My time at Michigan State…
Has been instrumental in shaping my understanding of leadership. Leadership isn't necessarily a fixed role or formal title, so much as it is a flexible ongoing practice rooted in one's personal values that evolves according to context. It's a practice that is rooted in a value of presence, collaboration, humility and self awareness. I've spent years working in collaborative settings, whether it be creating, recording and editing music, videos, clothing, or digital design products like websites, infographics etc. In these projects I have often found myself in the emergent leadership position, responsible for leading my team through the ideation and developmental processes by listening, adapting and responding to the situation and the needs of the team.
Leadership to me, is all about being in sync with your team, yourself and your audience. I call my leadership philosophy “The Leadership Frequency.” because to me effective leadership is like balancing a mix in a song. It isn't about overpowering others, it's about creating balance, making space, sampling passed hits, keeping the team in tune and setting the tempo. My leadership philosophy is grounded in five main values: Authenticity, Empathy, Foresight, Growth and Harmony. These values help guide me to lead with a focus on clarity, connection and purpose. My philosophy also pulls from Dare to Lead and Lessons From Plants, two books that resonated with my idea of what effective leadership looks like. Bellow, I break down the steps of The Leadership Frequency and get into the logic and practices behind them.
Rhythm and Groove : Setting The Tempo
“A songs tempo decides the groove of the song. its the pulse of the song that keeps everything flowing. in leadership, Setting the right pace and energy early on helps keep a team engaged and productive. Too fast of a tempo leads to employee burn out. too slow of a pace kills engagement and momentum. The same way plants are able to regulate their growth dependent upon available resources, a leader must be able to read the environment, anticipate challenges and set a rhythm for the teams workflow.”
Leadership is about managing energy as much as it is about managing time. In Lessons from Plants, Montgomery talks about how plants are able to regulate their energy based on the seasons and available resources. I see leadership working in the same way. A good leader is able to observe, adjust and respond. They notice when their team is stretched too thin and have the foresight necessary to make adjustments early to avoid burnout. Setting the pace of a team is a strategic skill that can determine whether a team thrives or crashes. I like to allow space for planning, reflection and feedback in my project timelines because doing so helps prevent unnecessary fatigue and also helps create a sustainable rhythm that carries over into the rest of the project. Other practices I follow to keep the workplace steady include; avoiding setting the pace too high early on in projects as a way of keeping creativity alive. doing so prevents people from commiting to the first idea they have. I also believe in slowing down after intense projects to help avoid over exhaustion, as well calling for breaks when group engagement dips to help ensure the team is able to maintain momentum without sacrificing their wellbeing. By intentionally managing the team's energy, I am able to keep people engaged, in-sync, motivated and prepared to finish strong.
EQing The Team : Balancing Frequencies for Success
“Plants sense and respond to more than environmental conditions; their awareness extends to the plants and other organisms that surround them.” Whether its music, nature or leadership, balance is everything. The same way producers are able to balance the frequencies of a mix, A leader must be able to fine-tune the dynamics of their team. A strong leader is one who ensures that every team member has the space, support and resources they need to succeed without being overwhelmed or drowned out.”
Just as plants lean toward sunlight, people lean toward spaces where they feel safe and supported. Empathetic leaders don’t just hear their team. They listen and notice any shifts in tone, body language, and energy. As a leader I strive to be emotionally responsive by routinely checking in with teammates, staying calm in conflict, and creating spaces where people can express how they’re really feeling. Asking questions like “How can I support you? and What would support look like for you right now?” Helps move the conversation from assumption to action. This approach shows respect to people's individual needs rather than assuming a one size fits all approach will work. This approach doesn't just make people feel better, it helps them work together and encourages them to collaborate, take risks and grow. It also helps me stay responsive to what people actually need and not just what a task demands.
Harmonizing: Creating a Supportive Team Culture
When thinking about harmony amongst teammates, its important to remember that it isn’t about uniformity. Instead, its about creating and maintaining the conditions where diverse skills, personalities and voices can coexist and bring out the best in one another. As a leader I work to create harmony in a number of different ways. One of the main ways I try to do so is by working hard early on in projects to establish emotional connections between the team, I believe in hosting team-building exercises and outings. They don’t have to be elaborate, they can be things like going out to get lunch, conducting regular check-ins and hosting feedback sessions where team members are able to share their work and build each other up. I also believe in using feedback sessions mid-project, as doing so helps maintain harmony. By asking team members questions like “What’s resonating?” “What’s clashing?” “How can we better support one another?” we are able to create a deeper sense of trust and safety amongst one another. These questions open the door for honest reflection and emotional awareness, allowing people to voice their needs without fear of judgment. It also gives everyone a role in maintaining the team dynamic. When people feel heard, they’re more willing to collaborate, take risks, and contribute creatively, because they know they’re being supported, and not just being evaluated.
“In music, when different sounds complement one another rather than clash, we call it harmony. A strong team is built on collaboration, trust, and shared goals. plants teach us that success isnt all about competition, in fact. success often involves support- for example, “Lessons from Plants” teaches readers about the “three sisters” gardening technique where corn, beans, and squash benefit from growing next to one another. Leaders are responsible for creating spaces that encourage teamwork allows for teammates to compliment one another.”
Sampling: Building on Past Lessons
“In music, when different sounds complement one another rather than clash, we call it harmony. A strong team is built on collaboration, trust, and shared goals. plants teach us that success isnt all about competition, in fact. success often involves support- for example, “Lessons from Plants” teaches readers about the “three sisters” gardening technique where corn, beans, and squash benefit from growing next to one another. Leaders are responsible for creating spaces that encourage teamwork allows for teammates to compliment one another.”
Sampling in music production involves pulling elements from past records and updating and remixing them to work in today's context. Similarly, effective leadership isn't something that is typically based on guesswork, it's a practice grounded in research backed strategies and updating them to fit todays context. In The Runaway Species, Eagleman explains that creativity often emerges through iterations of familiar models. A great leader should be able to take inspiration from the world around them. Personally, I like to take inspiration from other disciplines like music and architecture, as well as things like leadership books and case studies. By drawing on these sources I'm able to approach leadership as a fluid, creative process that evolves in response to the needs of the people and context.
In my journey growing as a leader and learning more about the responsibilities that come with leadership, my definition for what good leadership is and looks like has evolved. I've learned that leadership isn't about having all the answers or controlling outcomes, nor is it about holding a specific title. It's a practice that's rooted in your commitment to your core values and your ability to listen and connect with your team. The approach I've shared here is my personal philosophy. One that is rooted in a belief of authenticity, empathy, foresight, growth and harmony. These are principles that I actively work to embody in the projects I'm a part of. My experiences and coursework at Michigan State have helped me refine my leadership approach and have shown me how vulnerability can be a powerful tool, how empathy can help improve collaboration, how important it is to commit to learning, set the right pace and build on proven frameworks. As a result I am able to move forward with a clearer understanding of how to lead effectively. I feel more prepared than ever to lead with presence, care and clarity.