The Helpers
This year I auditioned for the Empire show and was given the opportunity to do backstage singing, instead of being on stage, this worked out to be a fantastic thing. I have been able to participate in singing calls across the rehearsal period, and I have had time to also be a soloist with the TCS Naughty Cabaret show (the photo for this blog is backstage at this show) and I have also been able to join the costume team, which Jenny (in the photo) is a core part of.
Most of the work done on costumes in local community theatre is done on a voluntary basis. These mostly women, spend hours enmeshed in the garments, many made from scratch. I have been hand-sewing to the point of having bleeding fingertips, stopping to ensure I don’t mark the garments, whacking on a band-aid and going again. As I sew, I am often mindful of the performer I am sewing for, pouring care and support into my work. As a performer, I know what parts of a garment will be under added pressure and which might cause discomfort, and I try to account for this. In the sewing room discussions, I can see that this isn’t unique to me, everyone is doing the same thing.
Working in the costume room is the polar opposite of performing. It is hidden and often unnoticed, unless there is a problem. Most of the performers are appreciative and warm, don’t get me wrong, but I would suggest it is the rare person in the audience who is thinking about the costume team mid-show. Tim, the operations director, popped into the sewing room the other day and it was so nice to see his relational and hands-on leadership style in action. I would bet that he understands exactly what I am talking about in this blog.
This leads me back to my point. This blog isn’t about how great I am for helping out with costumes, I am selfishly doing it because I love sewing. I am excited to learn from Deb, an expert in costume design, and I also love being in a room with some of the most beautiful humans I have met.
What I want to draw attention to, is that there are Helpers in every business. They show leadership from the bottom. Often it is the barista, the cleaner, a grounds person or security guard. They aren’t loud and they aren’t showy, but they know everyone and they care enough to ask how you are going and then listen to and hear the answer. There are no job advertisements for “Helpers”, the role is not paid and not asked for, but when those people are gone, everyone notices. When times are tough, they are the unknown force that keeps people going for one more redundancy round, one more feedback cycle, one more day.
I would challenge every business owner, every CEO, every General Manager to know who your Helpers are and talk to them. Let them tell you the pain points they are hearing about. Make them feel valued and needed, because the unasked-for leadership they show is more valuable than I can quantify. They are worthy of your attention and respect.
If you would like to hear more about how I can help you understand the psychology and culture of your workforce, you can contact me here.
Written by Taz Clifford
Principal IDEA HR Consulting
