Three Things Learning To Write Songs Can Teach Us About Leadership

In my years of work conducting creativity and innovation programs, I’ve had the privilege of working with some remarkably accomplished leaders from C-Suite executives to senior legal partners to highly accomplished bio-tech scientists and more. It’s not only an honor to work with such incredible people but a joy to introduce them to the power of songwriting as a way to reimagine their work. Below are just a few - of the many - ways that learning to write songs can inform and enhance an organization’s leadership.

Get comfortable with your beginner’s mind

Part of the reason that leaders are in their exalted positions is their knowledge and expertise. Please don’t misunderstand me, I’m fully aware that this is a critical element of effective leadership. However, it is also true that none of us can be an expert at everything and there’s a real danger in a leader assuming they know all they’ll ever need to know. The humbling nature of learning to write songs serves as a reminder that there will always be more to know and learn. This realization can lead to an increased willingness to listen to a broader range of opinions and an empathy and awareness that fosters greater trust and loyalty inside of an organization.

Collaboration is a powerful force

Leadership rarely works when all of the effort and responsibilities rest with a single person. Just like the great songwriting teams over time (the Gershwin brothers being one of my favorite examples), leadership thrives in collaboration. Assembling and encouraging a diverse and talented group of collaborators allows leaders to leverage perspectives and skills in such a way that the end result (whether a song or an organization-wide strategy) is better than the sum of its individual contributors. When I expose my program participants to co-writing it is with the understanding that this will be a microcosm of the exact form of collaboration necessary for effective leadership.

Perfectionism is the enemy

A large part of the reason my songwriting program is only an hour in length is that it’s designed to push the participants forward without leaving them time to obsess or overly edit the lyrics to their songs. Over the years, I’ve learned that a large part of successful creativity is getting out of your own way which, first and foremost, means fighting your desire to make everything “perfect.” Striving for a flawless result almost always causes more problems than it solves including removing the joy and enthusiasm from the process. Better to keep the environment light and positive and to maintain creative momentum with the understanding that we’re much more likely to do our best work when we’re relaxed and happy.

Conclusion

Songwriting, my chosen form of creativity for the past three decades, is the great leveler. Whether you’re a PhD or a high-school dropout, the rules are the same. It’s all about communicating in a way that is both clear and compelling to your listeners. As leaders, the key is staying open to new ideas, embracing collaboration and avoiding perfectionism. Songwriting can teach us all of that and quite a bit more.

Find out more about my innovation & creativity songwriting programs for organizations.

https://www.thereasonfortherhymes.com/programs/