Behind the Scenes: Why Leadership Development Matters in Entertainment Production

June 24, 2024

Written by TSHRC

Image by Nick Fewings | Via Unsplash 

The world of TV, film and theatre production has changed significantly in the last decade. Challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic have affected how theatres, independent production outfits and music management companies do business. Rapid technological changes have also altered the entertainment landscape.

Yet one thing hasn't changed: Strong leaders are crucial for the success of a production. After all, great leadership is the invisible string that knits everything together. Good leaders know how to manage budgets and meet tight deadlines. They know what to do when production demands and priorities change.

Understanding how to manage budgets, deadlines and priorities is crucial. But strong leadership in the entertainment space is about more than taking care of the business end of things. It's also about fostering a positive culture and setting the tone for a production or project. Great leaders know that they can only deliver an exceptional final product when they manage human capital successfully.

Of course, being a great leader isn't something you're born as. Even natural leaders take time to develop their skills and learn how to manage people. At The Small HR Company (TSHRC), we see the benefits of leadership training all the time—and we see the pitfalls of ignoring it. That's part of the reason we offer hero training programmes, which are designed to bolster essential skills.

As a leader in the film, TV, theatre and entertainment industry, it's essential that you set aside time for leadership development. Whether you freelance as a line producer or work as an established department head, knowing how to lead will impress the companies you work with now and open doors for future opportunities.

Why Leadership Development Is Vital in the Entertainment Industry

A lack of strong leadership doesn't just lead to disorder, missed deadlines or productions that go over budget. It can also lead to serious consequences for the producers, financiers and studios behind a project. Everyone in the entertainment industry has heard stories that go like this:

A production tanked before it could even get started because lead creatives couldn't agree on how to handle tasks.

A prominent actor quit a production and took other talent with them because they were being terrorised by a toxic director.

A new director abandoned a project because they couldn't navigate conflict and get the studio team to work together.

A studio was slapped with a lawsuit after internal leaders ignored repeated complaints about a rogue department head harassing their staff.

Great leadership skills and a sensitivity to HR needs can help prevent unnecessary legal and financial trouble. Leaders at all levels of the entertainment industry can mitigate risks and increase production value by building essential leadership skills.  For example, learning and practising the art of managing conflict prepares leaders at all levels to meet difficult situations head on.

Building Your Leadership Skills

Practice makes perfect is as true for leadership as it is for anything else. If you want to be a respected leader in your job role, you need to develop those skills today. One of the easiest ways to do so is by being observant.

Perhaps you've worked with an amazing managing director or team lead. Jot down what stood out about them. How do they interact with other stakeholders? How do they communicate with creative talent and freelancers? What do they do when challenges arise? Try modelling and perfecting the skills you admire whenever possible.

Remember that developing leadership skills takes time. Consider booking our resilience redefined programme to improve your ability to deal with adversity and forge ahead.

Assess Your Current Skills

Understanding the skills you already possess is a foundational step in developing yourself as a leader. You might have some idea of these already. For example, you may know that you are good at managing budgets and hiring contractors. You can identify other leadership skills that you possess—and skills you could stand to develop—by taking a short assessment online.

It can be intimidating to look at your shortcomings. Just remember that taking an honest inventory of yourself is the best way to identify a path to success. You'll be able to focus on developing skills you lack while strengthening those you already have. You can learn even more about your leadership abilities by taking a leadership styles inventory as well.

Take Advantage of Leadership Resources

There are a wealth of books, articles and blogs about leadership development. Your local library or bookshop likely has a section of books dedicated to personal improvement or business leadership. Choose titles that are of interest to you, or find a leadership podcast to follow. You can gain crucial insights from these resources.

It's also wise to take advantage of learning and development opportunities such as those offered by TSHRC. We offer a wide variety of training programmes ranging from specific session on effective conversations to training on how to be a coach.

Remember that leadership coaching and ongoing training aren't meant to solely benefit the organisation you work with today. When you take time for training, you make an investment in yourself and your future. Trainings that you've completed can be listed on your resume and LinkedIn profile.

Identify a Mentor

Asking an industry leader you admire to be your mentor is a wonderful way to further develop your own leadership skills. Approaching someone you've worked with about being a mentor might seem overwhelming. A simple way to do so is to say something like, "I've learned so much whilst working with you. I would love to ask you a few questions about your professional journey. Would it be possible to meet up for tea after the production has wrapped up?"

Leadership Development The Small HR Company Way

Image by Natalie Parham | Via Unsplash 

At TSHRC, we take a unique approach to leadership training. We believe that the learn-as-you-go method popular in much of the TV and film industry doesn't always lead to the best outcomes. That's why we're here to support you and your organisation. No matter the size of your production or your location, we can provide HR services, including training and leadership development, to help you ensure optimal outcomes.