MBAs

I used to work with a guy who told everyone he had an MBA, a Masters of Business Acting. He was, of course, reacting to the self-importance many of the newer hires displayed upon arriving at a thriving business. He, and luckily the owners, understood the foundational sacrifices he and many others had made to bring the organization to a point where a “real” MBA’s hire made sense.

This old joke popped into my head as I read a story about Second City Works, an arm of the legendary comedy troupe. Through their efforts, they help business people better prepare for media involvement and business interactions, by increasing self-confidence, quick thinking and public speaking. They have recently expanded to help sport teams. This, in-turn, reminded me of my business hiring “bugaboos,” the old notion that youth sports participation teaches comradery that immediately translates to becoming a valued team player in the workplace. I never understood the premise and never experienced this in real life.

I have always hypothesized that participation in theater was a much more conducive skill to business. (Perhaps my old coworker intuitively knew this, too!) The success I enjoyed in a career has partially been linked to my ability to speak publicly in front of a crowd. That started in 8^th grade when the director of a junior high school play asked me to fill-in for an actor who just quit the show. While I may not have been the most popular kid in my class, I developed enough self-assurance to walk out on stage in front of hundreds of fellow classmates and recite lines I had memorized. In employment interviews, I always asked if the candidate had participated in any type of theater, music, or speech making association. It told me, they could speak comfortably in an office setting and reach out to customers more easily.

The company I worked for was small when I was hired, but we did enjoy continued growth and a spurt about fifteen years later. The company president/owner knew that many people would soon need to take outward facing rolls if that growth would be maintained. He did something, I still believe was an excellent foundation. He asked employees from departments around the company to prepare a talk, detailing their work and how it related to the organization overall. A familiar topic, a friendly audience and a proving ground. Some failed miserably and others showed themselves to be excellent avatars for the organization. Those folks did eventually serve in that capacity. I was one.

I organized an hour long lecture on how the Engineering Department functioned. It was a success. When the marketing manager was looking for someone to appear on camera to represent the company, my reaction, was, “Sure.” I later learned no one else wanted to do it. Not because they did not have the knowledge, or the education, or the skill to convey an idea. They were intimidated by a camera and an audience, a skill I developed, not by tossing a ball, but by playing one of Oscar and Felix’s poker playing buddies in “The Odd Couple,” among other rolls.

The acting took dedication to memorize the lines, commitment by staying at school afterhours four days a week and self-assurance. Walking onto the stage of a full high school auditorium defined the meaning of butterflies. Once you conquer that and continue to do so, you become prepared for almost anything. It is probably the best lesson I learned in high school.

I learned, it could be fun and once the audience became engaged, together, many things could be accomplished. I also realized that the material was crucial. Were it not for Neil Simon, would I have been as successful? If I could combine speaking skills, good material and add a dash of fun, I thought I might have a winning combo. I believe I did that in over a quarter century of public speaking.

The next time someone mentions they have an MBA, ask them when they started acting. It might not make you a new friend, but it could begin an interesting discussion on the formative skills needed for a bright career.