Got a Song Stuck In Your Head? Me Too. Here’s What to Do

#leadership #setthetone #music

You ever wake up with a song in your head? Sometimes when I open my eyes or I’m getting ready to go in the morning a song is just there. It’s not one I’ve heard recently or was listening to the night before but it’s just there. This morning it was Stevie Wonder’s “Knocks Me Off My Feet” for me (yes, I might be dating myself with that one…..)

It kind of sets the tone for the day with me. Sometimes the song that hangs around my brain all morning drives me a bit batty. Maybe it’s a song I don’t like much or haven’t heard in years and have no idea why it’s on my mind.

Other times it’s a song I love or a song that has the ability to lift me up and carry me happily through the day. Sometimes I get a good laugh out of the song that for some unknown reason was the one I woke up humming. I mean how does some song from 1976 end up in my head in 2018….?!

So what to do?

Sometimes I just go with whatever song is in my head and whatever tone that sets for that time period. Some days are maybe meant to be slower, a little sad, or more thoughtful. Maybe some days the mood is better for dancing, joy, and singing along.

Other times, I can override the song with a new song and change the kind of mood or tone I want to go through my day with. It’s about either going with what the day has in store for me, or deciding for myself what I want for that day. Each of these are possible. We can’t always control the events or circumstances, but we can decide how we face it and go through it. I can decide what tone I want to set in the moment.

One thing I’ve learned about leadership is that it is often about setting the tone. What kind of tone do you want to set as a leader? What kind of tone would help a project or meeting you are leading? How does one set that tone? It could be that you set the tone with music. It can also be the environment, furniture arrangement, or surroundings. The agenda, materials, or activities and tasks of a meeting can set the tone. So can the mood or vibe you bring into the room.

When I teach college classes, I always start the class with some kind of fun or interesting question for everyone to answer or some other quick, light ice-breaker. I find this helps set the tone and helps everyone relax a bit and let go of their day and get in the mood to learn from each other. A few times, I put on music as everyone was coming in the room to help set the tone.

So for today, I put a smile on my face and hummed Stevie Wonder all morning. How about you?