Acronym

I had the opportunity to see Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo performance in Washington, DC this week. As always, Cirque’s creative team has put together an incredible event that combines art, artistry, physical acts that look humanly impossible to pull off, and so much more. As I watched the performance I recalled Lyn Heward's, former president of creative content for Cirque, comments during the Monday opening session at ASAE & The Center’s Annual Meeting in Boston. In short, Lyn said that Cirque hires with the idea of total team in mind, not just the individual talents of the person or troupe auditioning.

With Lyn’s words in mind, here is what I saw during Corteo:

- everyone, and no one, was the star – simultaneously

- no job was too big or too small for anyone on the stage

- body language was the primary means of communication for each troupe, with eyes set firmly upon one another – yet, at the same time, their feet and hands were constantly moving, readjusting to ensure they were prepared for the next move

- small wins were celebrated by everyone

- risky moves, when flubbed, were always celebrated

How many of us work in – or work to create – an environment every day wherein we encourage everyone to fail –and celebrate the failure? Or where the staff and volunteers act in such outstanding concert with one another that only eye contact and subtle moves of the hands and feet are needed to perform amazing “acts?” How many of encourage others – or even ourselves – to take great risks, fail, celebrate, and try again? Imagine if we all worked in – or worked to create – just such organizations.

Something to think about.