johnmdemarco posted on December 21, 2011 09:53
The King’s Speech swept the Academy Awards this past spring, with its spoils including the Oscar for Best Picture. The movie depicts the ascension of King George VI to the throne of England after his father’s death and his brother’s abdication. The new king suffers from a terrible stammer—a big obstacle for any king!
His Majesty’s wife, the young Queen Elizabeth, tracks down a non-credential speech therapist named Lionel to work with her husband and help him overcome the speech impediment. George has tried many other therapists already—unsuccessfully—and resists Lionel strongly…at first.
Lionel has to creatively assess the situation to find the best approach that will help George trust him and build confidence. After much trial and error, he finally achieves a breakthrough moment. Lionel has George read a book out loud while listening to blaring, classical music on headphones. He records the King’s voice, and then plays it back for him—and George is astonished at how well he sounds.
Based on Lionel’s patient, determined efforts to assess the best way to help his client, a true collaboration begins—and he and George begin to execute small victories together. Before long, at the film’s finale, George delivers a powerful BBC speech announcing Britain’s entry into the war against Nazi Germany. Lionel coaches him in the background with Beethoven’s 7th Symphony. The long term result? Great Britain’s crucial participation in victory over the Axis Powers.
Lionel assessed the situation, collaborated with his client King George, and then executed the plans they developed together—and helped bring about a different result. These three overall actions—assess, collaborate and execute—are not limited to the plot of The King’s Speech. Rather, this is an intentional process that can be observed in all successful endeavors and relationships. And it’s one that should be utilized by any coach!
Furthermore, these actions are in and of themselves overall skill sets—and not sets in a vacuum, but ones that synergize together. They can and must be embraced by anyone who wants more consistent success and personal satisfaction. (The best life is having both: success and satisfaction!)