Leading during a crisis is like performing in a stage play
Stage plays vs films: What’s the difference?
🎭 Given their limited proximity, stage plays often emphasise heightened expressions to ensure visibility and impact for the audience. Plots in stage plays are generally simpler as immediate and continuous engagement is required. Also, it needs to regard practical considerations such as limited sets and swift scene changes.
🎬 By contrast, films can explore complex plots with the flexibility of multiple locations and editing techniques. Subtle expressions from the actors can be captured in close-up shots.
The analogy of a stage play offers valuable insights into the art of commanding during challenging times; aka, leading during a crisis. Much like a theatre performance, leaders in crisis situations must adopt heightened actions and straightforward concepts, avoiding the complexities often found in the narratives of movies.
There was a point in my leadership when I had to be more directive, granular and micromanaging. Up until that point I had always encouraged collaboration, operated at a more strategic level, and empowered as much as I could, so to change up my leadership style felt unnatural and not authentic to me.
But even though I didn't want to go there, I knew I had to do it as the crisis situation required me to “toughen up”.
That said, I didn't transform into a drill sergeant from hell. I told myself I don't need to give up who I was or reinvent myself. I just needed to intentionally learn some behaviours to supplement my strengths - all to make me more effective in leading during the crisis.
Remember, a crisis is not the time for convoluted strategies or meandering narratives. It demands a stage play approach - where actions are deliberate, concepts are clear, and the plot centres around the urgency of the moment.
And we don't have to lose ourselves as long as we are self-aware and know that exceptional leaders are flexible enough to adapt according to the needs of their followers and the demands of the situation.