Wonderful Career Advice from Tina Fey (aka “Bossypants”)
7 Career Lessons from Tina Fey’s ‘Bossypants’
By Anthony Balderrama –July 28, 2011 Copyright 2011 CareerBuilder, LLC – Reprinted with permission. http://www.careerbuilder.com
Celebrities don’t always make the best role models. For every Bono and Oprah Winfrey there is a real housewife of [choose your city] screaming at her supposed friend in a busy restaurant. Celebrities don’t always make the best authors either. Just because someone can sing or act doesn’t mean they’re capable of writing a stellar autobiography either. It doesn’t even mean they have an interesting story to tell.
Fortunately that’s not the case with Tina Fey’s half-autobiography/half-musings “Bossypants.” In one chapter she explains how the fundamentals of improvisational comedy are great guidelines for everyday life. Later, when she recounts some of the hurdles she has faced as a woman in comedy and as the head writer on a historic TV show, her struggles sound remarkably like those of many non-famous workers. After I was done being upset that this fun, leisure reading had been interrupted by unintentional learning, I realized that Fey’s lessons reached beyond the confines of improv.
In case you don’t get the chance to read “Bossypants” or you’re currently too busy rereading the “Harry Potter” series in preparation of the final film, here are seven lessons every worker can learn from Tina Fey:
1. Agree and say yes
Fey explains that the first rule of improv is to always agree with your scene partner. Whatever scenario your acting partner has set up is the one you have to follow because otherwise you end up with two people onstage bickering, and then nobody laughs. Being agreeable is, of course, not the easiest thing to do and not the appropriate reaction in every scenario. However, it is a good jumping off point.
“[The] Rule of Agreement reminds you to ‘respect what your partner has created’ and to at least start from an open-minded place,” Fey explains. “Start with a yes and see where that takes you.”
You’re going to strongly dislike many people you work with or for. You’re probably also going to think your ideas are always better than everyone else’s. Even if you’re right, give other people a chance before automatically dismissing them or their ideas.
2. Yes, and…
In scene with your improv partner, you aren’t just agreeing with them, you’re also helping them move the story along. Therefore the best response to give is actually, “Yes, and…” The reason is that a simple “yes” is neither helpful nor entertaining. Journalists avoid simple yes or no questions if they want their interviews to be exciting and conversational.
“To me, ‘Yes, and’ means don’t be afraid to contribute,” she writes. “It’s your responsibility to contribute. Almost make sure you’re adding something to the discussion.”
Good bosses don’t just promote nice workers; they promote employees who are ready for the next level. Clocking in and clocking out every day and doing the bare minimum means you’re doing your job, but no one is going to take notice. If you offer your own ideas and contribute to the conversation in some way, you help move the organization along and leave your mark.
3. Think of solutions, not questions
In improv, you don’t want to riddle your scene partner with questions. If your partner presents you with a scenario, then say, “Yes, and…” followed by an assertion. In “Bossypants,” Fey explains that asking question after question makes your scene partner has to think of all these responses alone. No one likes that much pressure.
The adage “Don’t bring me problems; bring me solutions” holds true here. You’re in a situation at work and you know there’s an issue that needs attention, don’t run to the boss saying, “This project is going to fail and we’re going to lose millions of dollars.” Think about how you can fix the problem first and then bring up the problem. Telling your boss, “This project has some serious setbacks, but here’s what we can do to fix it,” is a much better way to do business (and keep your job).
4. Make statements
Fey notes that woman, in particular, should speak assertively and not with self-doubt. Women in the workplace still face men ready to disregard their contribution, unfortunately, but her advice is good for anyone who is hesitant to speak up.
“Speak in statements instead of apologetic questions,” she writes. “Make statements, with your actions and your voice.” As she explains, no one wants to hear their doctor say, “I’m going to be your surgeon? I’m here to talk to you about your procedure?”
5. There are no mistakes, only opportunities
This lesson sounds like one of those atrocious affirmations people tell themselves every morning while looking in the mirror, but it has merit. If you’re improvising and think you’re acting out one thing but everyone perceives it differently, you can’t stop and tell them they’re wrong. Their perception is now the scene you’re acting in and it’s your responsibility to go with it.
“In improv there are no mistakes, only beautiful happy accidents,” Fey writes.
In the workplace there are accidents. Horrible, terrible, someone-make-it-stop accidents. We’ve all been there. However, there is no Ctrl+Z button to undo these mistakes. Once a mistake happens, it happens, and whining about wanting a do-over doesn’t change anything. It’s now your responsibility to make whatever mess you’re in work.
6. You’re going to fail sometimes
Fey says that Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels often told her, “The show doesn’t go on because it’s ready; it goes on because it’s 11:30.” His point was that the show is live and will be on the air at 11:30, whether or not you think everything is perfect. That’s why sometimes some terrible sketches make it on the air. The writers and actors didn’t have time to perfect each line.
“You can’t be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, over thinking it. You have to go down the chute. (And I’m from a generation where a lot of people died on waterslides, so this was an important lesson for me to learn),” writes Fey. “[What you write] will never be perfect, but perfect is overrated. Perfect is boring on live TV.”
If you’re too afraid to make a mistake, you’ll never get anything done, which means you’ll never have any successes either. Sometimes the misfires happen and, although you’re upset, your life isn’t ruined. Make sure the successes outnumber the failures and you’ll be fine.
7. Be smarter than your critics
Fey points out the many critics who have declared that women aren’t funny. Surprisingly, her attitude is that she doesn’t care what they or any critics think. Unless the critic is your boss, their negativity isn’t worth your time. If they are your boss, obviously you need to deal with their criticisms of you, whether that means discussing it with them or with someone who can help. But if they’re not, think twice before focusing on their negativity.
