I was watching Fox News Sunday hosted by Shannon Bream. She was interviewing Toby Mac. Toby Mac is a contemporary Christian music singer. In 2019 he lost his oldest son, Truett, to an accidental drug overdose. He shared how he dealt with this tragedy with faith and hope.
During the interview Mac said, “Backstage matters to me more than the performance stage.” He went on to say that how he interacts off the public platform is much more important than what he may do in his performance mode.
This struck me. Some leaders are only concerned about their public persona. It is all about how they come across on the platform. It is about the show. Little regard is given to the impression they are making on the backstages of their life.
It is backstage where the character and authenticity of leadership is forged. How you interact with those who may have little to offer you in your career goals. It is backstage people who see the ‘real’ you. It is backstage where the veneer of the platform is peeled off.
The platform may provide you a reputation, but it is the backstage that will provide you rating. The platform may give you affirmation, but it is the backstage that gives you authenticity. The platform may provide you applause, but it is the backstage that gives you appreciation.
You may impress people from the platform. People can be moved by what you say, or sing. It is very easy to be who you are not on the platform. Your platform presence is your thin outer layer. You can even feign vulnerability. Your platform presence is controlled by you.
It is backstage where you influence people. People are moved by who you are, not merely what you say, or sing. They see the ‘guard is down’ you. You are vulnerable in a less controlled venue. It is backstage where your warts and all will eventual show themselves. When the lights are less bright, the real you shines through.
Make the effort to make the back stage important. Take time to see, hear, and be with those who are behind the curtain. When you do this, whether intentional or not, it will seep onto the platform. And that is not a bad thing.