Lead Like a Rock Star

My husband and I recently saw one of our favorite bands – the Canadian pop-punk group Marianas Trench – perform live.

Within the first few minutes of the performance, it was clear something was a little off.

Josh Ramsay - the powerful lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and primary songwriter - seemed to be having issues with his microphone. And his voice, while still impressive, wasn’t as strong as usual.

What he did next is an example all leaders can learn from.

Acknowledge What’s Happening & Why
Josh shared with the crowd that just 5 days prior to the tour, he’d gotten so sick that he lost his voice completely. He was on the mend, but his voice hadn’t fully returned.

Lean on Your Team & Help Them Shine
While Josh still sang for much of the show, his bandmates Matt Webb and Mike Ayley stepped in to sing lead on several songs. Josh hyped each of them with the crowd and was clearly proud to show off the skills of his bandmates.

Give Others a Part to Play & Show Gratitude
By sharing the situation with the audience, Josh activated an entire venue full of fans who were more than happy to sing the songs they loved even louder to show support, keep the energy up, and fill in when Josh needed a second to rest. He also thanked the audience several times throughout the show, continuing to build rapport.

Address Unrealistic Demands & Manage Resistance
While the band’s fans are known for being kind and welcoming, there were one or two folks who were vocal about song requests or in other ways demanding attention. Josh handled those folks with humor and grace without changing the setlist or his strategy for the show.

If you want to lead like a (literal) rock star - especially in times of change or when delivering hard news - these strategies can be incredibly useful in bringing your team along and creating a way forward together.