Showrunner 101

In TV production, the role of a showrunner is often likened to that of a corporate CEO. You're not just the creative mind behind the story; you're also the leader of a complex organization with hundreds of millions of dollars on the line. From your fellow scribblers to actors, producers, and the crew, everyone looks to you for calling the shots.

Leading a massive organization doesn’t come naturally to most introverted scribblers. I fumbled through the process multiple times, learning by observing what worked and what didn’t. Seeking out knowledge from those who’ve gone before in and out of the TV business was a big help.

I was lucky enough to work with some of the masters, including JJ Abrams, John Eisendrath, and Jeff Melvoin.

Another excellent resource for me has also been the work of Ryan Holiday. In his explorations of leadership, Ryan lays down principles applicable to the world of TV as much as any other field.

Let’s look at how we might apply some of this wisdom to become more effective showrunners.

There are some repeats in the following tips, but I figured you never know what’s going to stick and resonate:

1. A Leader Is A Reader

Showrunner Takeaway: Keep up with industry trends, read scripts, study storytelling techniques, and learn from the experiences of others. This doesn’t mean you should read The Hollywood Reporter every day. Don’t fall into the TL;DR trap, and stay on top of what’s coming out of the writers' room.

2. A Leader Puts Everything In The Calm and Mild Light

Showrunner Takeaway: In the chaos of production, maintain your composure. Make decisions based on careful thought, not emotional reactions. Everyone will be looking to you for guidance regarding the scale of the catastrophe. Maintain your chill by counting to ten before you respond. And don’t go to The Smokehouse for a mid-day shot of Jack.

3. A Leader Always Looks For Teachable Moments

Showrunner Takeaway: Every hiccup in the writers' room or on set is an opportunity to learn and grow. Don't waste it. Avoid creating a blame culture, and make sure everybody feels you trust them to do the work. Support the development of your team to build loyalty and educate the next generation.

4. A Leader Finds A Teacher

Showrunner Takeaway: Seek mentorship from experienced showrunners or industry professionals. Their guidance can be invaluable. Pattern recognition is key. Every show has its own culture, but the fundamentals are the same. You don’t need to see the “Matrix” for yourself. Learn the lessons of your peers and avoid repeating their mistakes.

If you get the chance to take Jeff Melvoin’s showrunner training program at the WGA — DO IT!!!!!

5. A Leader Is Imperfect

Showrunner Takeaway: It's okay not to have all the answers. Your team will respect you more for your humility, transparency, and willingness to learn.

6. A Leader Seeks Out Advice And Feedback

Showrunner Takeaway: Listen to your team. Their insights can help refine the show and avoid potential pitfalls. The nature of the gig puts you in a bubble. Find ways to get the scoop on what’s really going on. Having a strong number two and trusted Co-EPs is critical to success.

7. A Leader Doesn’t Tell People What To Do

Showrunner Takeaway: Inspire your team to contribute to your vision for the show rather than dictating every detail. You don’t need to know everything about everything.

8. A Leader Gets The Best Out of People

Showrunner Takeaway: Recognize the unique strengths of your team members and delegate tasks accordingly. Don’t hold back on the praise and encouragement. Everybody is working their butts off to make a great show. Let them know you appreciate what they bring to the table.

9. A Leader Can Do Anything But Not Everything

Showrunner Takeaway: Learn to delegate. Your focus should be on guiding the overall vision, not micromanaging. Jeff Melvoin says a showrunner’s main job is “Quality scripts on time.” The only way that happens is by sharing the load. Identify the top performers in the writers’ room and every department, and be grateful for their support.

10. A Leader Prepares For The Inevitable Chaos

Showrunner Takeaway: Always have a contingency plan. Whether it's a last-minute script change or a production delay, be prepared. At the end of the day, you’re responsible for pages getting to the stage in time for shooting. When the plane starts losing altitude, consider how you will keep it from hitting the ground as the passengers throw rocks at your head.

11. A Leader Thinks Long Term

Showrunner Takeaway: Keep an eye on the long-term narrative arc and character development, not just the episodes in prep and production. This comes easier to some than others. It’s another good reason to find someone you trust to run the writer's room. It might be easier to hide in post or on the stage, but you need to stay connected to what’s happening in the room.

