Odetta’s Potential Influence on Business Executives and Leaders

Last week, Odetta died. As reported in the New York Times, though trained in classical music and musical theater, it was music of the blues growing out of the Great Depression that made her sing and made her famous.

She sang prison songs and work songs. She sang songs that supported those who marched in the civil rights movement. Those who admired her and were influenced by her described her musical gift as being able to sing about something or someone as though she had been there, as though she was the person. She was able to capture the human spirit, and her music evoked something vital and personal.

Her music influenced Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Janis Joplin, Pete Seeger, Judy Collins, Ranblin’ Jack Elliott, and Bruce Springsteen. Her music should have influenced (and it’s still not too late) business executives and leaders. She took meticulous care to catch the feeling described in her songs. For example, to better understand the emotions of a convict on a chain gang, she tried breaking up rocks with a sledgehammer.

In order for executives — or any kind of manger or supervisor — to lead an organization, they must know what it feels like to be in their employees’ shoes. You can’t inspire your employees if the only place you spend your time is in the C-Suite. Odetta knew what she had to do to connect with the people she sang to and for. Her musical proteges learned that. There’s no reason that those who’re charged with leading employees in all kinds of organizations can’t learn the same thing.