“He wasn’t there because his publicist told him to be there, and to be nice. He was there because he wanted to be.”
There were so many amazing tributes wrote about the late Stephen Sondheim in the past few weeks, but Laura Collins-Hughes’ piece in the New York Times told yet another story that showed what leadership is all about, and frankly, gave us a new title to aspire to…Encourager In Chief.
The whole piece, and it seems much of Sondheim’s role later in life, was what most sports frankly claim to do…and why ironically sports like MMA and esports have become so popular…they are both aspirational and inspirational. The theory goes…you can be inspired by say Derek Jeter or Wayne Gretzky, but their talent is not something most mere mortals can aspire to be. MMA or some video games…you can be inspired by the best of the best, but you can also train in the same fashion as they do, and while you are less limited by things like size and strength and more driven by strategy, you do have a chance to aspire to be close to a certain skill level. You might not get there but the chance is a bit more realistic than when it comes to being an NFL quarterback, per se.
Now this is not to say anyone can approach the brilliance of Stephen Sondheim. However what he did…with his notes, with showing up to watch and listen to aspiring storytellers…provided both hope and inspiration, and for those with talent to yet blossom…Lin-Manuel Miranda among them…gave them light on a path on probably some of their darkest days. He also, at least in many of the stories and pieces watched, always showed humility and respect to those around him in his craft, and while I’m sure he wasn’t always bright and shiny and delivered criticism deftly, it seems like he never forgot the path that he took or the opportunities he had.
We often talk in class and when we are around young people about having “the hammer,” and how and when you swing the hammer, and with whom or what it is directed, can have various effects. Often times when those in a position of power swing the hammer it can be directed in a destructive way. Later when careers or personal positions in life change, those who are sometimes no longer in possession of the hammer are aghast that certain people or groups no longer get back to them right away, or laugh at their jokes or respond to texts and emails. Often times it is a hard lesson learned, and can be very reflective when those people think back on how and why they are now being treated “differently.” Often times it’s because on the way up, or at the top, they may not have treated those non respondents as people…vs employees or interns. It doesn’t take much to remember those on the journey, and lend some encouragement for the little things they do, because those little things all add up, and it doesn’t seem like Sondheim ever forgot that…he seems to have enjoyed doing those little things that made a big difference.
While there is not much of an outward tie to the business that we may be in…sports…the work Sondheim did in theater actually fits well with all the business of sports is about…working with teams, building consensus, providing a great user experience, and most importantly giving consumers a bit of a release from everyday life. It is high pressure, talent and ego infused, and high risk, high reward for many. It is also a business that has a massive struggle for those largely working their way through, driven by a passion often times more than a dollar sign. Assisting those coming up the ladder is sometimes viewed as an afterthought, when in reality it should be a requirement, and in entertainment and theater, Stephen Sondheim set a lesson for leadership that all should remember. He built his own winning culture by personally delivering the message, and understood the value that it would bring.
While aspiring to be “Encourager In Chief” is incredibly important, I also found on my Facebook timeline another key title from a few years ago. “Director of First Impressions.” I don’t remember exactly where I saw it but it also spoke to aspiring to be higher, and reminding us that the first impression is a lasting one, especially in a world where we are still closed off a bit and behind a screen more than we choose. So for those who aren’t yet at the “Chief” level, keep the “First Impressions” in mind as well. They too go a long way by doing little things in the opinion forming, and the narrative telling, journey we are all on.
Thanks for the encouraging reminder Mr. Sondheim. Little things mean a great deal.
