Stepping up during the pandemic
Dancing is more than a passion to me. It's something which defines me. I have been dancing for decades and continue to learn after a long break. But a question always stayed on my mind. Reality is I cannot be a performer at this stage, in the highly competitive space. But then how can I still be connected to this world.
This is where the whole pandemic helped me clear my thoughts and begin a new experience. Pandemic meant a whole lot of online activity, which I had the means to handle very well. Which meant, I should step-up to the new opportunities presented before me here.
Firstly, with the encouragement of my Guru, I started writing reviews/reports of dance events. Writing reviews/reports of events related to art and artists is not like writing 'MY blog'. My biggest learning!! It's not my thoughts I am penning down, but the artist's. Hence its important to really understand the thought process of the artist. And this process itself builds so much empathy in us. The discussions with my very experienced Guru related to the events, gave more and more in depth understanding of the art, artist, community as a whole.
It was not just a deeply enriching experience, but also a new skill learnt. A skill that can stay with me for long, and keep me connected to the art world. And I continue to write regularly.
Secondly, online performances recording come with their own need of right conceptualization, video quality, content aesthetics, lighting, decoration of our temporary home stages, editing to make it presentable. On-stage to On-line is a different world altogether. Making such videos for the few online events also meant enhancing a different skill set altogether 😊 Videography!! Editing!! Stage preparation!!
Third and most important, interacting with artistes around, has made me wonder how the world of art and artistes can be connected further in the "social media" world today to help develop further. Hoping the ideas here will take off one day.
Stepping up is an "Attitude", not a "Task"
Build in attitude of stepping up: To build a growth mindset, it's also important to build an attitude of stepping-up when situation demands. Situations may be externally induced, or your own self-motivated. Stepping-up is not you do once and twice. You need to have a mind constantly ready to step-up, without hesitation. You step-up because you see there is a new challenge that interests you. You step-up when you believe you can make a difference by taking up the challenge. You step-up because you see the people around you need someone to pull them ahead, guide them, help them shine. You step-up because it would help to break a wall in your mind. You step-up as it gives you an opportunity to learn something new. You step-up without self expectations of accolades or fear of failure, but for the need of the hour.
You not only step-up to the opportunities presented to you or to the opportunities present around you; you also step-up by creating opportunities for yourself and others.
But, you dont step-up just because something will benefit you. Then we go back to the discussion of actions with benefits vs. actions with impacts. And this is when stepping up becomes a task, from which some benefit is expected. In case of failure, there will always then be a fear of stepping-up, making it really a one time task.
Stand Out: When you step-up, make sure to stand out. And by stand out, here I mean being courageous to be different, try out-of-box options, do something that others would fear to do, to add that sparkle that is "you" into the process. This is not something that can happen over night. You need to work hard, strategize, plan for the same.
As a leader, you need to be dependable and upbeat about what you have chosen to do. You need to take your people, your team, together with you. Prepare them for the challenges, work closely, understand and motivate them, help them build on ideas together.
Skill-up to step-up: In a corporate world, also remember that if you are not prepared yourself for stepping up, you will have more challenges or even failures to face. Preparation could be upskilling yourself constantly to the changing technologies or concepts. Preparing yourself with soft skills, or leadership skills, working with mentors. Preparing your network around that can support you in the new role. Preparing a team whom you can trust on to deliver on the new challenges you will work together with.
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