There is general agreement that one of the best movies of this year is Frost/Nixon, the story of David Frost’s series of interviews with disgraced ex-president Richard Nixon. Because the end of this movie is no surprise it is safe to say that we can share with you one key moment in the film without ruining it for those of you who have yet to see it (which you should consider doing).
The first hours of the interviews had not gone that well for Frost. Nixon had handled them well and Frost had politely listened as Nixon rambled on killing time. But a turning point for Frost came in a late night phone call from Nixon. It becomes clear that Frost has been succeeding as a talk show host but failing as a journalist when Nixon says to him, “Only one of us can win.” It is in that moment that Frost recognizes that he has been working in one paradigm while Nixon has been working in another. That realization changes everything - including the outcome of that landmark interview series.
The lesson here is a reminder to all of us, that the lens we choose to interpret our lives and work determines the choices we see and the actions we choose. For David Frost, the confrontation with Nixon helped him to reframe his work from his role as “host” with Nixon as a “guest” where his role was to serve to make his guest comfortable. He instead found a more useful role as “inquisitor” with Nixon on trial. And because three fourths of the interviews had been completed when the change happened, he caught Nixon completely off guard, having also settled nicely into his role as “guest.” The results were historic.
What assumptions are you making about your work and the way you see your role? Do these not only serve to help you do some things but also inhibit your ability to do others? Would finding a coach or having meaningful input from a trusted colleague help you to redefine your role and get a fresh edge on the work you do? All of us benefit from time to time in having our world shaken up a bit and rethinking what we do, why we do it, and how we understand our work. Is it time for you to take another look at yourself?
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