“Under the spotlights, they invariably give off the air of people who are there because they desperately want to be there… despite the fact that they’ve been playing stadiums since the early 80s.”
So wrote Alexis Petridis of The Guardian about the opening of Bruce Springsteen’s tour in the UK in May 2023. He added, “As if it’s their solitary chance to grab the limelight rather than a nightly occurrence… It’s infectious.”
Be professional
Another word for that kind of performance is professionalism. The great entertainers – musicians, singers, actors, comedians – lay it all out. They do not sit on their laurels. They make every performance special. And in an era when ego is too often celebrated over talent, Springsteen is a testament to what it means to put your audience first.
Extending the bar band analogy further, we feel that Springsteen and his E-Street bandmates take nothing for granted. Yes, they are acclaimed and wealthy, but like those bands toiling on stages of bars, they are likely to be struck by a beer bottle as often as they receive a standing ovation. It is work. Hard work.
So often, we can become complacent in what we do and how we do it. We may even take things for granted, especially our colleagues. That reaction is very human, but it is something that leaders must guard against. A leader is always in the spotlight; all eyes are on them.
Some takeaways
So they need to act the part. And here’s how.
Know the mic is always on. Choose your words carefully.
Invite people on stage with you. Share your story with others. Bring them into your world.
Get off stage and listen, listen, listen. Make it a point to visit people where they work. Go to their workstations. If they work virtually, make time to connect one-on-one. And if you have an office, make it a habit of meeting folks for breakfast or lunch. And listen while you chew.
Most importantly, understand that the spotlight shines brightest when the heat is on. Stay cool, radiate calm, and speak slowly and calmly when times get tough.
A final thought
The best leaders – as with entertainers – make it look effortless. It never is, of course. But no one wants to hear how hard you work when you are at the top. Show people what you do, but never complain and never brag. It’s your job.
In his memoir Born to Run, Springsteen wrote, “People don’t come to rock shows to learn something. They come to be reminded of something they already know and feel deep down in their gut. That’s when the world is at its best, when we are at our best, when life feels fullest, one and one equals three.”
And that’s the job of a leader. It brings people together to see the vision, work the vision, and feel the values. When this happens, people feel they belong to something greater than themselves.