Today’s guest is… Peter Margaritis! Huh? That’s right, we’re turning the mic around with a special guest host, Kate Colbert, President of Silver Tree Publishing, to celebrate the release of “Off Script: Mastering the Art of Business Improv.”
I’ve documented much of the journey of writing this book directly through the podcast, and today we’re going to wrap things up to talk about the whole story: Why I wrote this book, what it means to go off script, and how you can use improv to sharpen your business and leadership skills.
What does it actually mean to go off script? The idea for the book was born during some research into Martin Luther King, who improvised his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. But improvising doesn’t mean “winging it.” Dr. King over prepared for that presentation. He took moments from previous speeches that he knew resonated with audiences and he built upon them, matching the ebb and flow of the crowd’s attention.
We’ve been taught that good leaders control the situation. They have everything locked down, they know what’s going on, and they’re directing the flow of business. And while that may be true of good leaders, it’s not what great leaders do.
Great leaders don’t make it about them, but about the people they lead. When leaders lead with their ego, they shut out the possibility that other people may have better ideas than they do. But when a leader treats their teams with a mind for collaboration, they cultivate the best minds to make the best decisions possible.
The “Yes, and…” lifestyle takes time to adapt to. You’re going to fall off the wagon. But trust me, it’s going to change your career if you just keep at it. If you’re ready to learn more, check out Off Script: Mastering the Art of Business Improv.
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