12. A Leader Prioritizes Stillness

Showrunner Takeaway: Take time to reflect and recharge. Your decision-making will benefit from it. Don’t think you must be doing everything, everywhere, all at once. The machine can run without you for a little while. Take a walk. Close your door. Turn off notifications. Chill the frick out.

13. A Leader Has a Guiding Philosophy

Showrunner Takeaway: Establish a clear vision or philosophy for the show to guide you and your team in decision-making. Many of the shows I’ve been on lately haven’t had a completed pilot. It’s been up to the room to help a showrunner build their high concept into an actual show. This rarely works. At least have a take on what it is you want to see.

14. A Leader Always Keeps Their Cool

Showrunner Takeaway: In high-pressure situations, your team will look to you for stability. Keep your cool. The first couple of shows I worked on were “challenging.” This gave me perspective on what was possible when other folks saw the only outcome as “shutting down” or cancellation.

15. A Leader Stays Humble

Showrunner Takeaway: Success can be intoxicating; humility keeps you grounded. Throughout my career, I never looked at the ratings. Good or bad, there was still work to do. Save the victory laps and self-congratulation for those post-retirement commencement speeches.

16. A Leader Does The Right Thing

Showrunner Takeaway: Ethical dilemmas may arise. Always strive to do what's right for the story, the team, and the audience. Sometimes, this involves taking the blame for the “choices” of others. Or even making personnel changes to keep people safe when the HR process is ineffective. Don’t let the momentum of the process and responsibility remove your empathy and understanding.

17. A Leader Seizes The Opportunity for Greatness

Showrunner Takeaway: Every challenge is an opportunity to excel. Embrace it. My corollary is to seize every opportunity to learn from others, gain new skills, and be a memorable mensch.

18. A Leader Knows How to Prioritize

Showrunner Takeaway: Learn to distinguish between what's urgent and what’s important. This is a hard one to know from jump. My pattern recognition was earned and learned over many years. But keeping up the momentum and morale of the team is the only way to stay on schedule. Before shutting down an idea you know will never fly or redirecting resources, consider if you can “let it suck” for a while and engage the issue downstream.

19. A Leader Makes People and Situations Better

Showrunner Takeaway: Your ultimate goal should be to elevate everyone around you, from your fictional characters to your hard-working crew. Everything you do should be about serving the needs of the show. Use gratitude and enthusiasm to keep the team excited about coming to work.

20. A Leader Is Rarely Surprised

Showrunner Takeaway: Anticipate problems before they arise. All this has happened before, and it will all happen again. Don’t be surprised by last-minute budget cuts, actor meltdowns, network executive regime changes, and story ideas that worked on the page falling flat on the stage.

21. A Leader Keeps The Main Thing The Main Thing

Showrunner Takeaway: Don't lose sight of the core story or message amid the daily grind. Hold your vision of the show top of mind and always be capable of communicating it with clarity.

22. A Leader Trusts, But Verifies

Showrunner Takeaway: Trust your team, but don’t be afraid to consider their motives, methods, and level of experience. Most showrunners have been there and done that. So when your gut tells you there’s going to be a problem, believe it.

23. A Leader Has The Courage To Stand Apart

Showrunner Takeaway: Don't be afraid to take creative risks. On all the shows I’ve ever done that have been successful, walking the plank toward originality in the face of banal tropes and a lack of studio support made all the difference. It can make for awkward moments on phone calls with your executives, but don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Just make sure you get it done without damaging egos and burning bridges. When your partners are nervous and afraid, don’t be a dick.

24. A Leader Assumes Formlessness

Showrunner Takeaway: Be flexible and adaptable. Remember the military aphorism: “No plan survives contact with the enemy.” If something isn’t working, you need to adapt and adjust before hitting the iceberg. Your cast and crew are the passengers; don’t let them drown because of your hubris.

As Ryan Holiday says, leadership is a process, a mindset, and a lifelong journey. As a scribbling showrunner, you won’t be just crafting stories but leading a team that will help you bring those stories to life. This requires a unique blend of creativity, management skills, self-confidence, and humility.

Break a leg!

Credit: The leadership principles in this article are based on insights from Ryan Holiday. You can find his books on Amazon and on his website, The Daily Stoic.