Set the stage for your stars to shine

I caught up with my mate Edward the other day. I always come away from conversations with him feeling grounded, still, calm. He’s got this way about him that just chills me out. We talk about all sorts of stuff, and he’s always curious, asking more questions and with at least half a smile on his face.

It got me thinking about what he does that makes it feel like everything just slows down for a bit. He’s a leader of people but not (right now) a People Leader. He doesn’t talk about coaching conversations, feedback models, delegation, performance management…you know, all the stuff I believe is good and worthy. He just has this way of creating a space that makes you feel at ease and connected.

He’s recently changed jobs. He’s doing work he loves with people he loves. What’s he up to? Well, funnily enough, he’s a stage manager. Yep, the same guy who makes me feel enriched by creating the right space for a catch up with a friend, now does that very thing for a job. He creates environments in his workplace that enable the people on the stage to perform at their best.

I’ve mused about this before. It’s of course important to be doing the things we know work well for leadership. But sometimes that can get a bit process-y. So if we instead think about what all that process stuff is in service of, I love the idea that leaders are setting the stage for their stars to shine. That leaders are like stage managers. As a leader (stage manager), what are you putting in place that creates the kind of environment where your people can put on their best performances?

Interested in a bit more about this? Here are some similar posts:

Set design: How our environment lets us shine (or not)

Love. Where does it fit in the way you lead?

Are you a catalyst or inhibitor?