Leadership Lessons from The Greatest Night in Pop

My Gen-X heart could not have been happier, watching “The Greatest Night in Pop” documentary on Netflix. I’ve always been a “liner notes” kid who reveled in the thrill of cracking open a new cassette tape or c.d. and reading the lyrics and the liner notes of the album. I loved shows like Pop Up Video on VH1, where I got to learn all kinds of random trivia about my favorite artists.

I settled into watching “The Greatest Night in Pop”, which revisits the epic night all of the biggest musicians of 1985 would assemble to record a song for World Aid. The documentary gave us an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into how this seemingly impossible feat was accomplished. I pressed play with the same gleeful anticipation I would have had as a kid, only this time, I was watching through the lens of a speaker who helps companies invest in their leaders by teaching them how to become better communicators.

A few themes that leaped out at me as I watched were tied to teamwork, leadership skills, interpersonal dynamics, and communication. Below are a few that I thought were worth noting and sharing!

The Real Work of a Team

First, when it comes to teams, we can’t forget that they are formed to achieve a goal. This is the difference between teams and a family, which is why I wince a bit when companies tout being a “work family.” Teams come together to accomplish something; while families simply exist, whether there’s a goal or not. In business, there is always a goal, and this scenario was no different.

In the documentary, a clear goal was set from the beginning - to raise money to help fight and relieve starvation from famine in Africa. Renowned entertainer and activist Harry Belafonte was inspired by a similar humanitarian effort and was the driving force behind the idea that “We Are the World” was born of. At the start of the recording, the musicians were reminded by a short speech that this was the reason why all of them were there. It set the tone for the session by putting the heart and intention of the project on everyone’s minds from the very start.

If you are a CEO, founder, leader, or manager, it is important to remember the “why” behind your objectives and keep that at the center of the initiatives set forth to accomplish those goals. Remind your people why they’re there, why you need them, and why their work matters.

Everyone Must Play their Part

When working with teams in large corporations, I often hear conversations surrounding silos and how to break out of them. Most times when I’ve led sessions, participants report having the opportunity to connect with their colleagues in other areas of the business as one of their favorite parts. It’s commonplace that when companies grow their teams (especially global ones) it can be difficult to maintain a sense of connection and oneness among them.

What we saw in “The Greatest Night in Pop” is the beauty in cross-functioning and collaboration. We saw Huey Lewis straining to belt his part out, and Michael Jackson trying to coach him into the right key. We saw Smokey Robinson challenge Stevie Wonder on whether or not incorporating Swahili into the song was a good idea. We saw Stevie later on, find a way to help Bob Dylan relax his shoulders a bit, in what was a visibly uncomfortable setting for him.

Everyone played their part to make the song the best it could be. From the logistical coordination, scheduling, the engineers, and all of the moving parts required that went on behind the scenes, this took a lot of work. Seeing everyone leverage their strengths, stay in their lanes, but still move in a spirit of collaboration was awesome.

Check Your Ego at the Door

Quincy Jones (the documentary on his extraordinary life and career is really good too, by the way, also on Netflix) grabbed a marker and wrote this on a sign that was taped to the door. It was an appropriate reminder for any team that’s working on something big, let alone a group of the biggest stars on the planet.

When companies are recruiting for talent, they claim to want the best the job market has to offer. When the best and most brilliant minds in any field are asked to work together, however, egos can undoubtedly cross the threshold of the door with them.

The request to “check your ego at the door” was a simple yet effective way to make it clear that in that room, it was about the music and the task at hand. As a leader, it is crucial to keep in mind that egos - including yours - cannot and should not interfere with the work. It trips everybody up and slows down the process in unnecessary ways.

People Skills are a Superpower

If Quincy Jones was the head coach of this team, Lionel Richie was the team captain. Lionel had the most premium set of people skills I’ve seen on display in a long time. Everybody knew him, liked him, and was willing to work with him on this project. That said a great deal about his character and his ability to build real relationships in an industry known for being fake and fleeting.

From co-writing the song with Michael, to hosting the AMAs that night, to helping keep the energy up during the hours-long recording session, Lionel put on a masterclass in the complex and demanding nature of leadership. It is not easy by any means. Further, when there’s work to do that requires the contributions of a variety of people from different backgrounds and skill sets, the person leading that team needs the ability to connect with those team members in various ways. Put plainly, it cannot be overstated how “people skills” matter in leadership and can be a superpower for those who understand their value.

Communication is Everything

All of the organizing and corraling to get “We Are the World” recorded was impossible without effective communication. This was in a time before cell phones and social media, which allowed for a little bit more discretion than we would expect to see today. Nonetheless, keeping it a secret and on schedule took clear and concise communication from everyone involved. Time was of the essence and the risk of it getting leaked to the press was high. That meant all involved had to know and understand the mission and communicate about it with clarity and urgency. This rings true in how we communicate now.

There are more channels by which to accomplish that these days, but the essential nature of effective communication remains the same. Speak up, ask for what you need, listen well, work through conflict, and don’t forget that you’re talking to real humans - not minions on an assembly line. These skills will serve any leader well.

I’ll close by saying “The Greatest Night in Pop” was a joy to watch because it was a reminder that we need leaders with big visions who have the cognitive and people skills to see those visions carried out by the talent on their teams. In this case, what we witnessed was something so powerful and impactful, that we’re still talking about it 40 years later. I’m left inspired, knowing that when we come together under a mission meant to make things better in the world, amazing things can happen.

Thanks for reading!

Dr. Amber L. Wright