Performance Project

"Jersey Boys" Chicago Cast Member Goes Solo

2011-02-13T07:23:00.000-08:00

John Michael Coppola is another of the “Jersey Boys” alums who’s embarked on performing – but unlike UndertheStreetLamp and the Midtown Men, John Michael has developed a solo show. He’s also expanded the repertoire to a broader time frame that will certainly appeal to the majority of the “Jersey Boys” fan base.

“A Broadway Voice - Songs and Stories from Beyond the Footlights includes song selections that celebrate the journey of life, from the 40‘s through today’s hits. Backed by a 7 piece band (all “Jersey Boys” alum) this is bound to make a great evening of entertainment!”

There’s a nice preview video on John Michael’s website, www.johnmichaelcoppola.com. I’ve chatted with John Michael and he’s going to do a wide variety of material but it will include Frankie Valii and the Four Seasons songs. He’s also doing selections from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Robert Goulet.

John Michael understudied Frankie Valli in the Las Vegas and Chicago “Jersey Boys” cast. Although I’ve seen eight different performers play Frankie, I never got to see John Michael in the role. I did see him in the “Joey” role and the energy he shows in the preview clip is obviously that same energy that so many of the “Jersey Boys” cast members have shown.

His upcoming performances (details on the website) are all connected to fund raising for education or the arts:

February 25, 2011 – Arlington Heights, IL

February 27, 2011 – Evanston, IL

April – Carol Stream, IL

Special Note: I'm planning to have a more detailed post based on an interview with John Michael after the February 25th show.

Outstanding Research on Feedback

2010-07-14T06:09:00.000-07:00

Feedback is a critical factor in the Performance Project so this piece of information on the power of feedback is so valuable that it has to be shared as widely as possible. I just did a mental survey of how often this subject comes up in one of my most popular management certificate training program -- and it's a key theme in 75% of the classes ranging from focusing on stengths to communication skills to coaching skills...

I attended a webinar yesterday with an interesting piece of information on the power of feedback.

"Research clearly demonstrates that increasing the quantity and quality of communications about performance improves employee performance, satisfaction, and engagement.

Giving fair and accurate feedback increases performance 39.1%
Emphasizing performance strengths (we have a day on strengths-based...) increases performance 36.4%
Giving feedback that helps employees do a better job increaeses performance 25.8%
Translating long-term goals into step-by-step plans increases performance 16.7%
Clearly communicating expectations increases performance 16.2%

If you want effective management, performance effectiveness... managers should become highly skilled in the elements of effective performance feedback.

Behavior Change "Requires Practice"

2010-05-17T06:29:00.000-07:00

According to a May, 2010 article from Chief Learning Officer, there are a number of keys to make learning "sustainable." The article contains excellent points, including the importance of assessing and understanding the learning environment.

But the point that really stood out was the strong reference -- and a connection to so many other solid pieces of work -- to "deliberate practice." The authors note that "opportunities for application...need to be more significant than a couple of notes in an action plan at the end of a formal workshop or e-learning event."

Comment: I find this powerful from a number of perspectives -- particularly the awareness of how important "deliberate practice" is and one of our latest small projects, looking at the explosion of "complimentary" webinars that are out there. The latest and newest technologies are great -- everyone of them fascinates me. But I also keep looking at everyone of them through the eyes of real learning and behavior change.

The Superstar Effect

2010-04-13T17:57:00.000-07:00

In another item that is also posted for our special Performance Project (www.performance-project.com), a WSJ article (4/3/10), raised an interesting question about "The Superstar Effect." Using extensive data based on Tiger Woods in golf, but also referencing information from world class chess and SAT test scores, the article contends a superstar's presence actually "causes" the performance of other "competitors" to decline. Examining extensive data, there is a significant difference between the tournament performance of other golfers when Tiger Woods is simply "entered."

With the SAT study, it appeared that simply the presence of a larger group of test takers made a difference in performance.

