This post contains the most important piece of advice that I could offer to a leader - any leader at any level.
Below is a trinity of critical, inter-related techniques that will improve your effectiveness as a leader regardless of your level of experience.
I could summarize the three techniques and the reasons for their importance in a five-minute conversation. Four if I talk fast.
Ready. Get set. Go!
1. Visualize clearly and in detail what you want the follower's body to do.
The more clearly you can picture your desired outcome, the higher the probability that she'll execute the step properly.
Visualization is powerful. A clear, detailed vision of your intended result will marshal involuntary adjustments in your skeletal muscles. These adjustments will be critical to leading a step effectively.
The next time that you're dancing with a follower, put on your James Cameron hat and visualize her executing the desired movement precisely and effortlessly in vivid IMAX 3D (slow motion when necessary).
2. Monitor what the follower actually does in response to your lead, and compare it in real time to your vision.
Don't get upset with the follower or with yourself if a step doesn't work the first or second time. Every follower is different. They respond more accurately when we learn how each individual reacts and moves. As we learn about the follower, we can customize our instructions in ways that suit her individual qualities.
Corrective action requires feedback. If you lead something and then fail to pay attention to the way that it turned out (good or bad), you won't have the information that you need to be able to fine tune the lead. Monitoring the follower's reaction to the lead is as important as leading her in the first place.
3. Make the adjustments required to produce the visualized result.
Leading is a skill of delicate precision. It needs to be fine-tuned constantly.
As mentioned, when dancing with an unfamiliar follower, you might need spend time learning how her body moves (and how her mind reacts) before you can lead her effectively.
But even when dancing with a follower whom you know well, you should strive continually to make your lead as clear and as efficient as possible. Note any place where she hesitates or makes the "wrong" movement. If she didn't do what you expected, your lead might not have been what you expected it to be, either.
Make it your goal to fine tune your lead until that movement happens consistently and effortlessly with this partner and most others, as well. Only then will you be certain that your lead is effective.
Caveat: Don't force the issue
Making adjustments does not mean applying more force. Never, ever, ever try to get the follower to do the step by applying more force or more muscle power. If anything, you probably need less force.
When the tango is working properly, the technique is almost effortless. If it's not effortless, it's probably not working properly.
You must remember this, Don't lull yourself to bliss...
Professional golfers practice putting every day. Professional basketball players shoot baskets every day. Professional musicians practice scales and arpeggios every day. Professional actors practice getting into character every day.
Why? Because keeping skills sharp requires constant, mindful work, work that focuses on a desired outcome and monitors the effectiveness of the actions that we use while striving for that outcome.
Never assume that you're too advanced or too experienced to need work on your lead. Just because you own a Steinway doesn't mean that you'll never have to tune it.
Leading is like anything else in life. Success favors those who work consistently and who face their weaknesses honestly. Let the follower's response indicate when you might need to do some more fine-tuning.
¡Buena suerte, amigos, y muchas gracias!
Daniel
Copyright © 2014 The Exploring Tango Blog
exploringtango.blogspot.com
All Rights Reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment