Dramatic Success! Theatre Techniques to Transform and Inspire Your Working Life

Citation

Austin, A. (2005), "Dramatic Success! Theatre Techniques to Transform and Inspire Your Working Life", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 26 No. 4, pp. 326-327. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437730510600689

Dramatic Success! describes a variety of techniques used by actors, directors, producers and others engaged in bringing a production to the stage and recommends these practices to improve business effectiveness. My first concern about this book was that it would be more of the typical “management technique of the week”. However, as the authors point out in the first few pages, stage shows have most of the elements of businesses similar to those with which we are all familiar. In fact, pulling together a team who may have never met before to create a program in a tight timeframe with a limited budget, and aiming to break all previous critical and box office records is quite an undertaking. Plus they are able to keep it fresh night after night. I settled into a velvet‐covered chair to see what I could learn.

Dramatic Success! introduces each section using a conversation between a disgruntled corporate executive and a theater producer, which just happen to be the backgrounds of the two authors (probably without the “disgruntled” part). The book is divided into three sections, or “Acts” focused on getting your personal “Act” together, getting your team's “Act” together and getting your organization's “Act” together.

Getting your personal act together concentrates on personal connection, power and talent, urging each person to expand their range, be a chooser not a victim, and to communicate using your personal talent to embrace dynamic times. The suggestion here is that before any teamwork can occur, there must be a personal connection for us to give our best. In section two, team alignment, creativity and exploration are the topics. And finally, in getting the organization's act together, the authors consider organizational insight, inspiration and initiative. It's a pretty ambitious topic list for such a slim volume.

These subjects are covered by “practicing what they preach” within the pages. The format of the book is not linear text. It contains several sidebar examples or suggested activities per chapter, and is loaded with pertinent and revealing quotes from prominent actors, playwrights, executives, philosophers and social architects.

While it is fun and approachable, do not be misled about the applicability of the book's content – this is not a lightweight treatment of how to improve businesses and work life. For example, the reminder to focus on developing people is not new, but is still not heeded in many business settings. Leigh and Maynard make the point clear in an entertaining but single‐minded way. To many business leaders developing people sounds like one more demand to get in the way of conquering a tight economy, tracking the competition, and aiming toward nearly impossible targets. However, theater producers must also contend with these difficulties and support their people in delivering outstanding performances eight times a week. They know that they cannot be successful if the whole process is total wretchedness.

The remedy, according to this book is to do the groundwork of getting into role and skilled up, setting stretch targets, working incredibly hard, becoming inspired and making a difference. To these authors, using theatre in business goes beyond the metaphor. There are numerous techniques and exercises that are given to assist in bring the metaphor to life. One small example is to recreate the business version of the theater critic. As your team launches a new activity, invite input from clients, suppliers, and other departments. While you may not like what they have to say, it may help you identify a critical blind spot. It may also open the door for accolades and celebration.

Another example: often, leadership is viewed as a solitary function. This book dispels that notion pointing out that while having one leader is the norm, shared leadership wherein several people carry the reins can flourish depending on the tasks and challenges faced by the team. More important than who is the leader is whether there is aligned leadership. This is where the team moved forward with a clear vision and each person is encouraged to contribute fully in his or her own way. Have you ever heard an actor who was immersed in the current project and geared up to describe his or her role in animated detail? I would love to hear all employees doing the same thing. In other business books, this could all sound like repetitive preaching, but here, there is substantiation for the claims.

I was able to take away several ideas for my own work. This book is suitable for anyone in an organization. It is a deceptively enjoyable, quick read that contains practical advice and suggestions for leaders and individual contributors alike who want to gather bouquets for every project.