What I'm Learning from Jimmy Fallon

I’m learning a lot from Jimmy Fallon these days. (@JimmyFallon)

As a communicator, I am always watching a wide variety of communicators, artists and talent. Recently, one comedian I have been learning so much from is Jimmy Fallon!

I love what he has done for the tonight show! He truly is a legend already, and he’s only 39! Amazing.

Here are 6 observations I’ve picked up from Jimmy Fallon:

1. Fully commit to character.

Jimmy commits. When he does a sketch or a skit, he’s all in! One of his current recurring sketches is called, “Ew!” where he’s a teenage girl hosting a talk show in her basement! He (she) even has braces! Jimmy Fallon is the master of fully committing to the role he’s playing. This is what makes him so unbelievably funny!

2. Stay hungry and teachable.

When you watch Jimmy Fallon interview a guest, you can tell he’s never lost his innocence. He is genuinely excited to meet them and ask them questions. He regularly will write things down that they’re saying. The guy has a genuine teachability about him that draws viewers in.

3. Don’t take yourself too seriously.

In the beginning days of my leadership journey, I had a wise mentor give me this advice. He said, “Don’t take yourself too seriously, because no one else is.” Jimmy Fallon knows himself and his audience well enough to know that he can’t take himself too seriously. He is keenly aware that his audience and his guests will go to the level of vulnerability that he goes to. So if he stays closed up and impersonal, then they will too. However, if he opens up and pokes fun at himself, so will they. Brilliant.

4. Be willing to take risks even when you’re big.

Jimmy Fallon has reached a level of stardom that would no longer necessitate him taking risks, especially big ones. But if he didn’t take risks, we wouldn’t watch. People love following a leader who is willing to risk even when they’re big. In fact, taking risks is the only way to keep moving forward in our leadership journey, especially when we’re big.

5. Surround yourself with brilliant people who will offer their heart and talent to your dream.

The sidekick for Jimmy Fallon is Steve Higgins. Higgins has been a lifetime writer for Comedy Central, Saturday Night Live, The Late Show with Jimmy Fallon and now, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. You can tell Jimmy and Steve have a genuine friendship and appreciation for what the other guy brings to the table. Steve knows his role and plays it beautifully. Jimmy Fallon knows how to keep good talent close to him and create synergy with them. Jimmy is the star, but the writers and secondary players have gladly given him their heart and talent to accomplish a dream bigger than any one of them alone. And the results speak for themselves.

6. When you do these things, the best and greatest will join you.

I am simply amazed at the crazy and outlandish stuff Jimmy Fallon gets his world-famous guests to do on his show. Lip Sync Battles. Goofy Sketches. Beer Games. Barbershop Quartets, Singing their songs with children’s instruments, etc. It’s crazy! And yet, perhaps the greatest lesson of all for us leaders is that when you do the 5 things above, you will be surprised at who will follow you and to what length.

If you don’t watch Jimmy Fallon, I’m not saying you should (nor am I endorsing anything that happens on there, especially after they cross over the midnight line) but I am saying that as leaders, we can learn something from everyone and I’m personally learning a lot from Jimmy Fallon these days.