The 10 Liberating Powers of Playing a Role
Jim McCann, came into the world a shy, Irish kid, in New York City. He wasn’t always a conversationalist.
Jim overcame shyness by becoming a salesperson in a clothing store and, later, a bartender. His story helped me see the transformational power of taking on roles.
Famous method actors become the characters they play. Daniel Day-Lewis, for example, spent eight weeks at a clinic for cerebral palsy patients before playing a disabled artist in, “My Left Foot.”
Hear Jim talk about taking on roles (1:54):
The 10 powers of playing a role:
Playing a role is a way to become someone you want to be, but aren’t, yet. Jim took on a socially defined role when he became a bartender. He played a part.
Play a new role. Create a new future.
- Roles transform the way you see yourself.
- Roles inform behavior. They tell you how to behave when you feel uncertain. Clarity enables action; uncertainty hinders and prevents it.
- Roles give permission. Doorman have permission to open doors. When the people around you understand the role you play, you have permission to fulfill that role.
- Roles lift you out of your fears.
- Roles present new ways of relating to the world.
- Roles allow others to see you in a new light.
- Roles explain expectations.
- Roles provide place. You won’t step out if it means you don’t fit in.
- Roles enable ownership. The role you play is yours.
- Roles reveal responsibilities.
Bonus: Fulfilled roles give fulfillment.
Give yourself a role:
How would you be different if you took the role of:
- Chief Compassion Officer.
- Chief Expediter.
- Chief Serving Officer.
- Chief Conversation Igniter.
Become the leader you hope to be by playing a new role.
More: Jack Welch Grabbed Jim McCann by the Collar
How has playing a role changed you?
How might leaders help others play new roles?
Jim McCann’s new book:
Wow. Powerful words. It’s funny (in a good way) how we look up to and honor actors with all sorts of fame and awards. But it’s because in their playing of roles, I think, we are able to find and bring out the honorable characteristics within ourselves.
Life is a stage, and we must each play our part.
Thanks David. The more I thought about Jim’s story, the more I saw the power of “role” in my own life. I think there is real opportunity for leaders to help others see themselves in new roles.
Great post today as usual!
Never really looked at Role playing and all the tangents that are created from a business standpoint or Leadership as well, interesting perspectives to consider, depends which hat you have to wear that day. Often times when we have all the roles together at different stages of ones day!
Thanks Tim. Love the “hat” illustration. What hat should I put on right now that will take me/us where we want to go?
Great point Tim! Brings a new take on the topic. Roles are situational, whether acute or long-term, project to project, or from person to person.
Brilliantly superb post!!!!!
Yes finding a person getting the results you want and modeling them….epically on point.
Richard Bandler and Wyatt Woodsmall would be so proud.
Modeling ROCKS!!!!
Saw this flower dude’s story on 60 Minutes I think!!!!! Great great inspiring story! Jim, you go boy!!!!!!!
SP back to modeling the folks getting the results I passionately desire.
Thanks Scott. I’m not sure about 60 minutes but I know he was on Undercover Boss. I haven’t seen his episode but I want to now.
LOL, just remember the source!!!!! I THINK, I remember seeing his story on 60 Minutes. I am 100% positive I saw his story somewhere. It was absolutely great. What a story, if I could only remember where I saw it!!!!!!!!!!! LOL
Let me know if you search and find it was 60 Minutes! And of course if you liked it. Had a whole lot to do with he was at a certain point and THEN, whamo, something changed. It might have been him focusing more online. Anyway, GREAT story, great post! If I could just remember!!!!!!! hehe
Love inspiring stories!
SP back to modeling the coolest and most effective I can.
Playing a role helps me “stay in my lane” and be more effective. Quite frankly its a great way to stay focused.
Thanks Enna. Glad you added focus to the powers of playing a role. Good one!
Wow thought provoking! Maybe, we cast ourselves in a role of how we want people to see us and then through years build and solidify that role so that we become that person. Maybe, we have a secret desire to take on attributes of another role but fear that it could damage the image we created. Maybe, if we take on a new role, we can give it a test run and if we get negative feedback we can deny ownership 🙂 and if we don’t we can absorb some new attributes…maybe…
Thanks J. You make me think about the benefits AND dangers of playing a role. If we aren’t careful, we could lose ourselves to a role.
On the other hand, a role is a test drive that gives us the chance to try something before we make a full commitment.
William James, the father of modern psychology, calls this the “as if” principle.
If you want to be outgoing, act “as if” you are. Maybe you can only do it for 5 minutes the first time.
If you want to be happy and you can’t feel it, act “as if” you are happy and the feeling will follow. Once when I was going through a very difficult time personally, my real job required me to greet young children who entered a school building every morning. After 20 minutes of acting as if I were happy to welcome them to school, I felt better all day long.
If you want to be a leader, think of a leader you know and admire. Act “as if” you were that person. What would they do? How would they act?
Great advice!
His book, Varities of a Religious Experience……wow is it a difficult read!!! However the cliff note version very very very enlightening.
People who have life changing vital spiritual experiences in different cultures and different thought systems all nonverbally experience almost exactly the same thing. Go figure!!!! They are told and want it to be, must be, exclusive to their group and thought system. How silly, really, when other people are having similar life changing experiences.
Kinda exposes the multiple exclusive path to whatever each group likes to call it.
Funny isn’t it. People get to the same place but each group says it is only their group that got it right? And their way!!!! All roads lead to Mommas kitchen!!!
Silly thought systems….cliff note version if William James difficult to read book. He and his work are mentioned often in the 12 Step community cause he had a major influence on the co founders of AA.
Thanks for bringing him up Duana.
SP
Thanks Dauna. Love the “as if” principle.
I’ve heard people say we can either feel our way into acting or act our way into feeling.
A influencial quote from one of my early employers: “If you want to be a leader, start acting like one.”
Love it! Thanks Claptonclone.
Hi Dan and everyone! Just discovered this blog and yes, I am looking forward to purchasing this book, too! I read several of your posts today. Light-hearted, inspiring, empowering. My favorites are chief servant and being a leader and not a walker…
YES—I always dress rehearse and especially difficult situations. <3
Tweeted your book and now a follower. Thank you and have a great day all.
agnes
Welcome aboard Levine…..
Thanks for the good word and joining the team. Best wishes.
Role playing is a catalyst to continuous improvement.
It excites the soul and energize the body.
Reblogged this on myself & me and commented:
Dramatherapy is proof of how powerful this role-play is especially for young people – The lovely young people I work with love putting their own mini drama’s together around all kinds of different themes like friendships, kindness, courage all the characteristics we need to promote in our young people to benefit our human kind, local communities and society as a whole.
I am reminded of the saying, “Fake it till you make it.” Sometimes taking on a role can give us a leg up on self-transformation.
Very helpful post Dan. “Playing a role” is often seen as being negative. In this case you highlight that choosing a positive role to play (and a kind of person to be) can make a huge difference, Since my one word for the year (thanks for that earlier post) is “engage” I am trying to see myself as a Chief Engagement Officer among our staff amid many changes we are initiating.
We are all ever evolving and as we evolve so will our politics and life choices.