“So my unsolicited advice to women in the workplace is this. When faced with sexism or ageism or lookism … ask yourself the following question: ‘Is this person in between me and what I want to do?’ If the answer is no, ignore it and move on. Your energy is better used doing your work and outpacing people that way. Then, when you’re in charge, don’t hire the people who were jerky to you.”
Ultimately that’s good advice for all workers: Know the difference between someone who can hold you back and someone who is just distracting you from reaching your goals.
Copyright 2011 CareerBuilder.com. All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without prior written authority.
CareerWise™products are based on the premise that opening kids’ eyes to all the fascinating jobs there are in the world is the first step to motivating them to stay in school so they can grow up and get a job someday. Visit www.GetCareerWise.com for our award-winning workbook –with Free Teaching Guide- and www.GetCareerWise.com/blog4 for more articles. (Reprints are ok, but please acknowledge us.) We will be launching a wonderful new product later this month, so stay tuned!
Career Quiz for Kids: What is stereoscopy?
I’ll give you a hint.
Did you like ‘Avatar’ or ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’? Weren’t they cool in 3-D?
Then look into stereoscopy as a career option. What a hot technology to master!
Where and how it is used is pretty interesting. And the best part is, there are zillions of ways it can evolve to enhance how we view things in all sorts of industries and mediums. It’s a field waiting to explode with opportunity!
If the future of stereoscopy excites the likes of Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and James Cameron, I think other creative spirits should take a multi-dimensional look at it too!
It would be very careerwise.
CareerWise™ products are based on the premise that opening kids’ eyes to all the fascinating jobs there are in the world is the first step to motivating them to stay in school so they can grow up and get a job someday. Visit www.GetCareerWise.com for our award-winning workbook –with Free Teaching Guide- and www.GetCareerWise.com/blog4 for more articles. (Reprints are ok, but please acknowledge us.) We will be launching a wonderful new product later this month, so stay tuned!
Career Quiz for Kids: What professionals are involved in the financial crisis?
Ok, you can read a little tongue-in-cheek attitude into the timing of this question.
It sure seems like there are a lot of different ‘experts’ involved in what’s going on in the financial world, doesn’t it?
Everyone is weighing in with opinions and predictions about how to solve our fiscal problems. (Bonus points if you know what ‘fiscal’ means!)
I know kids don’t miss a thing, so let’s put all this up-and-down news to good use.
How many job titles can you list that are associated with the financial decisions, activities and communications that are surrounding us all right now?
I’ll get you started:
- President
- Congressman/Congresswoman
- Senators
- Secretary of the Treasury
- Business News Analyst
- Statistician
- Financial Planners
- Roller Coaster Ride Operator (keep your sense of humor!)
I think you will end up with a long list -there are a lot of very interesting jobs involved in analyzing, facilitating, planning, fixing and reporting activities in this huge vital arena.
Next, think about what new jobs, products or services could be created to avoid these kinds of problems or make the handling of them more efficient in the future.
Any ideas?
Now, you’re really getting careerwise!
CareerWise is the proud publisher of the award winning Grow Up. Get a Job™. Career Exploration workbook. (with Free Teaching Guide). Stay tuned for another creative career exploration & preparation resource coming soon! www.GetCareerWise.com
Career Quiz for Kids: What are the 16 career clusters?
First off, what is a career cluster? In the world of career exploration, they are good to know. So find out what they are by visiting the U.S. Departments of Education or the U.S. Department of Labor web sites to find out.
Next, read through the 16 clusters carefully. Did you ever think about jobs being categorized like that? It’s interesting, isn’t it?
Do any career clusters interest you more than others?
Are you curious about what jobs are possible in each cluster?
Are you feeling like a detective on the trail of some very interesting information that could affect your educational and career choices?
Yes? Then congratulations! You are becoming careerwise!
To find out about our creative, highly relevant and award-winning workbook filled with career exploration activities, information and exercises, visit www.GetCareerWise.com. It comes with a free teaching guide. 
And stay tuned: we have a fabulous new product launching this month that you are going to love!
Career Quiz for Kids: Did you ‘Boogie Oogie Oogie’ this weekend?
Ok, so I remember when the song was originally released by the group A Taste of Honey back in 1978. Let’s pretend I was just a toddler…
Anyway, it’s popular again and was very appropriate for the second annual National Dance Day, celebrated this past Saturday. For good reason. It really is hard to sit still while listening to it!
National Dance Day was kind of a light and upbeat diversion from some of the less than light-hearted news that was everywhere else. Lively events were coordinated in different cities across the country for people of all ages.
It made me think about how smart it was of Nigel Lythgoe, the executive producer and judge of the TV show, “So You Think You Can Dance,’ to create this event and get the backing of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. She is a long-time proponent of healthy living and introduced a National Dance Day resolution to promote dance education and physical fitness across the U.S.
Their site says: National Dance Day is an annual event and grassroots initiative to encourage the nation, young and old, to move!
Ok, so it promotes the TV show in a big way. But the show is popular because people appreciate talent, dancing and entertainment, so what’s wrong with that? I say instead of worrying about overdone commercialism, we get mov’n and get careerwise!
What jobs are related to the National Dance Day events, promotions and TV show?
Here’s a start. How many jobs can you add?
- Entrepreneur (Nigel Lythgoe, definitely!)
- Dance Educator
- Congresswoman
- Costume Designer
- Event Planner
After you’ve completed your list and marked the ones that you’d like to look into further, go out and boogie, oogie, oogie. It’s good for you– every day!
For more creative kids-to-careers exploration ideas, visit www.GetCareerWise.com. For more articles, visit www.GetCareerWise.com/blog4 . Blog articles may be reprinted, with proper acknowledgement please.
