Why everyone in corporate America should have a theatre degree… or, how I justified all those student loans

Way back when, I wanted to be an actor. Not really a movie star--not a Julia Roberts, but more a Cate Blanchett. A serious actor! My generous parents promised me I could go to college at the best school I got into, regardless of the burden to them financially. Unfortunately for them, that meant the number two undergrad theatre program in the country, at Northwestern (I truly didn't want to go to a conservatory program, like number one Julliard, so I never considered applying there).

As I’ve mentioned, I realized pretty quickly I didn’t have what it took to be an actor, but I still loved it. I kept going with my course of study, adding in journalism classes and some blah-but-necessary general business type things as my backup. In truth, I never had a plan. I had no idea what I’d do with my life (certainly never expected to be in financial services marketing!), but I had a hunch that my theatre training would still come in handy.

One of things you learn as an actor is observation. It’s not all about you, not all about performing. How do you inhabit a character who isn’t like you at all? You watch people in real life who are more like that character. I did many character studies, sitting at coffee shops, airports, museums… just observing people’s mannerisms, speech patterns, body language, all the time.

In my day-to-day life now, it is really helpful to read people quickly. Who is the person sitting in front of me at this meeting? Assessing someone within the span of a few seconds is an important skill to have, and no one does that better than an actor.

For the most part, people think of actors as self-obsessed, attention-seekers, but in reality, we’re more than that. I’ve found true actors (not the ones who just want to be famous, the real artists) to be introspective, inquisitive and empathetic. Those qualities make a good employee and a good leader, too. You need to think, you need to listen and you need to feel in order to do your job.

But onto the performance aspect that I truly find the most beneficial from my stage days. Whether it’s a bad day you’re personally having, or someone just trashed the work you thought was pretty good, sometimes you have to put that game face on. Smile, nod, and pretend like “hey, I can take this.” I do it. Every. Single. Day.

I also realize I have to be friendly with a lot of people I don’t find particularly palatable. Showy sales execs, know-it-all SVPs who think “they can do marketing in their sleep.” You all know who I’m talking about, and the truth is, we have to be cordial to even the people we don’t agree with or possibly even respect. So I’ve really learned how to get along with most types of people, and to some degree, it’s all a bit of a character for me.

The other skill you learn as an actor is adaptability. Improv, if you will. We are constantly needing to change direction, respond to something we didn’t see coming and do so quickly and coherently. One of the best things any professional can do is take an improv class or an extemporaneous speaking class. And it doesn’t have to be for business (although they have them). Make it fun. Take a class with your local community theatre group. You’ll have a blast and won’t even realize it’s professional development.

I know not everyone is excited about the prospect of being a performer, and in truth, I complain at home that I’m tired of “putting on a show” when I’m grouchy, irritable or depressed (basically, always). And even worse, I feel like I’m entertaining most people I talk to, including my therapist. “Your stories always make me laugh,” he says, not realizing that wasn’t the intended effect… or was it?

But the reality is that you can benefit from incorporating some elements of performance and acting into your daily life, and it can be a good thing. It’s not about being fake or phony, it’s more about observation, empathy and adaptability. Give it a try, and let me know how it goes!