Tom Hanks' Best Advice

Adapt What He Learned in Summerstock for L&D

We needed ways to enhance the value of my clients' new leadership learning journey. We discussed what other program participants have done to demonstrate to their sponsors that they are working hard to get the most from their experience.

During our conversations, I recalled a well-known interview with actor Tom Hanks. He recounted the best advice he ever got from a director. As a young actor in a summer stock theater cast, the group was struggling through a poor rehearsal. The director was very frustrated. After berating them a bit, he explained that he cannot do their job for them. He said, "You need to be on time, know the text, and have an idea!" Tom said he thought about that a bit and decided, "Yeah, I can do that."

What does this mean for learners in a leader development program? The best participants follow Hanks' advice. Here's what I mean:

Be on time.

Engaging in a learning program is much more than just showing up. Get there a bit early. My daughter's soccer coach said, "On time is late!"

Beyond that, the best program participants make arrangements to be away from their jobs. They minimize distractions. They delegate some decisions to others. They close IMs and extra tabs. They permit themselves to let go. They are "present."

A VP client told me that her best assessment of an emerging leader is if they can take a day or two away without everything falling apart while they're gone.

Know the text.

Most leadership learning programs have preparation work, pre-reading, or expectations that are communicated beforehand. Participants need to get this done so they can maximize their in-class time. Further, the independent work helps participants focus on what they know and what they don't know regarding the learning content. Adults need to have a clear picture of what they have to learn.

Have an idea.

The best leader learning programs allow thinking time to assess the new content during the program. And if we do it well, participants will continue to think after the session has ended. For mult-event journeys, learners will compare the new material to what they've already learned. Also, they are eager to try what they've learned on the job, in the next conversation, or at the next meeting. We can encourage this with action plans, nudges, and proactive coaching.

Tom Hanks is one of my favorite actors. His willingness to share what he's learned over his career is tremendously helpful to us. It's part of why he's so well-liked and his acting is so well-respected.

Learn more:

Watch Tom Hanks give this advice here:

Scott Young has written about the 10 Essential Strategies for Deeper Learning.

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