Great Leaders get their teams aligned with action, moving in the same direction and doing their best work. People who feel seen and feel safe are more loyal, productive and innovative.
When Amy Poehler gave her commencement speech to Harvard graduates, she spoke about the beauty of Improvisation. “You only have to look into your partner’s eyes to know that you are safe.” Here’s what can happen when you let your people feel seen and know that they are safe because you have their back.
A personal story: As a second year in acting school – a school that specialized in Improvisation (co-founded by Paul Sills who co-founded Second City), I was performing in our standing room only Friday night improvisation show.
This night the first years would perform for their first time. Several players admitted how nervous they were. I looked them in the eyes and said, “Not to worry. I got your back.”
Improvisation is an exercise in not knowing and staying present. Musical Improvisation offers even more pressure as two people take the stage, accept an audience suggestion, and a pianist plays a first note. Right then and there, the players must devise a song on the spot.
We are taught a musical songwriter structure called A B B A. It’s is a very scary proposition and many opt out of playing. I figured what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.
This night, Joey, my partner and I are set in a Space Ship for a Moonshot. The piano plays the first note. We looked into each other’s’ eyes. I began and established we were mother and son. I sang, he sang, we enjoyed. The audience roared.
We kept connection by keeping the gaze and the scene soared to an unforgettable moment. Being seen held us safe. It’s also what allowed us to be wildly playful and creative much to the audience’s delight.
It felt like what Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi describes in his book FLOW: The Psychology of Optimal Experience – as an out-of-body experience where you experience space and time differently.
What if leaders made each individual on their teams felt seen and felt safe? This alone is the kind of gold standard that a team performs to greater success. It creates magic. And fidelity. A well functioning team is made up of loyal members.
