I’m a leadership junkie.
That doesn’t mean I am addicted to leading. It just means I love watching people lead. I haven’t always been that way—in fact, I don’t think I gave leadership a second’s thought for the first forty years of my life—but over the last few years, I’ve been fascinated by how people lead, why people follow, what qualities good leaders share, and pretty much all the leadership things.
So given my deep affection for strong leadership, it might surprise you to know one of the very best examples I have ever seen. It was a pop superstar performing at a Country Music Association Awards show. True story.
So first of all, let me set the stage. At the time, this superstar was coming off of a mega-successful world tour and was basically king of the world (okay, not really a king, but definitely in a can-do-no-wrong stage of his career). It was a huge deal for him to be performing at the CMAs, and he took the time to do so with a rising country star whose career was just getting off the ground (although he’d been a successful songwriter for many years). They seemed like an unlikely pair.
But oh, y’all. From the first note of their performance, it was obvious that something special was happening. I won’t even attempt to give you the play-by-play, but by the time they finished singing, I was standing in front of the television (I moved closer and closer throughout the performance) and thinking, Well, that was pretty much a master class in leadership.
Here’s why.
- The leader was in control. There was no question that the pop superstar knew where that performance was heading, and he knew how to get there. There are several times when you can see the new country singer look his way for direction or for a cue, and he got it. A good leader is trustworthy and responsive.
- The leader continually checked in with his team. Over and over during those seven minutes, the superstar turned to his bandleader and musicians. Sometimes he’d walk in their direction, and sometimes he’d stay put, but there was constant communication and encouragement. A good leader builds collaboration.
- The leader wasn’t afraid to share the spotlight. There’s one moment in particular where the superstar was primed for his biggest note of the night—he had the audience in the palm of his hand—and instead of hitting the note himself, he looked across the stage at his partner and said, “Take it!” It was like he passed the ball when he could have shot a three-pointer. And in that moment, the country singer shined. It was beautiful. A good leader feels no need to hog the spotlight.
Maybe my favorite moment was after the performance. The audience was going crazy, but if you looked closely at the stage, you could see that every single person was focused on someone else. The musicians, the back-up singers, the bandleader, and the performers were all cheering each other on, all commending one another. No one was trying to be the center of attention.
Most of us will never sing at an awards show, but we will, at some point, be called to lead in our schools, churches, and workplaces. So remember: servant leadership pushes every team member in the direction of God’s best. It spurs people on in their callings. It values others and doesn’t need credit. It’s rooted in humility, and it bears beautiful fruit.
Thanks, Talented Music People, for the lesson.
1. Can you think of a public figure—a singer, athlete, actor, whoever—who strikes you as an excellent leader?
2. When you think of “quiet confidence,” does anyone come to mind?
3. Are you more likely to respond to a leader with quiet confidence or one who’s more outwardly and loudly confident?
4. Have you ever thought about your own leadership style? Are you more of a boss or a coach? Or would you rather delegate?
Today’s Prayer