The Art of Leadership: Directing Your Business with a Dash of Theatre

Oct 10, 2024

You can get the Audiobook here

I am often asked about my book, LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION! Business Operational Excellence Through the Lens of Live Theatre. The premise is quite simple….

Essentially, running a business, any business, is akin to directing a complex live theatre production. Leaders face the perennial challenge of attracting, retaining, and engaging their cast—their employees. Like a seasoned director tasked with transforming a group of individual talents into a cohesive, show-stopping ensemble, business leaders must harness love, kindness, and strategic finesse to cultivate a thriving organizational culture. Because let’s face it. Sometimes, leadership feels like you are herding cats with a feather duster.

In this article, I will talk about the main idea of my book.

Imagine businesses operating with the same dedication to detail, flexibility, and focus that it takes to produce live shows every single day. Adopting this approach would significantly improve most businesses, helping them stand out in their markets and attract loyal customers and the talented employees necessary for their success.

The Rehearsal: Building a Foundation

Just as a director meticulously rehearses with their cast, business leaders must invest in their team’s continuous growth and development. This preparation stage is about honing skills and fostering a culture where every team member feels valued, respected, and part of a larger vision. Reflecting on a personal anecdote, I once mentored a young server named Donna, who exemplified outstanding customer service but struggled with team dynamics. Through consistent feedback and mentorship, we navigated these challenges, underscoring the importance of nurturing both individual talents and team harmony.

Pre-shift meeting are a great way to reinforce training and teamwork.

The Performance: Timing and Teamwork

In theatre, timing and teamwork are critical for a seamless performance. Similarly, in business, synchronizing the diverse talents and strengths of a team towards a common goal is paramount. The transformation of Donna from a solo performer to a team player highlights the delicate balance leaders must strike between individual excellence and collective success. It’s a dance of precision and empathy, where each team member’s contribution is orchestrated to achieve operational excellence.

Engaging the Audience: The Art of Customer Experience

Every theatrical production aims to captivate its audience, much like businesses strive to enchant their customers. The parallel here is profound—engaging customers deeply, understanding their needs, and exceeding their expectations are akin to delivering a performance that earns a standing ovation. Donna’s journey from causing discord among her peers to becoming a beloved team member mirrors the transition businesses must make from focusing solely on results to creating meaningful, memorable customer experiences.

From Challenges to Triumphs: The Director’s Journey

Directing a successful theatrical production, much like leading a business, is fraught with challenges. Yet, it is through the principles of love, kindness, and unwavering commitment to excellence that leaders can steer their teams through adversity. Like the transformation Donna underwent, businesses, too, must evolve, learning from each challenge and celebrating every triumph. It’s a journey of reflection, growth, and relentless pursuit of excellence.

Curtain Call: Celebrating Success and Continuous Improvement

As the curtain falls on a successful performance, it’s a moment to celebrate success, reflect on the journey, and look ahead to future performances. In business, this translates to recognizing achievements, learning from experiences, and continuously seeking ways to improve and innovate. Donna’s story, from a challenging start to becoming a model employee, serves as a powerful reminder of the potential within each individual and the transformative power of supportive, visionary leadership.

In conclusion, the art of directing a theatre production and leading a business toward success share striking similarities. Both require understanding the nuances of human dynamics, fostering a culture of respect and kindness, and guiding a diverse team toward a common goal with passion and precision. Through love, kindness, and strategic leadership, business leaders can become the directors of their own success stories, orchestrating performances that not only achieve operational excellence but also leave a lasting impact on their customers and their teams.

If this resonates with you, pick up a copy of my book. One surefire way to build a team culture focused on consistent improvement and growth is to get a copy for each member of your leadership team. Work through each chapter together, along with the subsequent exercises, and you’ll not only redefine your team culture, you’ll have everyone on the same page….. literally. Plus, as an added bonus, with your support, I’ll be able to fund the work on another book.

By using these ideas, thoughts, and strategies, we connect the creative world of theatre with the real problems of running a business. This gives us a story full of lessons about growing talent, building great teams, and making customer experiences that people won’t forget.

About the Author

Marc Haine

Marc is a service expert and a master of experiences. He's also an author, speaker, facilitator and coach. He will help your teams ignite their passions, enable your leaders to recentre their focus, and drive continuous improvement through connected and engaged employees. This will allow you to realize your competitive advantage with a connected purpose and consistency of customer experience across your brand. He will dare your people to cultivate a generous attitude and lead with love and kindness first.