Show me your Credentials!

Lead by example, are you walking your talk or simply talking hot air?

Today I work as a Animator that is able to lead a team, visit Colleges/Universities and Festivals doing talks, workshops and coaching.

Yet if you knew me back in the days then you would never believe I would be capable of such things.

Introverted, self conscious individual with a speaking voice as loud as a whisper, how could this geeza ever speak to a room full of people let alone lead a team of Animators to successfully create the impossible?

"I have no idea,"

What I do know is I believe that if everyone on the team is equipped with the knowledge and understanding of how to create and give their best then this is how the team can work as one!

This is all well and good in theory but how is this in practice?

Well for me my trial hit in the summer of 2008 during my time at Lucasfilm Singapore. I was working as an Animator on the Animated TV series, 'The Clone Wars'. Asked to be a mentor on the Mentoring program I was assigned a junior animator to help understand the way we worked on the show.

Oh boy, this is where I realised that it ain't easy expressing myself and showing someone else how to animate without trying to take over and animate the shot for them. I was spending way too much time explaining workflows and methods, not because the junior animator wasn't capable but simply because I was not use to giving guidance to another artist.

It takes skill and understanding to talk to people and empower them.

Not only was I spending way too much time mentoring the artist, it meant I then needed to work crazy hours trying to keep on top of my own work.

Was I really cut out for this Mentoring malarkey?

It was this experience that helped me appreciate and see just how difficult it is helping others while maintaining your own work load. I was able to see just how hard it was for the Leads and Supervisors as they had to trust the team to ensure the project was being done at the highest quality within the time allotted.

I have been led by artists with very different leadership styles.

Those that would stretch themselves thin by trying to do the whole teams work.

And

Those that knew how to tap into each team member and get the best out of everyone.

The latter way is the one that I saw to be inspiring and sustainable. I was inspired by the Leads that took the time to know his/her team, the strengths and weakness of each artist, knowing who was assertive and who needed that extra push, all the while balancing their own time to get their own work done. Giving just the right amount of time to others without giving too much and draining themselves out.

Knowing how to empower the people around us is the way to be sure the team can make the impossible become possible.

So what are my credentials?

Failing fast, learning from mistakes.

Knowing it's 'NOT' all about me and it 'IS' all about trusting the people around me.

Everyone is capable of more than they even know themselves.

I would never have thought in a million years that I would one day go to:

Aardman Animation and help set up the CG side of their in-house Animation course,

be on a panel with long time Animation professionals at VFX Festival, talking to an audience about the Animation Industry,

Lead a team on Disney's live action Beauty and the Beast.

To working in a field that keeps me creative and forever learning and evolving!

I mention these accomplishes as a direct reflection that comes from me believing in people, no spoon feeding just straight up trust and respect for others.

I am grateful for all the experiences I've had, the failed Mentoring in 2008 that showed me my short comings helped me be a better Mentor, Leader and Artist and for that I will always revel in all challenges that come my way!

Thank you to all that have been on this Animation journey with me, keep doing your thing.:)

Morgan, Michael Morgan, Double M, license to...