Remember That Leaders Are Always “On Stage”

Karen Otazo

Actors about to go onstage have their dressing rooms. Stars preparing to appear on a talk show wait in a place called the “green room,” composing themselves for their performance. It’s amazing to watch the transformation when they walk onto the set. They turn on like a light as they become their characters or assume their public personae. Their high energy generates a mood that captures the audience.

Good leaders do the same thing when appearing in front of an audience, using their words, facial expressions, and even bodies to convey that they are in control, inspired, and in a positive frame of mind. However, when you are a leader, your audience is an all-day one—every follower, contact, ...