72 Seasons of Leadership: Evening Cicadas Sing

立秋?Risshū?(Beginning of autumn)

August 13–17. 寒蝉鳴?Higurashi naku Evening cicadas sing

Evening cicadas,

Summer's end is calling,

Autumn's voice awakens.

Evening Cicadas Sing: A Metaphor for Leadership

The evening cicada song, "Higurashi," has been a poignant symbol in Japanese culture and art, often representing the transition from one phase to another, such as the shift from summer to autumn. Although simple, this auditory phenomenon can be used as a unique metaphor for leadership and organizational growth. The following article explores how the evening cicadas' song illustrates leadership principles and can inspire individuals in leadership roles.

The Call to Action

Cicadas are most famous for their song, a call that rings through the summer evenings. This sound, particularly the evening cicadas' song, can be likened to a leader's call to action within an organization.

In the corporate landscape, a good leader's vision must resonate with the team, just like the echoing song of the cicada. It should inspire, mobilize, and create alignment, initiating a shared movement toward common goals. It's a song of change, transition, and a new direction - similar to strategic shifts within a company.

Timing and Transition

Cicadas sing at a particular time, marking the transition from summer to autumn. This precise timing can be seen as a metaphor for a leader's understanding of when to act, adapt, or steer the organization in a new direction.

Seasoned leaders recognize the importance of timing in making critical decisions, implementing changes, and introducing innovations. Just as cicadas understand when it's time to sing, a wise leader knows when to make the moves that best benefit the organization.

A Unique Voice

Each species of cicada has a unique song. Likewise, successful leadership requires an individualized approach. A leader must have a distinctive voice, philosophy, and style that sets them apart.

This unique voice in leadership helps build trust, inspire confidence, and foster a sense of identity within the team. Emulating other leaders can be useful to some extent, but true leadership success comes from authentic self-expression and integrity.

The Symphony of Collaboration

While a single cicada's song might not be very loud, a chorus of cicadas can fill the entire evening air with their melody. This collective effort serves as a metaphor for collaborative leadership.

A leader alone can only do so much. However, a harmonious team, driven by a shared vision and mutual respect, can achieve great heights. Like the cicadas, each team member's contribution adds to the symphony, and the leader's role is to conduct this orchestra to its full potential.

Persistence and Resilience

Cicadas are known for their perseverance. Their relentless and consistent song reminds us of the persistence and resilience required in leadership.

Leading an organization through changes, challenges, and growth demands unwavering commitment and a willingness to endure. The relentless song of the cicada epitomizes the grit and determination needed to navigate through obstacles and uncertainties.

Legacy and Renewal

Interestingly, cicadas' lifecycle involves long periods underground before they emerge to sing. This emergence and subsequent singing symbolize renewal, transformation, and legacy.

Leaders often have the task of renewing and transforming organizations. They are charged with leaving a legacy that will endure long after they have moved on, just like the enduring song of the cicadas that resonates through generations.

Leadership Should Be Profound and Multifaceted

The metaphor of the evening cicadas' song is profound and multifaceted. It resonates with various aspects of leadership, from the call to action to the importance of timing, uniqueness, collaboration, resilience, and legacy.

The image of cicadas singing in the evening twilight is a poetic reminder that leadership is not just about power and authority. It's a harmonious blend of vision, empathy, collaboration, and perseverance. Like the cicadas' song that heralds the arrival of autumn, effective leadership heralds positive change, growth, and transformation within an organization.

Just as the world pauses to listen to the mesmerizing song of the evening cicadas, we must also recognize and reflect on these inherent leadership principles that can guide us towards a more profound understanding of what it means to lead.

Be well. Be wise.

Clive