LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM STAND-UP COMEDY

I am writing this note to you with a lot of gratitude.? We live in Houston.? That place is a mess right now!? We lost power after Beryl.? Trust me, the weather does not care about your zip code. That’s why this newsletter is late.? We decided to bail and find shelter in a place that has air conditioning.? We grabbed our dog Rachel, packed a bag, and hit the road for Austin.? We’re now at a pet friendly hotel, doing a little work and a bit of relaxing. ?It’s day three of no power back in our home, so hopefully that ends and we’re back there soon.

I’m feeling very fortunate.? My two boys are both off on various summer adventures.? Our granddaughter who lives with us during the school year is in Ohio with family and friends.? It’s nice that none of them are in Houston at the moment.? We’re also fortunate enough financially that we can just pick up and go to a hotel.? I am sensitive to the fact that not everyone can do that.? The news reports out of Houston about people with no real options is absolutely heartbreaking.

I’ll start with a note about gratitude and giving, then share a few great examples of ideas that matter from the world of stand-up comedy, ending with one more about gratitude.? My plea to you:? do what you can.? I’ve been poor and I’ve also made a lot of money.? I’ve learned that at any income level you can be helpful to those in need.? Food to the hungry.? Shelter to those in need.? Kind words and actual labor when someone needs a hand.? Money if you can spare a dollar.? I assure you that actively practicing gratitude is a daily habit that always helps.? It starts with counting those blessings, which then pushes you to go find some way, no matter how small, to help someone in need.

On to the comedians!? After Beryl hit, I turned to comics as I often do when I need to lift my spirits.? I love stand-up comedy.? I have since I was twelve years old and saw Eddie Murphy Delirious on cable television.? Some comedians are mostly making observations that are funny (e.g., Seinfeld).? Some get laughs by being wacky (e.g., Carrot Top).? Many others often educate and even inspire, at least in moments.? As I reflect on a few of my favorites, I see lessons worth sharing.

George Carlin was once arrested after leaving the stage in 1972 in Milwaukee because he had the audacity to share what he called the seven words you can’t say on television in his routine.? Should you have a stomach for thoughtful vulgarity, feel free to check it out:? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyBH5oNQOS0.? He knew what he was doing.? He wanted to push the limits.? In the bit, George wanted to point out an irony about words that are accepted and those which are not.? Like Lenny Bruce and Red Fox before him, and like his contemporary Richard Pryor, he consciously took risks as he developed into the prime Carlin adored by millions. Anyone managing a team or an organization should pay attention.? You must push and take smart risks.? It is true that not all innovators succeed, but it’s far truer that if you never push and innovate you will never succeed.?

Bill Burr shared an important lesson for any leader in 2006 when he stood up to support his friends.? It took place at an outdoor amphitheater with a superstars of comedy line up including Patrice O’Neal, Tracy Morgan, Ralphie May, Bob Saget, Jim Norton, Dom Irrera, and more.? The crowd of over two thousand was drunk and rude to the comic performing before Burr.? Bill is well known for being an angry comic.? He watched the crowd boo his friend off stage and he was furious.? So, he did this:? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEKNLxjZLNU.? Again, don’t click if you do not like vulgarity.? He ripped that Philly crowd so hard for so long that it was ridiculous. By the end, they cheered like crazy.? Sometimes leaders need to the same thing, without the vulgarity of course.? The team looks to you for guidance, resources, and personal support when they are working hard in the trenches, and… when the team takes heat it’s your job to step up and defend them.? It’s one of the hardest parts of the job, and one that bonds your team to you like few other things.

Leaders also need to be brave.? Possibly no one in the history of comedy has demonstrated bravery better than the night Bernie Mac walked on to the stage of Def Comedy Jam in 1992.? The comic before him was booed off the stage by a crowd well-known to be boisterous and often quite antagonistic.? Bernie wanted to make it clear that he was not scared and would not be intimidated.? Same caveats apply if interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaXVt1QTwRU.? When you lead, you sometimes must take a stand.? Whether chasing innovation, standing up for something you believe in, or just trying to show your team that you’re not afraid to speak up – sometimes you need to demonstrate bravery.

But big efforts and thoughtful risks don’t always pan out, do they?? Sometimes you try things that don’t work.? Mistakes happen.? Sometimes you do things you simply should not.? Yes, mistakes happen.? The best course of action?? Own the situation and learn something that helps you move forward.? Case in point:? Richard Pryor once blew himself up, caught on fire, and nearly died.? In 1980 he was “freebasing” cocaine and the materials exploded causing burns to half of his body.? In true Pryor fashion, he used the incident in an upcoming comedy special that remains one of the most significant in comedy history (Richard Pryor Live From the Sunset Strip).? Here is the part where he owns the situation:? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUUCnt0Jexg.? Leadership lesson:? own your humanity.? Don’t lie about it.? Don’t hide from it.? Learn from it.? Share it.? You don’t have to be best friends with the team, but they definitely want to relate to a human more than a leader.? Sincerely owning up to your imperfections makes you real and approachable, and it makes them feel validated because they too are imperfect humans.

Pryor, and most great comics, also regularly demonstrate another trait that matters in your career and in life:? authenticity.?Tig Notaro truly stands out in this regard.? She’s a performer, I’m not na?ve, but her approach is so uniquely real that one minute you’re intrigued, then you cry, then you laugh, then you just want to hug her.? She was already quite popular when in 2012 she shared a routine recounting a hellish year that saw her almost die from pneumonia, suffer the death of her mother from a freak accident, endure the end of a long-term romantic relationship, and then find out she had breast cancer.? Yikes.? So she got on stage and shared:? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Kz-lV4t-3w&list=PL2K8xHA6T9GMua83uqM3tEdiCgMRMFe8U.? Authenticity endears you to others because people know they aren’t getting enough truth every day.? Truth be told, Tig is a truly amazing example not just of authenticity, but perseverance, optimism, and perspective too (all hugely important for leaders).? ?

Finally, one of my favorite comedians, Angela Johnson, recently shared an idea in a video blog that struck me.? About eight months ago she was postpartum and working hard on getting her physical self back in shape.? I promised I’d end where I started and talk about gratitude.? Angela’s take was spot on.? See it here:? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eN92DtRlGgw.? I’m paraphrasing her free-flowing confession:? first she feels deep gratitude for what she was able to do – create a human!? Second, she accepts where she is.? Third, she’s still doing the work to get back to where she wants to be.? Gratitude is special.? It reminds of how lucky we really are, but it’s not an end, it’s a beginning.? Just because you call on gratitude in challenging times does not mean you stop striving, working, and pushing forward.? That’s a great reminder for anyone in professional life.??

What’s Up with Dr. D?

Still working on new courses, always fun.? I have a speaking event in downtown Detroit at the end of the month – very exciting, more later.? But mostly… I’m chillin in Austin! ?I’m writing this to you from a hotel bed with the wife on one side and our dog Rachel on the other side.? Not complaining.? I hope you can say the same.?

Until next time – go learn something, maybe help someone, or at least do something interesting!

My courses:? https://www.dhirubhai.net/learning/instructors/todd-dewett

My books:? https://tinyurl.com/yvwuvmaw

Me on stage:? https://bit.ly/3EfcDSb

Book me:? https://bit.ly/3WHeRB0?

All links in one place:? https://linktr.ee/drdewett.