Comment: This article fascinated me from a number of perspectives -- but primarily from the issue of how this insight might impact the performance of people in the workplace. So this is a question I now want to pursue: would the performance of colleagues be affected by the performance of a top performer? Interesting?

Athletes Dance Better...

2010-04-13T15:51:00.000-07:00

A recent story in the WSJ (3/31/10) examined why athletes have outperformed all other occupations on "Dancing with the Stars," including reality show contestants, supermodels, and politicians. The only group coming close is musicians, This is interesting because of one particular statement in the article: "For one thing, they're used to being coach and they respond to criticism better than, say, actors."

Comment: So the issue, from this perspective, is feedback -- a critical leadership/management issue. I'm wondering how we get feedback to the level of athletics (and acting) in the workplace. On a related note, the quote itself fascinates me because my many interviews with professional singers and performers tells me they're getting significant amounts of criticism (feedback).

Profiles Posted - Michael Ingersoll and Steven Goldsmith

2010-02-10T05:44:00.000-08:00

The complete "Profiles in Performance" on Michael Ingersoll and Steven Goldsmith, both from the recent three and a half year run of "Jersey Boys" in San Francisco and Chicago, are now posted at www.performance-project.com

Jersey Boys: Steven Goldsmith

2010-02-07T19:04:00.000-08:00

Steven Goldsmith just completed a three and a half year run playing Joe Pesci in the San Francisco and Chicago runs of "Jersey Boys." During the show, he actually plays 12 different parts -- and has performed the starring role of Frankie Valli numerous times. As such he's a perfect candidate for the Performance Project -- because of connections to several of our factors.

Steven was also the first member of the Chicago Jersey Boys cast that. very fortuitously, I was able to talk to about some of these connections. I just completed a "Profile in Performance" on Steven Goldsmith. It has great connections of "Performance with Precision," "Passion," and "Practice," plus a special connection on being able to step into a starring role when needed. I expect the full profile will be published on the http://www.performance-project.com/ site within the next few days.

Jersey Boys: Michael Ingersoll

2010-01-11T15:31:00.000-08:00

This won't be the last posting related to Michael Ingersoll (there are two full "Profiles in Performance" that are in final editing) -- but it will be unique because it comes as Michael completes a three year run of over 1250 performances in Jersey Boys. Michael clearly "starred" as Nick Massi with memorable lines that drew powerful ovations at least ten times in Sunday's (1/10/10) final performance in Chicago.

Asked for a memorable moment from the show, Michael stated that at the end of the show, he can see the individual faces of the audience: "All these different kinds of people who have come together to pay their money and play pretend and exercise their emotions. They're smiling or clapping or crying in the dark. That's the privilege of having been on this ride."

Comment: I really do envision a world where a leader or manager, at the end of a typical work day, view his or her employees in the same way. Employees who are being asked to invest their talent, their emotions -- and managers who view their responsibility for performing their jobs to the best of their talents and emotions as "a privilege."

Jimmie Johnson - NASCAR"s 4 Time Champion

2009-11-23T03:51:00.001-08:00

It would certainly be interesting to add Jimmie Johnson to the "Performance Project." From a standpoint of almost everyone of our factors, there is overwhelming evidence of Jimmie being an exemplary case of their accuracy. His passion, "performance with precision," etc. are clear.

But I noticed a special moment related to this success in one of the many pre-race interviews on Sunday (11/22/2009). It came in an interview with owner Rick Hendrick -- his phenomenal success appearing as his drivers finished 1-2-3 in the 2009 NASCAR championship. He was asked how he managed to lead such a successful organization. He responded: "I'm fortunate to be on the train with people who know how to do it."

Profile Coming Soon: Billy Gilman

2009-11-17T09:38:00.000-08:00

Yes, Billy Gilman, a superstar at age eleven, forced by nature to address his voice changing, selling more than five million copies of his recordings, turning 21 -- and performing with a combination of talent, passion, and energy that's undeniable "Performance Project" quality.

