Infectious Optimism—Leadership—and Musical Innovation!

Let me start by asking: “How are you?? How are you holding up during the pandemic?!?” This has been an extremely crazy and challenging time for the world and I am sure many are suffering from loneliness, boredom, and stress. I know that I felt a bit nervous after the stay-at-home order was announced and everything began to change. I wondered if I would still have a job, I was concerned about my youngest daughter’s education, I worried about my grown children, their jobs and families, my heart ached for my daughter who is in the Navy aboard the USS Harry Truman, unable to come to shore-- and the list goes on and on and on... I do have faith that we will look back in awe of this situation, and we will pull from it lessons that will last a lifetime.

As many of you know, I have been finishing my degree and wrapping up a leadership certificate. I recently had to write a paper about how my leadership journey was going--you know the type--a reflective paper to make sure you're on track. I want to share this little writing with you because it took place just after COVID-19 swept the planet. Sometimes school can be a chore, but this felt different and I was feeling rather inspired by my music community. I have changed it a bit to fit the nature of this newsletter--you all have been through enough--no need to bore you with information that hits every point in the grading rubric. :)

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We Will Get Through This!

Just over three weeks ago I was in New York for work and COVID 19 was just starting to hit the area. The airports were still buzzing with travel but more masks were being worn by passengers.

I was able to see a broadway play but even then I knew that a simple cough would cause those around me to squirm and give me the “evil eye.” When I returned I learned that this trip to New York would be the last for quite some time. 

Today everything looks different in our world and though I am still able to go to work-- the company doors are locked and we are only offering curbside delivery and distant one-on-one appointments.

The day that the "stay-at-home" order was announced, the scene at work really did play out like a movie. The store was quiet, the Governer’s televised announcement was pulled up on a computer so that everyone could watch and listen, and all the employees knew that what we were about to hear would be life-altering. After the announcement, we gathered as a team (six feet apart of course) and had an impromptu meeting. Never in my life have I seen such solid leadership exampled by others and I felt so blessed to have an amazingly determined group of people around me.

I recently read the book “The Leadership Challenge” written by James Kouzes and Barry Posner. In this book, they explain that: “Exemplary leaders make the commitment to experiment and take risks. They know that making extraordinary things happen requires that leaders generate small wins and learn from experience.” The next part of this quote is critical because, at this moment, this breathtaking and formidable moment my leader had a choice to make--he could give in to fear himself and lead the team towards a full-scale panic, or he could “transform challenge into an exploration, uncertainty into a sense of adventure, fear into resolve, and risk into reward.” and these are the “keys to making progress that becomes unstoppable” (p. 171 -172).

As I stood in that circle of employees and I saw the blood drain from their faces, I watched our leader smile, and as he looked around at each team member he assured them that it was going to be okay. He then explained that every employee would continue to have a paycheck, whether they came to work or not. The inspirational leadership did not stop there because he then opened the conversation to his team, he wanted our insight and our ideas--he wanted us to think outside the box. Each employee began to verbally brainstorm, and within minutes we had developed new ways to conduct business that still allowed the distance required, our store doors to be locked, and yet we could continue to fulfill orders.

One of my favorite speakers is Simon Sinek, and at 99U he gave an in-depth talk entitled: “Why Leaders Eat Last.”  In this, he shares a story about Johnny Bravo who was willing to sacrifice his life, and when Bravo was asked why, he explained that it was, "because they would do the same for me.” The fact is, Johnny Bravo was a good leader because he was willing to sacrifice himself first-- he modeled the way and he trusted his team. Sinek describes that the job of a leader is to first decide who is in the circle of safety and how far that circle extends. The circle of safety in my company extends to the farthest edges and in this moment of the unknown, as the world seemed to be crumbling around us, I witnessed a leader that made his team feel safe.  In doing this, we were able to stand together, and as Sinek says “face the dangers outside” together. We decided to rise up as leaders ourselves--we decided to look to the person next to us and say-- “hey we got this, we are going to get through this!”

So how am I doing in the midst of this historically challenging time? I’m actually doing pretty dang good--and I can firmly say that I am so thankful for what I have learned.  I have had the privilege of witnessing great leadership, and it is literally all around me. 

Whether your team is where you work, at home, or your community, YOU are the leader that will help them get through this!

Dig deep and find the leader within yourself and encourage those around you to do the same. There is no doubt that we have all had (and will continue to have) moments of fear, anxiety, and disappointment but we will get through this- side by side--shield to shield--for as long as it takes...we will get through this.

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Concert Ideas and Ways to Pass the Time :)

Though the public gatherings have come to a grinding halt, the music and concerts have not.  In the leadership paper that I just shared, I mentioned how my team began to think outside the box.  I have seen this creative thinking throughout the entire music community.  Our local musicians are important--they are a lifeline in the middle of the storm--they have the power to pull us through the waves of the unknown and their work reflects our deepest emotions that too often remain unexpressed through mere words.

If you are feeling disconnected or alone, I encourage you to connect with a few of our local musicians who have been performing online. It is more fun to catch their concerts when they are performing live, but even watching the recorded versions will bring a smile to your face. 

Here is a stay-at-home concert to get you started. :)

Make sure to check out: 
The Riverside Hotel Facebook page (Click Here) their Sandbar restaurant is doing a concert series.  

I would also check out Valiant Productions (Click Here) who is hosting a live concert series. 

If I get a tip on other sites offering concerts, I will update this list. 

Even though we can't all attend together, there are so many concerts to watch and enjoy--you can even do a "watch party."  Several of these sites also have a link for donations to help these musicians who were tremendously affected by the stay-at-home order.  Even if you donate $5 dollars, it all helps!

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Another suggestion I have to help lift your spirits during this life adjustment is to take up a new instrument!  We have many music teachers who are offering virtual lessons, and once it is allowed, they will resume face-to-face lessons. 

Dunkley School of Music

Here is a little video of my 50th birthday that took place just after the "stay-at-home" order was issued.  Kimmee is my youngest daughter and after school was canceled, I started teaching her ukulele.  She also watched a lot of instructional YouTube videos in between her little lessons with me.  

She had only been playing a few weeks when we made this video and I have no doubt that you can do the same. :)