Big swings and blind spots
"I've always known I wanted to direct. Always. So it was about facing the fear of doing it."
Bradley Cooper
On any leadership journey, we're either winning… or we're learning.
And if there's a lesson to take away from an experience, there's a good chance that growth is already taking place. That's a win in and of itself!
Well, 'finding wins amongst the struggle' sounds great in theory. But it's much harder in practice, right?
You're not alone there.
As leaders we all have insecurities, and to keep these fears at bay we sometimes create unconscious barriers for ourselves. These barriers mean well, but they tend to make our leadership experience harder. For this reason, working with our blind spots is a game-changer on the path to becoming a great leader.
This process reminds us of Bradley Cooper's journey to co-write, direct and star in the Oscar-nominated film Maestro. This project was many years in the making, and like any biopic, was riddled with exciting but daunting challenges. Especially when it came to taking on an iconic, real-world figure like composer-conductor Leonard Bernstein.
In a post-screening Q&A, co-star Carey Mulligan reflects that as a director, Bradley Cooper's vulnerability set the tone for the whole project.
"He was dressing up every day as Leonard Bernstein and talking to people all day as Leonard Bernstein - including the London Symphony Orchestra. I mean, it was SO audacious!" she shared.
"But he was so brave, and everyone else was like 'Oh okay, we'll be brave too.' It turned into this amazing thing where no one was scared of making a fool of themselves. He was, out of everyone, taking the biggest swing."
"The first day [of filming this scene] was terrifying," Bradley recalls. "It was horrendous because I kept messing up… It was all really done out of fear. I would forget where I was, I was self-conscious. I went to bed that night, and it was the first day of the whole movie that I really felt like I had failed."
The next day, he decided to try again, this time opting for an uninterrupted crane shot. After all, he'd been practising for six years for this scene.
"I stopped worrying about getting it wrong and allowed myself to really communicate with the orchestra. All I was trying to do was receive and provoke this Mahler composition from them, through me, and for us to celebrate in that Cathedral."
It's this incredible moment that made it into the final film—not because it was flawless, but because the connection between orchestra and conductor was there, at last. A testament to Bradley's decision to face his leadership fears with courage, vulnerability, humility, and collaboration.
So, here's to embracing those big swing moments, knowing that leadership gives us the opportunity to make a choice: stay comfortable, or lean forward with a little curiosity and courage… Then see (and learn from) what happens next!
Remember, a big swing is going to look different from day-to-day. It certainly doesn't have to be about conducting orchestras or pulling off a Tom Cruise-inspired stunt.
Today, stepping up might simply look like leading a team for the first time, sharing something you've made, or having a crucial conversation.
It all counts towards building confidence, courage and greater self-awareness in your leadership journey.
Ready for more?
Our Becoming a Leader program helps you to explore your blind spots and sweet spots, to define your purpose and values, and learn practical tools to help others realise their potential.
After all, leadership isn't a title. It's a mindset. One that allows you to cut ties with fear, ego, and the relentless pull of imposter syndrome.
Jump straight into Becoming a Leader - our latest program designed to meet you exactly where you are in your leadership journey👇