I interviewed Billy early this year -- on Friday night (11/13/2009), I was able to enjoy his live performance. Speaking to him briefly, we agreed to another in depth interview for the Performance Project.

There's a preview of the Profile in Performance on Billy Gilman. It's available at the Performance Project.

Passion: Frankie Valli -- Again!

2009-10-05T10:06:00.001-07:00

Frankie Valli and "Jersey Boys" have been key elements of this project. In fact, a quote from Frankie Valli, "You have to sing every day." is the quote on my business cards for the Performance Project. Frankie Valli exemplifies several of our "Performance Project" factors, but one of the outstanding factors is passion.

In an interview published in the Washington Post on October 4, 2009, Frankie was asked why he's still singing at 70+. His response says it all about "passion:" "Why would I not do this? I love it."

From Sports: The "Precision" Concept

2009-10-05T09:55:00.000-07:00

In the occasional example (for this project) from the sports side of "live" performance, I witnessed a very personal example of "performance with precision" on Sunday (10/4/09). It's much more a personal story than a professional project related story, in part because it addresses something that almost anyone that's a sports fan of some sort is familiar with. No matter what the sport, we're all familiar with the narrowest margins of victory (or defeat), whether it's time, distance, or... But again this one's personal -- and it makes the connection of how believe leaders and managers need to up their "performance with precision" on all the typical responsibilities of their interactions with the people they lead.

Yesterday, my youngest son, Daniel, placed 10th in his age class in Milwaukee's Lakefront Marathon with a time of 3:10:39. He beat his previous best, in this years Disney World Marathon, by 20 minutes. But more importantly his time qualifies him for the prestigious Boston Marathon -- by 17 seconds! In the world of "performance with precision" that is less than one second per mile of the marathon.

In our management roles, as leaders, are we aware of the difference that one degree, that one second, can make in communicating expectations clearly, in interviewing effectively, in coaching, in on-the-job training...

Presentation Preparation

2009-10-02T12:40:00.000-07:00

Jim Brady is a member of the multiple award winning Southern Gospel singing group, the Booth Brothers http://www.boothbrothers.com/. At this year's National Quartet Convention, he was honored with the Singing News "Baritone of the Year" award. He delivered a thoughtful, grateful, very personal thank you to the audience in one minute and 23 seconds.

I talked with Jim for a few minutes today (10/2/09) about his acceptance speech. I did this because it was clearly an impressive speech in such a short time and it fits into something that's not only part of this project, but something I've spend a lot time discussing with Jim Brady.

As part of this project, I've noticed the "Performance with Precision" factor, the precise nature with which outstanding performers on stage play a part or sing a song. I've noticed the extremely precise wording and pronunciation in a song. And as a result of this, I've called for leaders and managers to pay increased attention to the preparation and delivery of messages they present every day to colleagues, customers, and subordinates.

Jim Brady prepared for the possibility he would win this award. He knew what he wanted to say to open his remarks; he knew what he wanted to say to close his remarks. But "in the moment" he added a personal reference -- added smoothly to a message that was 1 minute and 23 seconds in length.

I've known several leaders and managers who were outstanding at delivering messages that were clear, and typically brief. I've known too many who wander through the wilderness of their minds hoping to get to a point. Preparation is possible, brevity is possible, clarity is essential to success.

Peter, Paul, and Mary - An Early Connection

2009-09-18T03:16:00.000-07:00

Probably no surprise that, in reflecting on Mary Traver's passing this week (9/16/09), that several connections to the Performance Project would emerge. There's a Peter, Paul and Mary story I've been telling for years that turns out to be a direct fit to one of the major factors identified for this project.

Decades ago, when Peter, Paul and Mary were in their "Reunion Tour" era, I spent a day at Milwaukee's Summerfest, with some dear friends who were also PP&M fans. About 2 o'clock in the afternoon, we heard the distinctive sounds of PP&M coming from the main stage area. Concluding correctly it was "sound check," we walked over hoping to catch a peek through the fence -- delighted to find that the gates were open and the a small group of maybe 25-40 people were sitting in the first rows watching.

