Leadership Lessons Learned

In reaching a point where I learn more than I instruct, sort of in the Bob Dylan manner of being so much older then and younger than that now, it makes me ever hopeful that we can balance old schools of thought with new age thinking to continuously improve.  Instead of either or, we can and should meld models of both ago and anew.  The darn near incomparable Simon Sinek directed us to start with why of course, but beyond simply starting with it he implores us to act with why in in mind throughout any continuum.  With these things in mind, how do we push ourselves to continually learn, grow, adapt, and apply?

In my opinion (certainly subject to challenge) I believe you can learn something (or at least one thing) from every book you read or every song you listen to if we can truly learn how to reflect, recognize, and then repair or reengineer based on the learning.  It may be a stretch, it may not be what was intended by the meaning or the musician, but I try to find leadership lessons from songs that cross genres and generations.  A few cases in point with leadership lessons (LLs) to apply:

Melissa Manchester in Midnight Blue asks wouldn’t you give your hand to a friend even just one more time.  LL: Imbues hope and resiliency so necessary especially in tough times.

Sheryl Crow criticizes Billy at the bar beside her while wistfully having fun as all she wants to do.  LL: Reserve judgement, don’t lower others to raise yourself.

Lynyrd Skynyrd tells us they know a little about love and baby they can guess the rest.  LL: Core beliefs and attributes are paramount.  Allows you freedom to be less formal and calculated beyond them.

Jessi Colter made a point that she’s not Lisa.  LL:  Never try to be someone you aren’t.  Respect, remember, and ruminate about them even…but be your true self.

The Northern Pikes remind us that she ain’t pretty, she just looks that way.  LL: True beauty is beyond the polish and sheen.  Substance is the significance.  What you are made of is more important than how you are made up.

The Barenaked Ladies remind us that even if we had a million dollars that we wouldn’t have to eat Kraft dinner, but we would eat Kraft dinner.  LL: Being motivated by the work itself, by the impact of the work, by identifying with the work, is so much more valuable than benefit of the economic rewards.  Don’t let pressures emotional or economic drive you.

I’m hopeful you search for your own meanings in these great songs, in others, in books, in other means or measures that suit you.  Eminem reminds us that this opportunity comes once in a lifetime so we better lose ourselves in the music, in the moment.  Time flies by as you can see in the attachment of myself not too long ago with my family with the rotary dial phone hanging in the background.  Let’s make the most of our time and learn as we lead and lead while we learn.  What are you listening to?