Class: The Theater Metaphor
Class 1.0 in How to (Get People to) Show Up
Note: This is the second in our “course” / series on How to (Get People to) Show Up. The introductory post is here.
Course Introduction
In this course, we’re digging into what it really means to be present and engaged—in our work, in our relationships, and in our own lives. Using real-world examples, group talks, and hands-on activities, we'll explore how to make any space feel alive and urgent, just like a packed room. Whether you're a boss, a friend, or just trying to be more present for yourself, we'll provide practical tips to help you connect more deeply with others and avoid feeling burned out. Get ready to learn the secrets of showing up in a way that enriches your life and those around you.
Here’s what's in the playbook overall:
Mastering the art of 'faithful showing up'
Being a more empathetic boss, colleague, or family member
Meeting new challenges with zest, not stress
Decision-making without the emotional bankruptcy
Building top-notch client relations
Rediscovering the lost art of being human
Finding your voice and why to use it
Cementing relationships built on authentic bricks
Leading your team with a vision that pops
Becoming your organization's change-maker
Mustering courage from the depths
Showing up for yourself
Two acts in this playbook: Act One is about you showing up for others (yes, including yourself). Act Two: Making others want to join your party. Spoiler: They’re not exactly the same, even if I mischievously suggest so.
Playing Our Roles
Mastering the Art of Showing Up in Life's Many Stages
Look, we all juggle roles like a circus act—whether you're CEO of a startup or a stay-at-home parent running a household like a Fortune 500. As a theater guy, I get the beauty and chaos of playing multiple parts in life's grand show.
What does “showing up” mean? No rocket science, but the way you engage makes it transformative. It’s not just about hiring a marketing guru or nailing the perfect team meeting. I'll say this: I've been in the show-up game for a while, and I'm still learning. It’s an eternal work-in-progress.
Peel away the layers, and you'll find that showing up revolves around a unique currency—an economy of emotional and relational exchanges. Your stock rises and falls based on how much you invest in this 'people economy.'
In the theater of life, you are both spectator and actor. Showing up changes from grandma's dinner table to Friday nights at the club. It's a dynamic, shared experience—a relational economy that transcends dollar bills and brick mansions.
Whether you're an activist rallying for change or a coach inspiring a team, your shared values are the lifeblood of this economy. It could be a common cause, or the sheer joy of singing in a community choir. It's all an investment in shared human values.
So let's dive deep into this vibrant, complex economy of showing up, where the only ticket you need is your willingness to participate. Shall we?
Key Background: The Theater Metaphor
I’m a theater guy. I’ve mentioned theater a lot and will continue to refer back to it because it’s what I know. But in order for you to get what I’m talking about, we need some common language. When I’m talking about theater in this course, I’m talking about it in the largest, most universal sense possible.
Theater is more than a stage and curtains; it's the universal experience of being seen and seeing others. This dynamic isn't confined to playhouses; it unfolds in NFL stadiums, doctor's offices, grocery store lines, classrooms, and even on social media. Whenever we feel observed, we don a particular “role” and perform with heightened awareness. This sense of audience stirs something within us—a buzz, an urgency to fully “show up.” This is what theater, in its broadest sense, is all about. For a deeper dive, consider Dr. Paul Woodruff's book, The Necessity of Theater (affiliate link), which explores this intrinsic human experience.
Key Insight
The Theater Paradigm: Life itself is a theater where we're all performing and being observed.
Discussion Questions
Share your thoughts in the comments (or on social media, if you find this there).
1. How does the notion of life as theater change your perception of showing up?
2. Can you recall a situation where you felt like a performer and an observer simultaneously? What was it like?
Practical Stuff for Showing Up
Examples
In every stage of life, we wear different hats, or play different roles, and the essence of our performance lies in how well we show up for each one.
1. Arts Organizations: As an artistic director or a stage manager, your role is to manifest a vision and coordinate a symphony of talents. The quality of the final performance reflects your level of engagement and presence.
2. Corporations: Whether you're the CEO or an intern, your role is built upon the foundation of responsibility and foresight. Your true impact is measured not just by hitting targets, but by how authentically you show up in meetings, negotiations, and day-to-day operations.
3. Teams and Management: In team sports or in the boardroom, your role is a blend of leadership and collaboration. You must show up both physically and emotionally, setting the tone for the group's collective success or failure.
4. Churches: As a congregant or a clergy member, showing up means more than just physical attendance. It means being an active member of your spiritual community, contributing to a collective sense of purpose and belonging.
5. Sports: Whether you're a coach, player, or a supportive parent in the stands, showing up fully means contributing your skills, encouragement, and enthusiasm in a way that enriches the game for everyone.
6. Family: As a parent, spouse, or sibling, your role demands the highest form of showing up—providing emotional support, love, and creating a nurturing environment.
7. Personal Life: In friendships and romantic relationships, showing up means being present, both physically and emotionally, to support the growth of the relationship and the individual.
8. Educational Settings: For teachers and students alike, showing up isn't just about attendance. It's about engagement, the will to learn, and the commitment to elevate both oneself and others.
In each of these roles, our level of commitment defines our experience. If we show up half-heartedly, we can expect the same in return. But when we bring our full selves into our roles, we not only enrich our own lives but also contribute meaningfully to the lives of others.
Applications
At-Home Activity: Role Play Your Way Through Life
Objective:
To explore the roles you play in life and how to "show up" better in each.
Materials Needed:
Notebook
Pen
Steps:
1. List Your Roles: Write down the roles you hold (e.g., parent, employee, team member).
2. Character Traits: Beside each role, jot down essential qualities for performing well.
3. Monologue Time: Briefly stand and embody* each role, using your listed qualities as a guide. *Embody, for our purposes here, just means “act like” — really feel what it means to inhabit that role at its fullest and best quality: imagination in action.
4. Rate and Reflect: Rate how well you're "showing up" in each role (1-10). Write one action step for improvement per role.
5. Discuss: Share your thoughts with someone you trust.
Takeaway:
Understanding your roles and actively choosing to be present can turn everyday scenes into memorable experiences. This simple activity aims to help you "show up" more authentically in your various life roles.
Group Activity: Show Up and Shine
Objective:
To practice showing up authentically and with presence in a social setting.
Materials Needed:
Small cards or pieces of paper
Pens
A hat or bowl
Steps:
1. Role Cards: Each person writes down one role they play in life (e.g., coach, friend, team member) on a card and places it in the hat.
2. Random Draw: Each person draws a card from the hat, making sure not to get their own.
3. Group Circle: Form a circle. One by one, each person takes a turn to enact the role on their card, mimicking how they think that role should "show up."
4. Feedback Loop: After each performance, the group gives constructive feedback on how authentically and fully the person seemed to show up in that role.
5. Reflect and Share: Once everyone has had a turn, discuss the challenges and discoveries experienced. What made it hard or easy to show up in the role you drew?
Takeaway:
The act of embodying different roles among peers illuminates the energy and presence required to fully engage in various aspects of life. By understanding the complexities of showing up for others, you'll gain insights into how to be present in your own roles.
Wrap-Up
As we draw this curtain closed, consider this your standing invitation to a journey of transformation. Your roles in life are stages, and how you show up on them shapes not just your performance, but the entire production of your existence. We urge you to add your voice to the chorus by commenting here or joining the conversation on Facebook by searching for Controlled Burn Sparks Community, or on Instagram at controlledburnthebook. Feel welcomed, always, in this inclusive space we're cultivating together—a theater of ideas, struggles, and triumphs. So if today's act resonated with you, why keep it to yourself? Share this post with your network using the buttons below and let's grow this ensemble of awakened lives, one authentic role at a time.