One of the things I try to emphasize with the casts and crews of the presentations I produce is the importance of consistency. Audiences change from performance to performance, but the show they see must remain the same each time. This insures that the mission and message is the same for everyone who attends and it allows us to maintain quality control. I would never want there to be a varied experience for audience members depending on the performance they attend, and my desire is that every person hear the same message. Ask any of my team and they’ll tell you that they have heard the words “same show” many, many times.
This is also true of leaders. I am committed to being the same leader to everyone with whom I have the privilege of working, and being consistent in how I lead, respond, and direct every time people see me. Of course I am not perfect, but my intention is that everyone on my team always has a pretty good idea of the type of leader they will encounter each time they show up. I work hard to be consistent and not make others wonder about what kind of John will show up to our events. We all have known leaders whom we could never be certain about their mood, spirit, or temper at times, which causes us to walk on the proverbial eggshells so that we don’t upset them. It’s no fun, and it is especially unfair to their team members.
As a leader of people, paid staff, and especially volunteers, it is vital to our effectiveness and credibility to be the same leader every time we’re in front of our team. We must be consistent and genuine, and most of all, always do the “same show.”
Lead well.