Leadership Lessons from an Elementary Talent Show

Last week I went to my daughter’s elementary school talent show and unexpectedly walked away with two great leadership lessons.

One from my daughter, who was terrified to perform but did it anyway.

And one from a first-grade magician who completely messed up his trick on stage.

Both moments were powerful reminders that confidence doesn’t come before action… it comes because of it.

And when things go wrong, humble honesty paired with calm confidence earns trust.

Turns out brave elementary kids can be pretty great leadership teachers.

• Read the video transcript

  Last week, I went to my daughter's elementary school talent show and walked away with two great leadership lessons for you. The first is from my daughter, and the second is from a little magician. He was probably in first grade who messed up on stage. So first my daughter, Harper, when news came out about the talent show, she was excited. She signed up to audition and after she auditioned and made it, she regretted it.

  She thought about backing out. She was terrified to go on stage and perform her soccer juggling. But thankfully, she went through with it. And I will tell you as soon as it was done, as soon as she came off and we went out to celebrate with ice cream, she was so happy she did it. In fact, she was wishing that it wasn't her last year of elementary school because she wants to participate again next year in the talent show.

  And it reminded me that so often it's the things that intimidate us the most, that are the most rewarding in the end-- the speaking up in the meeting, presenting in front of the Board, leading a new project. When we take on the things that scare us, they end up being the most rewarding, and we must remember that confidence comes as a result of action, not before it.

  We often think we need to be confident in order to take action, but I want to remind you that the confidence comes after taking action.

  Now the second lesson from that cute little magician boy, he was up there, great stage presence, partway through, completely messes up his trick. So he runs off stage and his mom meets him behind the curtain, so we know something's going on. Then he runs back out and says into the mic:

  I messed up, but hold on, I'll be right back. He runs back, fixes it, comes back out and does the trick. And of course the audience went crazy.

  But here is what he did that was so smart. He acknowledged that he messed up, but then he didn't make a big deal about it. He didn't panic. At work, especially for leaders, if we mess up, if we just try to ignore it, people get irritated. Instead, let's acknowledge it, fix it, or ask for help fixing it, but we don't need to blow it into this huge thing where now we're totally ashamed.

  If we maintain some humble confidence through it, it won't be such a big deal.

  It turns out brave elementary kids make pretty great leadership teachers.