Does Your Company Got Talent?

As the two co-workers took the stage, ready to sing a karaoke version of what Billboard has called the greatest song duet of all time, the epic ballad “Endless Love” by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross, I sat off to the side squinting and squirming anticipating the train wreck we were about to witness. Having never seen anyone at any TV competition, professional performance, let alone company party, pull off this most gorgeous number, I expected the worst.

I should have known better.

The next thing we know, the entire crowd stood in awe, not just applauding, but waving our phone lights in unison, cheering and shouting with glee, at one of the best numbers I’ve ever seen performed not just by amateurs, but by anyone.

For the next 90 minutes this continued, from a saxophone solo wailing “Careless Whisper”, to Hula Dancing tributes, a roping champion cowboy, an operatic Hawaiian with a perfect man ponytail, a Backstreet Boys tribute, others Taking Care of Business, to a piano solo by a chef, the night went on and on with talents unknown, peers shrieking at the surprising gifts of their friends and leaders, led off by the CEO doing a standup routine of Dad Jokes that kicked the night off perfectly.

As an Emcee I had the easiest job in the world: I just had to get up after each performer and celebrate what we’d just witnessed, as the night continued to get better and better.

The next day I had the chance to close out the conference, which was named “Our Promise To You”, with a customized version of my keynote entitled “Your Leadership Promise”, drawing upon the company’s mission, culture and values, and utilizing stories from this blog that have never made it into the stage presentation. It was a home run event for the company and one of my favorite gigs of my life, and it’s because they gave me so much direction and confidence to create a unique presentation.

Yet it is the Talent Show that will stick in my mind.

It was called Western States Got Talent! And boy do they ever.

Every company has people that have talents, and so often those talents are hidden far too long due to the job getting in the way.

It doesn’t take a talent show to discover these hidden gems, although it helps to some extent in seeing someone with new eyes that we thought was just good at accounting and suddenly we realize they’re a masterful LEGO builder, tango dancer, or can play a kazoo with their nostrils.

Uncovering talent is the job, and gift, of the Legendary Leader.

“Your Leadership Promise is to Identify, Clarify, and Magnify the talents and Signature Moves of the people you lead!”

– Jason Hewlett 

Every worker comes in with talents, ideas, and quickly sees places where systems can be fixed. They identify challenges immediately as fresh eyes come to the table. Yet too often, they are placed into the process and told to just do what is needed, squashing creativity, solutions, and eventually, the voice of the uniquely gifted.

When we allow those we lead to IDENTIFY the way their gifts can shine, and then we CLARIFY even more talents we see in them, the next step is perhaps the most crucial: MAGNIFY.

The magnify portion of The ICM Process requires listening first, for both leader and he who is led, in order for change to take place and the Promise to come forth.

Your Leadership Promise at work, at home, in life, will be transformed when you commit to Identify, Clarify, Magnify with the true intention of giving courage, permission, and acknowledgment to the one you lead, in order for them to keep their Promise.

Give them the mic, let them shine, there is nothing better as a Leader than this handoff and encouragement.

I sat back in amazement as worker after worker voluntarily took the stage, wowed their friends, became Legends in Concert for their performance, and earned a spot at the table of Leadership by bravely coming forth.

The secret is to give others a chance to shine. Sing the duet. Go for it. “Our harmony is our integrity” (quote from “The Promise To The One”).

That’s Your Leadership Promise.