Thursday, August 6, 2009

Cast Yourself Right

Hollywood casting agents select the best actors for each film. There are actors who have turned down supposedly poor scripts, only to find them become award-winning films or box-office hits. Some actors were cast in a role because they resembled the person in question (biography) because they were dead-ringers. May bio-epics work on this formula, and make-up artists do the rest. Recall Will Smith (Ali), Tom Cruise (Born on the Fourth of July), Billy Crudup (Without Limits), and Ben Kinsley (Gandhi)? Who would have thought that Tom Hanks bagged two Oscars for his roles in Philadelphia and Forrest Gump?

How do you cast yourself in the role of team-leader, team player, colleague, expert, and manager? Are you believable? Sure, some acting is involved. After all, don’t you play a part? Some positions are, after all, acting positions, such as Acting Supervisor. We may also act tough; act blur - you get the picture.

As a leader, tell yourself what you like. It will determine your attitude towards others. How do you behave towards your best friends? Which personal values do you live by?

Have objective friends, even outside of your field, to give you honest, reliable feedback. Sure, some of this feedback may feel hurtful, yet it is said ‘the truth can hurt’.

A strong stage presence is a ‘team effort’, said Topas, world-champion illusionist from Germany. Our team-members make us what we are. When our team performs well, it augurs well for us as it strengthens our position as an effective manager and leader. Sometime, we may even need to seek outside help to overcome our shortcomings and weaknesses.

Use a team of consultant to mould your style, talk or presentation. Surround yourself with experts, and learn from their feedback and suggestions.

No comments: