It takes ego to direct, and the same ego has to admit it does not know everything.

principle — attributed to Jason Alexander

The default failure mode in theater is the director assuming the cast already knows and is committed to the director's vision. Alexander rejects the assumption. Casting someone means you have read their resume, not that you know their ultimate ability, their strengths, their weaknesses, or their reading of the piece. The same ego that lets a director say I can do this has to be the ego that says but I don't know everything yet. Time spent asking each performer what brought them to the project, what they expect, and what they fear is not throat-clearing. It is the work itself.

For directors, project leads, and any role where authority is given on the basis of vision. The discipline is hardest to maintain for experienced directors who have done many shows.

humility, leadership, ego-management, creative-direction