I sometimes have what I call “t-shirt” moments in my coaching sessions.  Where a concept comes up that I’d love to put on a t-shirt (or a pillow if anyone prefers) just sticks.  This time it was: Be Specific.

We actors are taught throughout our training to “be specific.” Every script is the same  - what elevates the words from the page is the unique way an actor inhabits the action.  When actors are “specific” they focus on being, rather than just doing.

Leadership is the same.  Identifying our core values as leaders is one step in creating the “script” of your leadership.  But truly personalizing and making them come to life requires specificity of action and behavior.  Integrity, a core value of mine may show up one way to one leader and another way to another leader.  I love the bankers who tell me when choosing their core values that, “integrity goes without saying” and I keep thinking not only should they say it - but they should also be it.

The same goes for crafting a vision for your leadership or your team.  It is only by painting a specific picture of where you wish to go or how you want your team to behave that the roadmap becomes actionable.

This concept of specificity made even more sense to me after watching this TedTalk by Derek Sivers.

It rocked my world when he shared the research that proves that stating a goal out loud means you are less likely to do it.  Apparently, you attain the satisfaction of achieving the goal without actually having to do anything to achieve it.  Instead, he suggests that if you need to talk about it make sure you talk about it in a way that gives you “no satisfaction.”

I’ve always interpreted his great advice in this way: if you need to state a goal out loud – do it with specificity. Lay it out with the actions you will take to achieve that goal.  They may not be satisfying at all – they might be hard and challenging and maybe even boring.  But that detail, that specificity, is your road map to the ultimate satisfaction of achievement. 

Specificity is also required to be a leader that creates emotionally committed followership. It’s exactly what happens when an actor is “specific’ on stage.  They inhabit the “doing” of the play so fully, that you the audience believe them and follow them into their imaginary world.  They literally – suspend their disbelief.

That became so clear to me when I returned to the stage to play Erma Bombeck for Geva Theatre Center’s production of At Wit’s End. I not only had to learn the words, remember the blocking, but I had to do it while ironing. Something I NEVER do.

It was only when I focused on the specificity of the ironing process that the doing became elevated to “being” Erma ironing a shirt - rather than Pam muscling through an action that was frustrating.   Whenever I focused on “being specific” my performances actually felt effortless.  It was like inhabiting the world we were creating rather than inserting myself as an outsider in the actions of the play.

And for some specific tools that allow you to be specific in your leadership:

1. Pay attention to your behavior.  Up your self-awareness to see if you are actually being your values rather than just making them words on a page.

2. Be present.  You cannot be specific if you aren’t really there.  Being fully present helps you to ensure specificity of intention.

3. Track your behavior.  Don’t just leave this to chance.  At the end of the day ask yourself did I show up with specificity in my presence, in my communications, in my very being today.

Imagine how your leadership would change when you inhabit the actions and behavior required to achieve your goals, realize your vision, and ultimately be the leader you wish to be and cultivate the world you wish to inhabit and lead.

With specificity, we can achieve the ultimate in thunderous applause from our followers – because they too will believe you and want to inhabit that specific world you have created with all your being.

Be an Outlaw Leader™ and lead with Specificity.