Acrobat

I've noticed lately the lengths that co-workers, supervisors and subordinates go to in balancing who they think they should be with who they know that they are. I realize we all put on masks, and that their are roles that need definition, and popping in between these roles does take a level of dexterity, however many people take this to an art form. So, whenever I hear someone express an opinion in an informal way, or present ideas in a staff call, I am forever amazed by some people's ability to pull it off with aplomb.

I have found that the good ones never let on that they are performing. They seamlessly roll into their persona as easily as putting on a suit and and tie, or make up and a dress. The others are less fortunate; for every time you let your guard down, you are dropping one of the metaphysical "balls" you are juggling, and you lose your sense of balance, timing and authority. As a circus performer, or a rock star, you are undone by your inability to pull off your part in a believable or "authentic" way. We all have preconceived notions of how rock stars and upper management are supposed to express ideas, and when that expectation is not met- the act is not believable.

The truth is, there are few people in the stands that can tell if the guitar player is slightly out of key, or if the singer's high note is flat. Of those people, fewer still even care, knowing how hard it is to come that close in the first place. The performer, however, knows very well his or her mistake. In that case, you have two options- show your frustration and advertise your mistake stopping the song and letting the metaphorical ball hit the ground, or let the misstep take you in a different direction toward your established endpoint. What is best for the performance and your career is to not let your mistake draw attention away from the most important part- the audience's ability to believe in, enjoy and accept the art that you are making.

I had a guitar player in one of my bands that we would playfully call "Jerry" for his sometime atonal and convoluted solos. We would reassure him that what he was doing was channeling the unsteady spirit of Jerry Garcia, and his failed experiments with the guitar were merely a matter of aping one of the Grateful Dead's "improvised jams." Which reminds me of a joke: what did the Deadhead say when he quit smoking pot? "Hey, wait a second, this music sucks." Anyway, the point being is that the people that move forward in companies and the rock world are those who not necessarily believe their own BS, but those people who accept their own BS as part of the whole package and don't look to stop the song because they messed up the drum fill. To them it was just part of the show, even if the acrobat falls from the high wire, the show somehow goes on.

I came to realize the power of this approach as I was addressing the Society of Woman Engineers National Conference in Nashville, TN. As I was extolling the virtues of the US Army and performing my recruiting pitch to a room of about 100 highly intelligent and successful women, I proudly announced that we were "looking for the BREAST and the brightest" to join our team. Unfazed, I retained eye contact with a member of the audience and continued my speech, moving quickly on to the next topic. After about 45 seconds, I figured I was in the clear when I heard one woman whisper to the other "wait a second, did he say BREAST?" After quickly stifling my embarrassment, I once again soldiered on. Yes, I got a brief ribbing from my female co-workers that attended the lecture (I was the only man in the room), but all of them admitted it never was an issue due to my quick and decisive action.

So, when you find yourself juggling your different persona's while on the corporate stage, remember just to act naturally and accept that being an acrobat is just part of the job. Good luck and happy juggling!

Acrobatically Yours,

ange