How Music Can Transform Your Leadership [The Leader’s Playlist]

Summary

In this podcast episode, Susan Drum discusses her book, *The Leader’s Playlist*, with Amber Vilhauer. The conversation highlights the power of music and neuroscience in transforming leadership. Susan explains how childhood experiences shape leadership behaviors and introduces the concept of using music to shift ingrained patterns. By combining emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and music, the book offers leaders a unique approach to break free from old patterns and improve their leadership skills. Susan’s innovative method empowers leaders to navigate today's complex challenges and create a positive impact in their organizations.

Takeaways

• 😀 Susan Drum is introducing her book and the concept behind it through a conversation with Amber Vilhauer, a digital marketing expert.
• 😀 Susan emphasizes the power of music and neuroscience to enhance leadership and personal development, a unique approach to leadership transformation.
• 😀 Amber shares her admiration for Susan’s journey and expertise, especially in leadership and client success.
• 😀 Susan discusses her long-standing desire to write a book, mentioning that it took years for her to find the time and the unique perspective she wanted to share.
• 😀 Susan's leadership book focuses on shifting long-standing patterns formed in childhood, which affect leadership styles and responses in the workplace.
• 😀 The book emphasizes how old survival strategies formed in childhood can hinder leaders as they scale within organizations.
• 😀 Leadership today faces increasing complexity due to external factors like the pandemic, economic instability, and workforce changes.
• 😀 Susan likens leadership challenges to outdated technology (e.g., an old iPhone) that can’t handle current demands, urging leaders to upgrade their mental and emotional operating systems.
• 😀 Music is presented as a tool to shift mental states, with Susan explaining how it can help leaders break old patterns and adopt new behaviors.
• 😀 A personal story from Amber highlights the effectiveness of music in transforming emotional states and enabling clearer thinking, providing an example of how music helped her overcome anxiety before an important meeting.
• 😀 Susan shares a powerful client transformation story, demonstrating how music can help reframe negative childhood patterns, leading to improved leadership behavior and team dynamics.

Q & A

What is the core idea behind Susan Drum's book and its relationship with leadership?

Susan Drum's book explores the intersection of leadership, childhood wounds, and the power of music to transform leadership behaviors. It introduces the concept that the challenges leaders face often stem from survival strategies developed in childhood, and by using music, these patterns can be shifted to foster better leadership.

Why does Susan believe that music can be a powerful tool for leadership transformation?

Susan believes music is a powerful tool because it activates all regions of the brain, helping to shift emotional states. It can interrupt old patterns and create new ones, allowing leaders to shift their mindset and behaviors quickly and effectively.

How did Susan Drum's personal experiences shape her decision to write the book?

Susan had been wanting to write a book for years, but struggled with finding the time and a unique perspective. After observing the leadership space and noticing that many leadership books were simply rehashing the same ideas, she wanted to offer something fresh and meaningful, drawing from her own experiences and expertise.

What specific challenges in the leadership space does Susan address in her book?

Susan addresses the challenge of leaders using outdated survival strategies from childhood, which can hinder their effectiveness as they scale in organizations. She also focuses on the increasing complexity of modern leadership, including issues like the great resignation, mental health challenges, and the impact of the pandemic.

How does Susan define the concept of 'old playlists' and 'new playlists' in leadership?

Susan uses the metaphor of 'old playlists' to describe the ingrained behaviors and strategies leaders adopt from childhood wounds. A 'new playlist' represents the new, healthier strategies leaders can adopt to better manage their emotions and leadership style, ultimately leading to more effective leadership.

Why does Susan emphasize the importance of upgrading internal operating systems for leaders?

Susan emphasizes upgrading internal operating systems because the complexity and challenges leaders face today require a higher level of consciousness and self-awareness. By upgrading their internal systems, leaders can approach problems with more clarity and effectiveness, ultimately leading their teams better.

What was the significance of Amber Vilhauer's story about using music to shift her state before a meeting?

Amber's story illustrates the immediate and powerful impact of music on emotional state and mindset. By listening to a playlist recommended by Susan, Amber was able to shift her feelings of anxiety and overwhelm, gain clarity, and approach her business meeting with a refreshed perspective.

Can you provide an example of how Susan helped a client overcome a leadership challenge using music?

Susan worked with a senior leader who received feedback that she appeared controlling and over-involved. Upon exploring her childhood wounds, it was discovered that the leader's deep-rooted fear of being left out led to her overcompensating in her leadership style. Using music, Susan helped her shift this mindset, creating a new 'playlist' that allowed the leader to adopt a more inclusive and effective leadership approach.

What role does the concept of 'childhood wounds' play in the leadership challenges described in the book?

Childhood wounds play a significant role in shaping leadership behaviors, as the survival strategies developed in childhood often influence how leaders manage stress, relationships, and decision-making. The book highlights the importance of recognizing these patterns to break free from them and adopt more effective leadership strategies.

Why does Susan argue that now is the perfect time for leaders to adopt the principles in her book?

Susan argues that now is the perfect time because the world is facing unprecedented complexity, from post-pandemic challenges to economic uncertainty. Leaders must upgrade their leadership skills and internal operating systems to navigate these turbulent times effectively, and her book offers the tools to do so.