It’s hard identifying yourself as a leader when you’re in a band. It requires you to single yourself out within a group of equals. Should I say this out loud? What would I say? How would I say it? Will they think I’m stuck up? Will they make snide comments behind my back? Should there even be a leader? Maybe I’m not even a leader to begin with?
The band is the leader of the team, but before that, a leader of the band emerges.
Step up and identify yourself as such. Out loud. Tonight. In front of your band. Talk about your personality, why you’re a leader, apologize for moments of confusion and seasons of not leading well. Talk about all the personalities in the group and how each is valuable and vital.
A lot of good bands have a general understanding of this, but the great bands actually TALK about it. They don’t leave it unspoken as in “yeah, everyone just kinda knows whats up”. They know 100% for sure what’s up because they’ve used words to discuss it with one another.
Such a novel concept, I know.
But for all your bus/van/plane rides and all the stupid crap that gets talked about, take an hour and talk about this stuff. It will begin to change the course. Toward the light.
If you literally don’t know what to say, I will tell you, literally, how to start the conversation. Ready?
“I’m beginning to identify myself as a leader in this band. It makes me a little uncomfortable to talk about it out loud, but tell me how you guys feel about that…”
If you will have courage enough to open with that, I guarantee you will have a meaningful night.
