MORE Leadership Lessons from ‘The Voice’!

 I am happy to confess that I am  a Voice Tragic…Channel 9’s new reality TV show!

This is possible a very 21st century example of over sharing. As my 13 year old would say ‘TMI mum, TMI” (Too much information).  But in the interests of scholarship (ahem) I would like to share some insights the program provides on leadership in action.

It’s interesting to see the format of the program where all the celebrity coaches (Seal, Joel Madden, Delta and Keith) have their mentors sitting in chairs behind them.  Sometimes when the coaches can’t decide they simply say ‘I need to talk with my mentor”.  Just having a trusted person to bounce your thoughts against helps the coaches make a well rounded decision.  It’s lonely at the top and when the leadership spotlight shines on you, having someone you can talk to can make the world of difference.

While it’s OK to ask for advice from your mentors you do not always have to take it!  Sometimes you might not concur  with your mentor and that’s fine to go out on a limb to back yourself.   This is hard and agonising to do but that’s why its called leadership not followship.  So often when a coach was making a decision contrary to the mentor’s advice they would say ‘ I have to trust my gut on this’.

In one of the battles, for Delta it came down to the wire choosing between two amazing contestants Danni and Sarah.  Keith Urban declared it a ‘Diva’s Derby’ and Delta took time out to consult her mentor, but was still undecided after.  She then turned the heat on the contestants saying ‘Tell me why you want this so badly?”.  Based on their answers she picked Danni.  Again leaders don’t have to have all the answers but they have to be able to ask the right questions.

All the coaches in ‘The Voice’ are about coaching others to greatness. As  John Buchan says ‘The task of leadership is not to put greatness into people, but to elicit it, for the greatness is there already’.

For previous lessons on the voice click here.