Leadership Lessons from the Wizard

Every day we have opportunities to step up and lead those around us. Whether you’re playing the lead role or just a supporting character. I recently had the privilege of watching a local theater company perform The Wizard of Oz. To be transparent, my 14 year old is in the company, playing the part of Scarecrow, and it was a treat to get to see her doing her thing. What struck me, though, was the myriad opportunities for leadership in every phase of the production, and at every level of the cast. Sometimes at work, we think, “well, that’s not my job, I’m not the boss around here.” It’s interesting how we can get socialized into believing that the people managers are the only folks who should be leaders.

Kids don’t yet have this socialization and tend to approach life with a different set of filters. I watched stage crew members step up and help cast members remember where they were supposed to be on stage. I saw cast members from the ensemble (the group that has to play multiple bit parts in a production) help major players remember their lines. As a proud parent, I watched Scarecrow rise and take control of the scenes where she, Dorothy, Lion, and Tin Man were all on stage together. No one expected Dorothy to run the show. Interestingly, they didn’t even expect the director to run the show. They saw an opportunity to lead and leaned in.

I had the occasion to chat with the director, and her expectation is that the kids take the proactive step and capitalize on these opportunities. She makes a conscious choice to lay back and not rule with the iron fist of Oliver Stone or Francis Ford Coppola, thus creating an environment where this behavior was not only welcomed but expected.

Leadership is not a position

• Whether you’re Dorothy or a Munchkin, the Director or a stagehand, you have the opportunity to lead. The unique set of skills and experiences that you bring to the table, as well as your individual perspective from your place on the stage, provide a range of opportunities to step up, lean in, and provide leadership to your colleagues. How do you know if the folks on your team know that they’re “allowed” to lead?

Leadership is an obligation

• We owe it to ourselves, to our peers, and to the organization to seize these opportunities when they present themselves. If something isn’t going to plan on stage, we don’t have the luxury of waiting for the director to point it out. Call it. Take the risk, ask the question, and start the dialogue. Remember, someone always has to go first. What steps can you take with your peers to make this happen?

Leadership is service

• Leadership isn’t about being a big bossypants. Shouting directives and penalizing noncompliance isn’t leading — it’s probably not even effectively managing. Relationships are the currency that we use in life. The quality and depth of the relationships that we have influence everything that we do. If we serve first, we lead better. Compassion and empathy are the primary inputs to what we call service leadership. What have you done this week to serve those in your cast?

It took the entire production for Scarecrow to learn that he already had a brain, for Lion to find that he already had courage, and for Tin Man to realize that his heart was already pretty darn big. You have all of these qualities too, you’ve had them all along. Just click your heels three times, and tap into them!

Originally published on LinkedIn 3 May 2018

Eric Spencer is an energetic speaker, author, human resources and leadership development expert. With over twenty-five years’ experience in companies ranging in size from start-ups to the Fortune 50, he has a rich set of experiences that help shape his down to earth approach to achieving real business results. His work with Morag Barrett in the area of workplace relationships is central to their philosophy — “Business is personal, and relationships do matter.” Cultivate: The Ally Mindset — Coming in 2021! Learn more at www.skyeteam.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericspencer1, and on LinkedIn @ linkedin.com/in/esspencer.