Bold Purpose

Here’s a book recommendation: The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker.

I’m sad that my copy is stuck in the city I left a few months ago. It contains so many well-articulated arguments for giving a clearer purpose to any type of gathering we host. The lessons in the book are particularly important now, when we are gathering in such different ways.

If you have the time, listen to Priya Parker’s recent interview with Brené Brown. She offers wonderful tidbits of advice on how to have effective and meaningful meetings at this time of Zoom.

Here’s my biggest takeaway: Consider what you can personally offer and be bold with your intention.

Theatre makers don’t need to step back right now because theatre “has” to be live. It’s silly to think that we can’t put our creativity to use simply because we can’t gather in rooms in the same way. As a theatre artist, what are you good at? The answer is likely much more complex than creating live theatre for people to watch on a stage. You may be exceptionally good at shaping experiences, pointing people toward a universal truth, or creating a sense of belonging — even if only for a brief moment in time.

Thinking about the real purpose of our gatherings, and reminding ourselves what we’re good at, can help us be innovative in our approach to getting people together. Whether it’s a work meeting or a live performance over Zoom, the experience is what matters.

Get in touch with your innate talents. Let your imagination run wild with all the possibilities each of us still have at our disposal.