Book Review – Improv Leadership: How to Lead Well in Every Moment
We can all do our best to prepare to lead. We can take leadership courses, read the best blogs and books, and attend the best colleges. Yet, nothing can truly prepare us for everything we will encounter as leaders.
Leaders have to be constantly on their toes. Organizational structures change on a regular basis. We have to deal with challenging team members and coworkers. Pandemics strike.
How do we prepare to lead in an environment like this? We learn to become improv leaders.
Authors Stan Endicott and David A. Miller understand this way of thinking. In their book, Improv Leadership, they share five leadership competencies:
- Story Mining
- Precision Praising
- Metaphor Cementing
- Lobbing Forward
- Going North
These are the guidestones of Improv Leadership. Much like learning an instrument or the basics of a play in football, you learn the basics and then learn to improvise when needed.
In my review of Improv Leadership, I want to take a look at three of the five leadership competencies and how they can help you become a leader of champions.
Story Mining
Story Mining is the uncovering of a person's story. The more you learn about the people you lead, the better you are able to lead each individual team member.
If you get to know someone, you learn what makes them tick, what they desire, and how they want to be led. Story Mining gives you the insight you need to lead your team in the best way possible.
How do you Story Mine? You can start by asking great questions. You can ask about almost anything. Yet there are some questions that will help you get to know your team members well:
- What's been your favorite vacation? Is there a dream vacation you'd love to take? What is it?
- What are some of your favorite activities outside of the office?
- What's your favorite possession? What does it mean to you?
- Where did you grow up? How has it changed? What do you miss about it?
These questions help you understand the person—not just their work. Getting to know the person helps you lead them individually.
Metaphor Cementing
Metaphors help people to see and understand a future that is not yet here. Jesus used metaphors in his parables. He knew his words would paint a picture of His kingdom.
What about you? Do you know how to effectively use metaphors to paint a picture of your vision or your organization's?
Improv Leadership will help you discover how to craft metaphors that actually mean something.
Going North
The concept of Going North is helpful whenever a person consistently resists good ideas. Now, I know you never have anyone like this on your team, right? Of course not!
It may be the usher who doesn't want to change the way they greet people. It could be the church secretary who is overloaded but unwilling to give up a weighty responsibility.
We all have people on our teams that refuse to listen to good ideas. Going North to discuss the "why" will help your resistant team members to buy into good, new ideas.
 | Joseph Lalonde is an award-winning leadership blogger and hosted the Answers From Leadership podcast. He desires to see 20-somethings step into their God-ordained roles as leaders. Previously, on the E3 staff and currently serving in the Catalyst youth ministry of Gateway Church, Joseph has mentored many students and has seen their lives changed through this teaching. His mission is to help equip leaders with the knowledge and information to boost their leadership to the next level. This article was first published on JMLalonde.com. Used with permission Learn More » |
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