I sat behind Chris, the 19-year-old freshman in my TV/film production class, waiting patiently. This was his first time in the director’s chair and I knew he would be nervous. Every one of the hundreds that had sat there before him had been nervous.
As the wait began to grow uncomfortable, I slowly leaned forward in my chair and reminded him of the three things, and only three things, he needed to concentrate on as a new leader of a complex, skill-driven team: “Lights! Camera! Action!” Chris digested the words and remembered what he had to focus on. Slowly he took a deep breath, let his hands fall comfortably to the top of the script, and gave his first command as the director of a TV crew: “Roll tape.” He had taken charge. The show would go on.
Because there is a great deal that can go wrong on a TV show, as in any complex, challenging environment that requires the simultaneous coordination of team members with different skill sets and different responsibilities, the show did not go perfectly. But Chris did well and I clearly remember his expression at the end of it. He had enjoyed it and wanted to do more. Not every student has felt that way after their first experience at team leadership. Many want to run away. Fortunately, some do not.
The Lights! Camera! Action! approach to leadership training uses a familiar phrase to make the principles easier to remember. It pulls heavily from the film-making/TV metaphor though it is applicable to all forms of leadership. It begins by narrowing the new leader’s attention to just three skills. I’ve narrowed initial training to these because they are unique responsibilities of the team leader. Even star performers usually have not had the opportunity to develop these talents.
The first skill, “Lights!,” refers to the responsibility of the team leader to set the goals and vision for the team; to “light the way.” Team members are not burdened with this and have rarely led a goal-setting exercise or been responsible for a team’s final decision. However, choosing a worthy goal and path to get there can be done very well or very poorly. Training is required and most new leaders lack the confidence and experience to do this well on their first try.
Unfortunately, many new leaders will focus on “setting the lights” as a right and forget it is also a responsibility. After months or years of having to follow where others have directed, they may be eager for the chance to chart their own course. But their view of the landscape may be myopic and short-sighted. They may not be aware of other team members’ or team units’ issues and concerns. Proper training in goal-setting and visioning always includes broadening one’s vision and perspective, and communication activities designed to gather information and get buy-in when possible.
Additionally, many new leaders are not comfortable with how goals and paths should be presented. Team members look to leaders not only for information but also for confidence and hope. Team leaders need to make goals seem both worthy and achievable. They need to model the proper attitude and willingness to work. And they need to communicate effectively throughout every level of the organization.
Chris went on to direct hundreds of TV and film productions. Eventually he was one of the first Indiana University of Pennsylvania students to win a national Telly Award for an entirely student-produced TV show. He now works in the film/TV industry in eastern Pennsylvania.
For Chris, as for all of us, the journey of a thousand steps begins with just one step, as does the journey to a future Emmy Award. But focused training and guided self-discovery can make the journey more productive and even more enjoyable.
This article appeared in the Indiana Gazette Aug. 5, 2012 at http://www.indianagazette.com/b_community/article_8f99586a-ded9-11e1-9789-001a4bcf887a.html