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Being Well

Save the surprise

By July 29, 20122 Comments

Secrets. There are good ones and bad ones. Parties, presents and visits can all be wonderful surprises. Pretending everything’s OK when it isn’t, or keeping secrets about abuse are the worst kind. Some of us have to learn about confidentiality for our professions, and this is when doing it properly can be vitally important.

The 120,000 of us who attended rehearsals for the Olympics Opening Ceremony were all asked to “save the surprise”, not to tell others about the details of the ceremony, and not to share photos until Saturday. Incredibly, it appears there were no leaks.

Here, writing in today’s Observer, is Frank Cottrell Boyce, the writer for the ceremony, on all the secrets he had to keep, and the trusting way in which Danny Boyle asked us, nicely, to save the surprise, allowing us to take as many photos as we wanted.

This is my theory as to why it worked. First of all, we were asked nicely, respectfully. That goes a long way and, in my view, is much more likely to result in compliance than threats and draconian measures. Secondly, and just as important, the show was so brilliant that we wanted everyone else to enjoy it, indeed not to have the surprise spoiled. This is gratitude and generosity at work. As I sat watching it on TV with my mother, I kept saying “watch this next bit, just watch”. I wanted her to be thrilled just as I was when the chimneys came up, when Great Ormond Street appeared, and when a red Mini just the same as mine was driven round the track! And she was; she would have enjoyed it just a little bit less if I had told her all the details in advance.

So what does this tell us? First, ask nicely; it often works, especially if accompanied by a healthy dose of trust. And if something is worthwhile, spectacular enough, really impressive, then people will respect and value it. Maybe “just good enough” isn’t really good enough to be respected, kept secret, cherished. But truly incredible and amazing achievements will be. So, Sunday’s message is: trust, and strive for excellence.

2 Comments

  • Great post! I was at the Monday rehearsal, and although I never had any intention to reveal details, I was so impressed by the way that Danny Boyle just asked us politely not to, that I suspect I would have changed my mind if I *had* intended to spoil it! Ha!

    I think you are also right about the quality of the show being another reason for us not wanting to spoil it.

    Asking politely? Such an old fashioned concept unfortunately, but oh so lovely when it happens!

  • Great post!
    I was at the Monday rehearsal, and never intended to spoil the surprise, but you are right that we were all asked so politely, it would have changed my mind even if I *had* intended to spoil it!

    You are also right that the quality of the show meant we wanted others to enjoy as much as we had.

    Asking politely? An increasingly old fashioned concept unfortunately, but oh so lovely when it happens!

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