The Brew
Issue No. 44 - December/January 2008
Backstage stars let the show go on
by Dr David Corkindale and Dr David Corkindale
Iconic actor Michael Caine tells an anecdote: his acting coach once told him rehearsals were the performance; filming or being on stage was the relaxation after the performance.
That is how it is with business.
Rehearsals are where all the work gets done to ensure a relaxed ‘opening night’ and season. Tepid rehearsals, tepid results.
With this in mind, I believe we can split business in two: Backstage and Front of House. They have distinct disciplines that, when combined, produce magic – showtime!
Backstage
Backstage is the engine room of your business. It
requires you to get serious about your upcoming
performance. Here are some things it entails:
Business Plan: Think of it as your script, a map giving
you direction as to the various scenes, the content of each scene, the role you play, other actors and bit players. It clearly outlines your story and step by step you move towards the finale.
Policies, Procedures and Promises: The stuff you and all the players have to know. Your rates of pay, your entitlements, OH&S standards and the way you are to relate to your audience.
Legislative Requirements: You must understand any legislative requirements, laws or rules you must abide by.
These should be listed, summarised and put into action as lack of knowledge is not considered a defence.
Technology: A necessity in today’s business world. It lessens the load and is a tool that saves you time and money. Use technology to your benefit. Don’t become a slave to it. Whether it’s telephones, computers, PDAs, POS systems, accounting software or any other type of technology, you need it. And you need to know how to use ALL of it. No point having brilliant technology if you don’t know how to use it.
Skills: Whether they are negotiation skills, communication skills, marketing know-how, sales skills, technical skills, accounting, visual merchandising - if you need them, make s...
