Smart leaders recognise and reward all the talent on their team.
He was loud. He was subversive. I couldn’t control him. He did his very best to disrupt the group and undermine me.
He was the guy who had a sheet of blank butcher’s paper up on the wall. When I asked him: “What’s that”? He replied: “It’s Art”.
He tested my leadership. And he was good at it.
It lasted a couple of weeks… until I stepped up. I knew he wouldn’t be happy as part of the chorus. I was House Music Captain. It was my final year of school. What to do with him? At least I had formal power.
I gave him a role. As it turned out, it was one where his strengths came to the fore. Singing the only solo line: “Or blow me a kiss and that’s lucky too”.
I felt as lucky, as lucky can be. We were singing Chim Chim Cher-ee from Mary Poppins.
He loved the part, settled down and we were a team.
And in case you’re wondering, he went on to study at NIDA (so did Cate Blanchett, Baz Lurhmann, Sam Worthington… you get the idea).
Sure we were teenagers. It wasn’t the subtle, behind closed doors politics we might see in an organisation. But the principles apply:
- Take up the authority of your role
- Identify their strengths
- Give them an opportunity to shine.
I wasn’t as lucky with the quiet achiever. She quietly came up to me and said: “I think we’re flat”. A quartet singing Gerry Rafferty’s song Baker Street. I confidently said: “Really? I don’t think so”.
But she was right. On the big night the critics said we were a bit flat in places. I couldn’t hear it.
I overlooked her talent by not recognising the limitations of my own. I didn’t listen. I didn’t make a space for her to contribute.
If only she were louder like he was. I would have been forced to address it. She must have mustered up considerable courage to let me know. And then I squashed it.
The worst of it is that I know I’m no singer. I played the piano. I should have known better. Needless to say, we didn’t win the inter-house music competition.
But I did learn that sometimes you’ve got the talent you need right under your nose. It’s a new year. Maybe have another look? It might be the smartest thing you do all year.
I hope you have a wonderful 2015.
