellence by great leadership. | | | | If your leader is far from inspiring, you need to |
| Can you imagine being Jamie Foxx or Cate | | | | think about, first, from where you will receive |
| Blanchett or Hillary Swank, in the two years prior | | | | your inspiration? (You've got to get it from |
| to winning the awards? You get a part in a movie | | | | somewhere or someone!) Second, how long you |
| with a director you've heard about (and hoped to | | | | want to report to someone whose leadership |
| work with some day), and then you hope he or | | | | style doesn't motivate you to excellence? |
| she is as good a director as you've heard. And | | | | After you answer those two questions, you may |
| when you get to the rehearsal days and the | | | | need to take action to change your life. Why |
| filming days when this director is really leading, | | | | would you want to report to a leader who is less |
| you find your performance improving each time | | | | than inspiring? He or she should be inspiring you to |
| you play the role. You find yourself stretched (in a | | | | greatness! |
| good way) and feeling exhilarated from a job well | | | | There are a lot of great leaders out there, and |
| done and well led. When you see the playback of | | | | there are also a lot of training programs and |
| the movie and see yourself performing, you | | | | coaches out there who are helping leaders to |
| know it's among the best work you've ever | | | | become great, inspiring leaders! If your leader |
| done, and you rightfully credit your incredible | | | | does not take the time and attention she needs |
| performance to the inspiring leadership you | | | | to become a great, inspiring leader (of you and |
| received while you did that work. | | | | your coworkers!), then you need to find a new |
| Bring It Into Your World | | | | leader. Look around and ask around. What leaders |
| With the exception of my godson who may | | | | do your friends and acquaintances know who |
| become a composer of movie scores, it's unlikely | | | | work at inspiring greatness in the people they |
| that most of us will wind up in the movie business | | | | lead? Find them. Find out how you can work for |
| some day. However, we can apply these ideas in | | | | them. |
| two ways: | | | | We may not be actors with agents who can find |
| | | | us a project with a great, inspiring director, but |
| 1. To those of us who are leaders | | | | using the metaphor, we can be our own agents |
| 2. To those of us who report to leaders | | | | (and we can use our friends and acquaintances as |
| For Leaders | | | | "agents") to find inspiring leaders for whom we |
| While thinking about your own leadership style, | | | | would like to work. |
| and thinking about the leadership of the leaders | | | | The next time you see an excellent performance |
| praised at the Academy Awards, contemplate | | | | worthy of an Oscar, think about the leader who |
| these questions: | | | | drew that actor into greatness. Be inspired to be |
| - Do the people who report to you feel inspired | | | | that kind of leader and to look for that kind of |
| by your leadership? How do you know? | | | | leadership in others. |
| - Do the people who report to you receive | | | | |