Bright lights, big production

You know the scene : big arena, 10,000+fans, stage set for a live concert, pre-concert music playing...

Then the lights go dim and the artist hits the stage. Bam! They're on!

Usually at a large concert there is an oversupply of lighting, mini fireworks, massive visual extravaganza and all other sorts of visual effects. It's part of how it's done these days. 

But last night at the Bryan Adams concert, things went a little more 'old school'. 

Celebrating 20+ years in the business, he had a string of recognisable hits to pump out. And it was a brilliant concert. 

What impacted me so much was the 'pared back' staging and production. It was the band, on the stage with some Marshall amps. The so-called visual extravaganza was a large screen behind the stage, showing footage from three roving camera crews. And the footage was tinted with a sweet sepia, black and white tone. 

This style gave the audience a look at the gig from all angles. It was so simple. And it so worked. It was very smooth and it let Bryan's lyrics and the band's music be the star. 

I was reminded of Leonardo Da Vinci's quote : Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. 

So true. It was simple, clean and clear. It was sophisticated. The clarity of what this gig was about was crystal clear. 

Pare back your own production extravaganza this week.

Delete the elements that aren't really needed.

Get rid of the fluff, the fireworks and the pizzazz that you think you need to dress up your message.

Pare it back to get to the clarity of the message, the content and the bigger picture. Simplicity is the best gig of all. Rock on!

You are a leader. Prove it.

There are a lot of announcements going on at this time of year in business – reshaping, reshifting, rearranging, budgets cut, departments changing and roles shifting.

But there always will. No matter the time of year.

There will always be things that leaders need to say. Not just write it in an email, hit send and hide. But say it, speak it, announce it and deliver it.

Here is an announcement for leaders: Stop the Spin.

Stop the waffle-laden, couched-in-uncertain words and riddled-with-vague-descriptions announcements. Stop it. They’re not listening and they don’t believe you.

Stop the spin.

Stop the ‘we’d better say it like this or else….’.

Stop the ‘hush hush’ meetings where you’re supposedly ‘framing’ or ‘positioning’ information before you say it.

Admit it. You are spinning.

After my previous career in communications and public relations I know a good spin when I see it or hear it.

Leadership communications –  announcing good news and bad - needs three key things:

Humanity.

It comes first. You’re dealing with people. Not ‘resources’, numbers, EFTs or heads.

Clarity.

You’re confusing people with your long-winded sentences, waffly phrases and ‘I can’t quite say it how I want to say it’ speeches, riddled with workplace catch phrases that send minds into orbit and off topic.  

Get clear. What is the message? In normal speak. Say it like that.

Elegance.

This is different to spin. It means something has style and good taste. It is concise. Take your normal speak message and give it some elegance.

You are a leader. You are a communicator.

Prove it.

Every time you open your mouth. Speak like a leader.

1. Show humanity first.
2. Be clear with your message.
3. Present it elegantly, concisely and with style.

Delete waffle, long sentences, boring phrases and work-speak.

Be original. Be unique.

Everything about a leader speaks, especially when they speak.