Part 1 – Hard and Soft Skills

Chapter 1 - Communication

“What happens is not as important as how you react to what happens.” - Thaddeus Golas

Of all the topics covered in the book one of the hardest to convey with words are those dealing with body language.  We hope these resources help show the importance of reading every body.

TED Talk

Body language

Paul Ekman and Micro Expressions

Proxemics

Suggested reading

  • The Definitive Book of Body Language by Allen and Barbara Pease
  • Unmasking the Face by Paul Ekman
  • The Power of a Positive No by William Ury
  • Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson

Chapter 2 - Relationships

"The single most important ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people." - Theodore Roosevelt

“I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people.” - Mohandas Gandhi

“If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together.” - African proverb

Relationships are everything. Use the following links to discover your how to improve or maintain these very important relationships.

Suggested reading

  • How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
  • Stop Pissing Me Off! What to Do When the People You Work with Drive You Crazy by Lynne Eisaguirre

Chapter 3 - Management Techniques and Theory

“Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.” - Stephen Covey

You cannot speak about management without speaking about leadership.  Each leader needs to find their own inspiration and the resources that speak to them.  We hope these can be useful to each of you on your journey towards leadership.

TED Talk

Conflict resolution

Leadership

SCARF 360

Suggested reading

  • Strength Based Leadership by Tom Rath
  • Fish!: A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results by Stephen Lundin and others
  • The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader by John C. Maxwell
  • The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player by John C. Maxwell
  • The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
  • Drive by Daniel H. Pink
  • Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
  • The Platinum Rule: Discover the Four Basic Business Personalities and How They Can Lead You to Success by Tony Alessandra and Michael J. O’Connor
  • Everything’s Workable; A Zen Approach to Conflict Resolution by Diane Musho Hamilton

Chapter 4 - Planning and Scheduling

“The ability to convert ideas to things is the secret to outward success.” - Henry Ward Beecher

We must plan before we do.  We all approach the planning process slightly differently however.  Here are some resources and examples of what various production managers’ use as they plan.

Downloadable Calendar Examples

Calendar websites

Viewable Resources (provided by Vinnie Feraudo from Seattle Opera)

Rights holders websites

Chapter 5 – Meetings

“Confidence imparts a wonderful inspiration on its possessor.” -  John Milton

A great meeting is yours for the taking!

Downloadable agenda templates (provided by Cary Gillett)

Chapter 6 - Money and Budget

“The Leader has to be practical and a realist, yet must talk the language of the visionary and the idealist.”- Eric Hoffer

Every production manager approaches the budgeting process differently.  We are grateful that a few of them have shared their forms and templates for the greater good.

Viewable Budget examples

Downloadable Budget Planning (provided by Glenn Plott of the Cincinnati Opera)

Downloadable Budget Tracking (provided by Ryan Knapp of the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center)

Downloadable Petty Cash Form (provided by Cary Gillett)

Chapter 7 - Hiring and Casting

“Leadership appears to be the art of getting others to want to do something you are convinced should be done.” - Vance Packard

Hiring and casting the right people can offend provide success to the project.  Here are some resources to help you along this journey.  Though different for all organizations, many of the tools here are applicable in many ways.

Viewable Hiring resources

Viewable Contract/Rider examples

Downloadable Casting documents

Labor Law websites

Entertainment Union websites

Chapter 8 - Safety

"One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency." - Arnold H. Glasow

We all need to be safe, all of the time. Discover how to keep yourself and your company safe by looking at the following resources.

Secretary of Labor – Thomas E. Perez speech

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) resources

Red Cross – First Aid/CPR certification information