Do you want to be an inspirational boss?
Then do your own job with passion.
And with the people for whom you are the "boss", or manager or leader, do your best to put yourself in their shoes - see the world through their eyes. One way you can do this is by watching and listening, really listening to what they have to say. And then demonstrating your understanding of that.
Passion and connection.
Both are clearly demonstrated by the boss of rock and roll, Bruce Springsteen.
His first hit album came out 30 something years ago. Since then he has produced more than twenty-two albums, selling hundreds of millions of copies. He could have retired long ago.
Yet when we saw him in concert a few years ago, in one of more than 50 concerts scheduled for the year, he played for three hours straight. He played his heart out. He laughed. He joked. He connected with the crowd.
And much to our delight – and even disbelief – he slid across the stage on his 50 something year old knees – TWICE!! (Not that I think 50 something year old knees are old – I was actually amazed when he did this on 30 year old knees!)
Bruce Springsteen does his job with passion! That passion is contagious – inspirational.
Later that year, Bruce and E Street Band played in the New York Giants Stadium. It was pouring down rain. The audience was drenched before Bruce and the band even came on stage.
In a true show of "yes – we understand what's going on out there", they opened the concert, not with one of their own songs, but with a Creedence Clearwater Revival song, "Who'll Stop the Rain."
As the crowd sang along, Bruce came out from under the cover that protected the band and their equipment from the pouring rain. He got wet along with the audience, who changed the words to "Bruce'll Stop the Rain."
The rain did eventually stop, but it didn't really even matter to the 80,000 fans who packed the stadium for the three hour concert.
In a later concert, he played in Boston, in what The Boston Globe said was "the first true rock concert" at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. With another crowd-connecting gesture, Bruce opened with "Take Me Out to the Ball Game".
Excellent examples of the boss putting himself in shoes of those in his lead, seeing the world through their eyes and then demonstrating it in fun and creative ways. A powerful way to connect with people.
Boston's Boss, Mayor Meneno did a good job of this himself. Apparently, he's a Bruce Springsteen fan and was excited about attending the concert. But he, along with other city officials, was concerned about the traffic and parking problems which would be caused by the crowd.
So in advance of the concert, Mayor Meneno unveiled new signs. One said:
" Welcome to Boss – ton.
Thomas M. Menino, Mayor".
Another said:
" In My Hometown The Boss Says Park Legally."
And another:
"Glory Days Will Pass You By If You Park Here."
Note: In case you aren't a Bruce fan, both "My Hometown" and "Glory Days" are hit songs by Bruce Springsteen.
Mayor Meneno said, "When it comes to music, he's in charge. When it comes to the city, we're in charge."
The Boss of Boss-ton and the Boss of Rock and Roll – both demonstrating passion for their work and a desire to connect with those who call them "the boss".
copyright 2009 - Jan Bolick, Business Class Inc
Note: This article was written several years ago. We brought it out of the archives because ….well… we're excited about being inspired by him again on Saturday (in Greensboro or is it Steensboro?)!