Not Onboard? A Study in Sinatra

When Frank Sinatra, the "Chairman of the Board" himself, considered recording "Strangers in the Night", his feelings about the song were far less than positive. (In fact, his exact words regarding the music shouldn't really be printed here.) Sinatra apparently despised the song — and had no reservations communicating this fact to others.

This comes as somewhat of a surprise — considering the enormous success of the recording. However, if you've ever been handed a task, been assigned to a project, or reviewed a plan of action that you were not firmly behind, you'll likely understand what Sinatra may have felt. In these situations, questions concerning potential negatives can often cloud the possibilities. Often, we reflexively pull back and balk at the prospect of moving forward. None the less, committing may actually be the right thing to do — even though we may not be 100% convinced in the moment. Taking a measured risk, even if you hold some concern, can still emerge as a worthy investment.

Of course, Mr. Sinatra did go on to record "Strangers in the Night" — and he brought his incredible panache and flair to the music. It's been noted that Mr. Sinatra routinely recorded songs on the first go around. But, as fate would have it, his improvisational closing of "doo be doo be doo" — an iconic signature — was added on the second take of the song. (Interestingly, future country star Glen Campbell, on guitar during the session, was in complete awe of being in the company of Sinatra.)

Ultimately, Mr. Sinatra may have not appreciated the merits of the music itself — yet, he delivered a high caliber performance, leaving an indelible imprint along the way. His performance elevated the music to a new level and countless listeners benefited. (It has been written that he joked the song kept him in pizza for years.) "Strangers in the Night" went on to be one a Sinatra's most popular songs — reaching No. 1 on the Billboard charts. He also earned a Grammy award for the best Male Pop Performance, while the track earned the designation of "Record of the Year". Investing in the song, even though he had reservations, proved positive for Sinatra and so many others.

It would have been interesting to listen the conversation in favor of the song, put by the producers. I can't help but wonder what convinced him to move forward. But, here are some reasons that might explain why we hesitate:

• It's new territory. A primary concern may be that we simply haven't ventured down a similar path before. As a result, the "unknown" causes fear and stress. In many cases, we quickly imagine obstacles and issues that might develop — yet, they never come to pass.
• War of the ideas. It isn't easy to defer to a winning idea (or proposal), when we've felt there was another strong contender (and it might have been our own). Attempt to separate the owner, from the idea — and view the merit of the idea itself. We may never love the idea, considering our emotional investment in another path. However, we can adjust and diplomatically back it.
• We're on shaky ground. In some cases, we feel that we do not possess the appropriate skill sets or resources to move forward on a new path. As a result, a strong fear of failure looms prominently. Discuss your reservations openly, as this may help to squelch your concerns.
• We just can't picture it. Often something new and innovative — appears risky and ill advised early on. We may need to try to give the situation a bit of time to unfold, as we might see things quite differently down the road.

I am certainly glad that Sinatra recorded "Strangers in the Night". (However, you may certainly have your own opinion concerning the song — and the doubts you might have in your own work life.) I can't help but wonder if Mr. Sinatra ever grew to love the song, as much as the world did.

Have you ever initially doubted a path that eventually led to a success? Share your story here.

Dr. Marla Gottschalk is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist. She also writes The Office Blend.