The Role of a Leader: Performing not Pretending

Good leaders are great actors.

This statement did not sit right with me when I originally heard it. I don’t like the idea of leaders needing to “act” the part. However, I’ve come to appreciate that this statement actually holds true in many ways.

When we assume a leadership position on a team or in an organization we are filling a ROLE. By definition, a role is “an actor’s part in a play, movie, etc.” or “the function assumed or part played by a person or thing in a particular situation.” So just as an actor fulfills their role by their actions and demeanor, so must the leader of a team or organization.

Individuals that are effective in their role, be they actors or leaders, align their attitude and actions to what is needed in the situation to achieve their goals and objectives. This is especially true in difficult times when a hint of doubt on the part of the leader can demoralize subordinates. Much like an actor, a leader’s words and actions must be believable in order to be truly effective. And that requires being authentic.

So how do we act with authenticity when our feelings are negative?

For example, say you are on a three-game losing streak and you don’t feel so confident but your team is looking to you for encouragement. If you act with authenticity and express your doubts and fears, it could derail them. Conversely, pretending as if everything is OK would be inauthentic, which risks your team not believing you.

This is when it helps to have a good Inner-Director. Any good Director would help their actor achieve the needed emotions by finding them somewhere. In the case of shoring up confidence, a director might ask “Where can you find confidence in your team? What are their best attributes? What skills and behaviors have they shown to be consistently successful?” Draw from those sources that provide you with the feelings you need so that you can act with authenticity. This ensures that your actions are not an obstacle to achieving your objective as a leader.

Regardless of feelings, your objectives as a leader have not changed. Knowing what you want to achieve, the emotions that will best serve you in those times, and how to find those true emotions, can help you remain authentic. It’s what all great actors do, and there’s no harm in leveling up our job performance by learning from those who perform for a living.