During what I've now learned are the detailed mechanics of a "sound check," Peter began to talk with the "audience." Then, in what's become a powerful moment, he told the assembled small group, "We need to rehearse a song, is it OK with you guys?" Of course, we protested - right! Peter, Paul and Mary then did a full performance of "Puff, the Magic Dragon," one of their biggest hits.

My first reaction was "why are they rehearsing a song that they sing every night -- and have sung every night for years and years?" Then I realized: "that's why!" This is one of the most important songs in their performance. Practicing, making sure it's perfect, working on a "strength," these are exactly the things that the Performance Project are about. It appears that Peter, Paul and Mary, decades ago, provided a foundational moment for this project.

Mary Travers (Peter, Paul, and) Rest in Peace

2009-09-17T00:51:00.001-07:00

Mary Travers of Peter, Paul, and Mary passed away on Wednesday, September 16th. Peter, Paul, and Mary would be a major part of The Performance Project if not for Mary's poor health in recent years. In retrospect, and in Mary's honor, there will still be some observations and connections.

A wide variety of music shaped, continues to shape, and has always been a major part of my life. That is witnessed by my music collection -- and the connections on this project, ranging from Southern Gospel to 60's to the rock/classical.

But for many years, the folk music of Peter, Paul, and Mary dominated my interest, in part because of their extensive touring schedule. They would appear frequently in both Milwaukee and Chicago -- and I would be there. While I agreed with PP&M's political positions on many issues, I disagreed with many as well. But I loved their passion and I loved their music. One of their later songs, "The Kid," immediately became a song "for/about me."

Interesting, that "passion" became a critical element in this project. Today it is time to simply recognize Mary Travers for her amazing contribution to music and the world. At some point, lessons from years of concerts, albums that became CD's, and a wonderful opportunity to talk to Mary backstage in 2001 will connect to lessons in this project.

For now, Mary, know that you are indeed "safely home."

Practice, Practice: Chess, Backgammon, and Poker

2009-09-02T05:27:00.000-07:00

In Jonah Lehrer's very interesting "How We Decide," he describes the process by which Bill Robertie, a world-class expert in backgammon, chess, and poker. The focus is on Robertie's decision-making process in three very different games -- but the process described is revealing.

After immediately falling in love with backgammon, he bought a book, memorized a few opening moves, and then "started to play. And play. And play. 'You've got to get obsessed...You've got to reach the point where you're having dreams about the game.' After years of intense practice...

Robertie also stated "It's not the quantity of practice, it's the quality."

The Moody Blues

2009-08-09T02:10:00.000-07:00

I selected The Moody Blues as part of The Performance Project on Friday, August 7, 2009, in part because it was the third time in the last year and a half that I was able to see them in concert. I've created the "third time" guideline as a minimum for the project. The performance has to be "live." The first, and typically the second, time is going to be more from the perspective of a fan, the music, the performance from the sound and lights and... At a third performance, it becomes easier to notice our performance factors -- and the possible lessons for leadership and management.

Several of our performance factors popped to surface during this outstanding performance from The Moody Blues. And it was so much more than the spectacular music, the hits, the energy from such a successful rock and roll group that's been performing for over four decades. Two of the factors, precision and passion, stood out during the concert. While enjoying every minute, the connections to leadership and management kept occurring. In creating a profile about The Moody Blues, I decided to add some insights from a third factor, looking at how The Moody Blues functions as a team. The profile will be available at www.performance-project.com shortly.

Pitchers Can Hit if...

2009-07-26T05:47:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, 7/25/09, Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo not only pitched seven plus scoreless innings in Milwaukee's 4-0 victory, he singled in the fifth inning to score the first run of the game. The key comment from Gallardo: "It just shows going out (to batting practice) everyday early pays off. We take it seriously."

Comment: If you want to increase the likelihood of a "hit" with your next interview, or..., it's called practice, practice, practice!