Will You Go to ELEVEN?
I’ve always relished the brilliant stupidity of mockumentaries, but Rob Reiner’s 1984 film, This is Spinal Tap, absolutely defined the genre.
His film depicted an attempt by “one of England’s loudest bands” to take America by storm, and in spite of having an insanely small budget and no real script, it quickly became a cult classic.
Why?
Because every actor performed their role with maximum humanity, humor, and dynamic range.
“These Go to 11”
If you’ve stepped into a leadership position, chances are you've learned how to show up and get people's attention.
You've learned how to work hard and push the envelope.
And you've had more than a little experience pushing yourself and your teammates to the max.
So if you find it hard to imagine doing any more than you are already doing, here's a very important distinction:
Going to 11 doesn't necessarily mean working 10% harder.
Going to 11 can also mean showing up for your teammates as a human - one who's unafraid to look silly and occasionally play their heart out!
10% More YOU
10% more humanity makes you seem more accessible and credible in the eyes of your teammates.
Things you can try:
Put away your devices in meetings. Eliminate jargon. Celebrate other's talents and ambitions outside of work. Exchange career stories and personal insights including the greatest hits and the greatest misses!
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10% more humor makes you more fun and reminds your teammates that their playful creativity is welcome too!
Things you can try:
Get real about how truly ridiculous work is at work in any given moment. Capitalize on moments of lightness, levity and joy...or just host a 3 minute dance break at 3:00pm and include everyone!
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10% more dynamic range makes you more compelling and shows others it's okay to take big swings.
Things you can try:
Bring your passion and compassion. Encourage more self-expression at work, and find out what lights your team members up. Make room for more what if’s and don't be afraid to kick down the door on new possibilities.
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Any of these extra efforts will help you and your team connect more deeply, rise above the noise, take bigger swings together, and get more memorable work done!
