Leadership Brief: Lady Gaga and Leadership

Leadership Brief: Lady Gaga and Leadership

Posted on 31. Jul, 2011 by in 2 Leadership Brief

I must admit I love Lady Gaga. Not just for her tasty pop music, but also for her crazy talent, the way she tweaks our sensibilities, the way she advocates for inclusion, and her keen insights into the creative process. The other night on So You Think You Can Dance, she showed her earned wisdom as a judge. One tidbit she shared, though, has stuck with me.  It was something like this:

“I take down all the platinum records and pretend I haven’t sold a damn one. I go to do it all over again.”

There’s wisdom in this for anyone. It’s a reminder for leaders that previous successes do not make us special. They do not make us better than others. We must continue taking risks that lead to big successes. We must always step back before moving forward when we take on a new project or lead a team.

So as you gear up for the coming work week, what “platinum record” do you need to take down? How will it open you up to greater leadership? To different ways of approaching your work?

Photo courtesy of Elicice

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6 Responses to “Leadership Brief: Lady Gaga and Leadership”

  1. Joseph Olewitz

    31. Jul, 2011

    How simple. How prescient. How perfect.

    Complex leadership theory is important when well employed in practice but it takes a back seat to such a clear communication

    JOSEPH

    Reply to this comment

    • Shawn Murphy

      31. Jul, 2011

      Hi Joseph,
      I certainly appreciate your kind words. Crazy where leadership reminders pop up.

      Be well,
      Shawn

      Reply to this comment

  2. Wayne McEvilly

    01. Aug, 2011

    This achieved Strategies is a good site! I stumble upon it by that circuitous route that happens, one of the primal mysteries of Twitter being you never know what riches might emerge, or from where, or when…
    Enjoyed Joseph’s turn of phrase in praising Lady Gaga’s ability to say something profound in simple words:
    ‘Complex leadership theory is important when well employed in practice but it takes a back seat to such a clear communication’
    Thanks very much.
    Wayne

    Reply to this comment

    • Shawn Murphy

      01. Aug, 2011

      Wayne,
      Good explanation of the trips we find ourselves taking through Twitter-verse. And thank you, Wayne, for your praise. It’s encouragement like yours that helps keep us on the right path.

      Shawn

      Reply to this comment

  3. Chris Westfall

    01. Aug, 2011

    Solid. A simple and powerful post. Thanks for sharing this, Shawn.

    Reply to this comment

    • Shawn Murphy

      01. Aug, 2011

      Chris,
      Thank you fellow Defias Zion tribe member! I value your perspective.

      Cheers,
      Shawn

      Reply to this comment

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