The Art of Musicianship: 6 Lessons You Can Apply to Leadership

I recently witnessed an extraordinary show of musical and leadership excellence, watching Chloe Flower and Caroline Campbell play at the Blue Note in NYC. Two forces of nature, both leaders in their own right: Chloe is an American composer, writer, producer, and classical pianist. Caroline is a violinist and chamber musician who performs and records classical, jazz, film, and popular music. Both excel individually and yet together, they were dynamite, commanding the stage and enthralling the audience.

If you pay close attention to the magic of musical collaborations, you can find invaluable lessons about collaboration, communication, and other strategies for leadership success.

1. Set the Tone

This duo commanded our attention from the first note until the last. As a leader, you are responsible for setting the tone and energy in the room. Don’t neglect the importance of nurturing both your mind and your body — leadership is both mental and physical. (As is musicianship!) When in doubt, remember to breathe and center yourself. 

2. Tap Your Tempo

In leadership, determining the rhythm means creating an environment that allows for both rapid pace and tempered tempo. The two have to co-exist. You are in charge of creating and navigating that rhythm by listening intensely, knowing when a sense of urgency is required, and when to pull back, guide, and observe. 

3. Harness Harmony 

Trust builds harmony. Musicians rely on each other for cues and signals to create a harmonious melody. By listening intently to others and valuing diverse perspectives as a leader — not shying away from friction points, but rather encouraging open communication — you create harmony. Harmony fosters inclusion and builds an environment where everyone can shine. 

4. No Ego from the Get Go 

Watching Chloe and Caroline duet, I was struck by how both musicians are absolute stars in their own right — and yet they seamlessly merged into one entity on stage. They were in step and supporting one another, not once outplaying each other. You were chosen for a leadership role because of your talents; but this is also an opportunity to set your ego aside in service of focusing on your team to elevate their talents. 

5. Navigate Transitions

Transitions are inevitable and constant. Musicians must pay attention to sounds coming from all sides and stay on their toes. In leadership, transitions can be planned or unplanned — the latter being the most unsettling — but you can be ready for any level of uncertainty by staying focused on the beat, aware of your surroundings, and open to flexing with the flow.

6. Ignite the Invite

When musicians play together, they inhabit each other’s energetic space — and the audience’s! In this performance, Chloe and Caroline invited the audience to clap, hum, and laugh. It was their manner of bringing everyone in to mingle and learn — to interact, rather than just listen. As a leader, your responsibility is to look beyond the stage and ensure your ‘audience’ is engaged: both internally and externally. Invite people in and teach them, and also be willing to learn and adjust from what they teach you. People are eagerly listening and tapping their feet in support of what you are creating; shine the light bright and usher them in.