Theatrical Production leaders are making these mistakes. Are you guilty of any?

1 Not communicating clearly

Communication is key in any team-based endeavor, but especially in theatrical production, where multiple departments, roles, and deadlines are involved. Poor communication can lead to confusion, misunderstanding, conflict, and missed opportunities. As a leader, you need to communicate your vision, expectations, feedback, and instructions clearly and consistently to everyone involved in the production. You also need to listen actively, ask questions, and acknowledge the contributions and concerns of others. Communication is not a one-way street, but a dialogue that fosters trust, respect, and collaboration.

2 Not delegating effectively

Delegation is another essential skill for theatrical production leaders, as it allows them to distribute the workload, empower others, and focus on their core responsibilities. However, many leaders struggle with delegation, either because they are too controlling, too passive, or too vague. Controlling leaders micromanage every aspect of the production, undermining the autonomy and creativity of others. Passive leaders abdicate their authority and responsibility, leaving others in the dark or overwhelmed. Vague leaders delegate without providing clear guidelines, expectations, or feedback, creating confusion and frustration. To delegate effectively, you need to identify the right tasks, the right people, and the right level of involvement for each situation.

3 Not managing time and resources

Time and resources are limited and valuable in theatrical production, and leaders need to manage them wisely and efficiently. However, many leaders fall into the traps of procrastination, perfectionism, or overcommitment, which can jeopardize the quality and success of the production. Procrastination is the habit of postponing important or urgent tasks until the last minute, resulting in stress, errors, and missed deadlines. Perfectionism is the obsession with achieving flawless results, regardless of the cost or feasibility, resulting in wasted time, resources, and energy. Overcommitment is the tendency to take on more tasks or responsibilities than one can handle, resulting in burnout, poor performance, and resentment. To manage time and resources effectively, you need to prioritize, plan, execute, and evaluate your actions and decisions.

4 Not adapting to change

Change is inevitable and constant in theatrical production, and leaders need to be flexible and adaptable to cope with it. However, many leaders resist or ignore change, either because they are too attached to their original plans, too afraid of the risks, or too comfortable with the status quo. Resisting or ignoring change can lead to missed opportunities, outdated practices, or irrelevant outcomes. As a leader, you need to embrace change as an opportunity to learn, grow, and innovate. You also need to prepare yourself and your team for change by anticipating, communicating, and facilitating it.

5 Not learning from feedback

Feedback is a vital source of information and improvement in theatrical production, and leaders need to seek and use it effectively. However, many leaders avoid or dismiss feedback, either because they are too defensive, too arrogant, or too complacent. Avoiding or dismissing feedback can lead to stagnation, blind spots, or mistakes. As a leader, you need to welcome feedback as a gift that can help you and your team achieve your goals. You also need to give feedback constructively, respectfully, and timely to others.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?