Practical Wisdom for Leaders with Scott J. Allen, Ph.D. Listening Without Agenda with Andrew McMasters
Nov 26, 2025
Andrew McMasters, an actor, director, and leadership consultant, shares his unique insights into blending performance with business strategy. He emphasizes how actors' tools like body language can transform leadership communication. Through the 'yes and' principle from improv, he advocates for letting go of agendas to foster collaboration and creativity. McMasters also discusses the importance of practical exercises for leaders to enhance listening and engagement, demonstrating how small changes can lead to significant shifts in team dynamics.
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Body Is A Leadership Tool
- Acting skills directly translate to leadership presence and communication.
- Andrew McMasters argues leaders forget the body is a tool for clear message delivery.
Use 'Yes, And' To Build Together
- Use 'yes, and' to accept input and build collaboratively rather than defend an agenda.
- Practice stepping off script to turn questions into joint creation, not shutdowns.
Separate Ideation And Decision Phases
- Separate divergent (possibility) and convergent (decide) thinking in meetings.
- First explore ideas broadly, then analyze and agree on concrete action steps.
