IMPROV You Leadership: Rule #3

I clearly remember when I was taking improv-comedy classes at The Second City in Chicago about 10 years ago who was on the mainstage:  actors like Scott Adsit (he's in lots of commercials now), Kevin Dorff (writer for Late Night w/Conan O'Brien), Tina Fey (head writer for Saturday Night Live), Rachel Dratch (actress on SNL).  I looked up to them - night after night they were consistently working "from the top of their intelligence" as we say in the improv community, not going for the dumb sex jokes.

At the time I was reading Gilda Radner's autobiography, "It's Always Something," hoping to glean some wisdom from her life story.  I was in the bar area reading during a mainstage rehearsal for "Paradigm Lost."  Suddenly it was break time and out poured all the Second Citizens - as a college student, I was in awe.

Tina looked over and saw what I was reading and volunteered, "Wow, that's a great book.  It's such a sad story what happened to Gilda."  I didn't really hear everything she said; I just thought it was cool that one of the actors was talking to me!

Then Kevin piped up from behind his cigarette: "If you want to succeed in improv, buddy, you need to give up reading autobiographies of comedians.  Instead read a breadth of history and current events.  Be ready for any suggestion the audience throws at ya, 'cause you won't have time to ask someone on stage in the heat of the moment, "What was the War of the Roses?"

Ready to IMPROV Your Leadership?

Rule #1: Yes And.
Rule #2: No Asking Questions.
Rule #3: Read Widely.

It was said in the late 1990's to aspiring comedians across the country, "If you want to see the best improv actor who performs from the top of his intelligence, go to Chicago and watch Scott Adsit." I had the opportunity for a year and a half to night after night see Adsit in action.  What made him so funny and quick-witted wasn't a storage of jokes, but instead that he read widely.  Adsit was always devouring a newspaper, magazine, or novel.  He worked hard at possessing a breadth of knowledge.

Going back to the break time in the bar, Kevin Dorff went on to explain to me from behind his cigarette:  "Read history.  Always be learning about areas you're not interested in so that you're ready for anything on stage.  Grab the book 'An Incomplete Education' and memorize it."

And that's exactly the book I asked for that Christmas.

Too often in Christian leadership we become short-sighted and don't stretch ourselves.  We just read stuff that validates our opinions.  I am always learning outside my scope of ministry.  I want to be a Christian leader like Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle - the dude reads a book a day!

To understand where people are coming from so that we may minister to them, we must read widely - books, articles, blogs, etc.  For example, I read stuff by people like the Jesus Seminar, Brian McLaren, etc.  Now I'm not a fan of these writers - their theology is heretical.  But I want to understand where people with questions about Christianity are coming from and I want to have a better grasp of the relevant questions being asked in the culture.  So I read widely.

When we Read Widely, we work from a vast pool of resources - we work from the top of our intelligence.

When we Read Widely, we can make faster decisions on the spot.

When we Read Widely, we kick butt at Trivial Pursuit (seriously, none of my friends will even play me anymore!).

And when we Read Widely, we know what the War of the Roses was all about.

Comments

[adam]

A book a day? I gotta wonder about that one a bit. Sure it is possible, but should it be looked up to? I guess I saw that and had two thoughts... a. I never want books/current events to outweigh investment in people. b. I can't think of the last book I finished! I generally read 2-3 chapters and then start something new.

Anyway, good post. I like the series!

[Kevin Payne]

Great thoughts, Jonathan. I wish more churches understood how important reading is. Yes, the personal interaction is good, but I think too often pastors are called upon to do so many things that they either spend insufficient time reading and preparing for messages or they spend 80 hours a week away from home. Not that all reading happens on church time and not that pastors are above doing certain things. There needs to be some balance I guess.

[Perry]

Jonathan,

Good word dude! And for the record...I can confirm the Mark Driscoll reading a book a day thing, he told me this himself--and if you have ever heard the dude preach you KNOW that it has to be true!

Anyway--I think a major problem is that pastors and church leaders do not know how to connect with culture. We don't have to embrace it--but we do need to be aware of what is going on.

Keep up the great work!