Where’s the melody?

 

I’m a musician by training. I led many bands during my time as such. It really doesn’t take a musician to understand the importance of the melody of a song though. It’s what makes the song a song. It’s what you whistle while you work.

 

Whenever I rehearsed the bands that I led I tried to emphasize the importance of the melody vice the supporting elements like harmony, rhythm, and other parts of a piece of music. Notice that I used the term “supporting” for the other elements of a song. If the “supporting” parts of a song overpower the melody, you may not even recognize the song. 

 

Similarly, in order to have a cohesive, successful team, team members have to understand their place on the team at the time. Most of the members are supporting members and there’s one singing the melody, the leader. That may be you! Or someone else. You’ve heard it, even if you didn’t notice it, when all the members of a singing group are singing at the top of their lungs. They’re all trying to be the star. That never works. 

 

As the leader, especially as an Effective Leader, it’s imperative that you train your people to be supporting members. We usually call them followers. If you noticed, I mentioned that people have to understand their place “at the time.” At. The. Time. An effective team will be made up of people who know when to follow and when to lead, and to play that role as needed. 

 

I love hearing a singing group where the melody is right up front, and the harmony is barely there. The harmony and other supporting parts are important, but what’s critical is the melody. Where’s the melody?

 

Until next time, be GREAT! You ARE!

 

HEIRPOWER!

 

Chief bob vásquez!