BBC just put out two one hour shows called “Billy Connolly Made in Scotland” (link here for those in the UK).
Billy Connolly represents a line in the sand. Comedy in the UK was either before Billy or after Billy. He is, simply, the “Big Yin”.
Today sharing one particular lesson from his mastery that can be applied by leaders managing the energy of their people.
A few months ago I wrote a longer post called “Managing Energy – learning from comedians“, having just gone to watch another Scottish comedian, the brilliant Kevin Bridges. In that long post, I referenced a key tool I use in working with leaders that I call the “three tenets of leadership”, then share lessons from comedians on one of those three tenets, “Managing the Energy”.
Now, to the two-part documentary about Billy Connolly. One particular short clip leapt out at me around “Managing the Energy”. For those (again the link is UK only) who may wish to watch the clip in question, it is at 27’25” in part 2 here.
That clip is of another master comedian, Ross Noble, talking about Billy and his mastery:
“Stand up {comedy} as a medium, isn’t really regarded as an art form….and the reason for that.. is that when it is done really well, it is just the person standing on stage just talking…. he’s doing something which looks effortless…but actually if you were to break it down…there is so much going on there. to be able to hold a room, to read the energy”
Managing Energy is a key skill that experienced and skilled facilitators, much like comedians, are deeply versed in, often undertaking training and learning in widely varied areas to deepen their mastery. Oh, and yes, many facilitators do take on learning Improv and stand up comedy for this too!
So, when a top comedian like Ross Noble choose to reflect on Billy Connolly’s energy mastery, you know how highly he and other comedians think of “the Big Yin” in that area.
I encourage you to watch and listen to as much of Billy Connolly as you can on Youtube clips. Laugh you will, and also, do focus on how he works with the crowd, sending and working with them.
Now, in closing, Billy Connolly is 76 years old and has advanced Parkinson’s disease. The whole two hours of the BBC production was very moving, yet the last few minutes had me in tears. Billy Connolly has been a fixture my whole life, yet he feels his life slipping away, and yet he is almost irrepressibly positive.
From this article on his sense of mortality:
“My life, it’s slipping away and I can feel it and I should…I’m 75, I’m near the end. I’m a damn sight nearer the end than I am the beginning….But it doesn’t frighten me, it’s an adventure and it is quite interesting to see myself slipping away”
Thank you, Billy, another lesson in shifting energy through shifting perspective. Stick around a bit (heck, a lot) longer, will you please?