“A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good of the group, that’s teamwork.” – John Wooden
I love this quote. Just substitute “team” and “group” for “ensemble” and we are talking about Improv theatre here folks. Supporting others. Team Work. Making others look better than you. Having no ego. These are all the amazing gifts we learn as Improvisers which become essential to the craft. In this post I explore Improv Rule # 2 on my list – Support Others.
As I thought about this weeks topic of supporting others, I began to realize that there are 3 key things I do which help me create loyal customers, earn more business and build trusting business partnerships.
1) If you make others look good – you look good: I think that this is what makes Improv relationships in some ways the perfect relationships. Rather than looking out for yourself, you’re always looking to support the other actor your on stage with. If you help the other person look good, and that person helps you look good, together you have a successful scene. Same in life, in business and in leadership. Play as a team, pull your own weight, support each other! Ask yourself … “what can I do to make my client look like the star?” I find that the more I can solve my customers problems and make them look like the star … the more loyal they become.
2) Lose your ego: It’s not about you. Improv is a “we” sport … not a “me” sport. When improvising, it’s not about me up there on stage … it’s about the ensemble and who I’m doing a scene with. My only job is to make my scene partner look more amazing than me. For example: In business, when you are dealing with customers are you thinking about what’s in it for YOU? How YOU will look to your boss when you sign the deal? How much money YOU will make? When will they sign the contract for YOU?
What if you turned that thinking around and made it about THEM? What’s in it for your customer? How can you make your customer look amazing in front of their boss? How can you save your customer money? How can you solve a problem for your customer? You’ll be amazed how quickly you go from a business contact to a business “partner”.
3) Be generous: Being supportive is not about keeping tabs or being a martyr. We all know this feeling … when someone does something nice for you but you feel there is an ultimatum around the corner. Or it doesn’t feel genuine. Being supportive is about being generous with your time. Your wisdom. Your advice. Your knowledge. Your gifts. Pay it forward. I usually operate off the 20:1 rule. I believe you have to give 20 times before you ask for something in return. You don’t have to give material things or things that cost money – sometimes it’s just your time, your wisdom, listening, lunch, a note, a phone call, a thank you. What you put out there in the universe you will get back … 10 fold.
