What’s on your playlist?
In our family, one of the things that got introduced during COVID was a family Spotify account. My teenage sons thought that it was a great idea, and I have to admit, it’s unquestionably my #1 app. I listen to music throughout the day while I work and it is my podcast feed. I do have one complaint about it though…
The algorithm that shuffles songs on playlists tends to repeat the same songs over and over, leaving a good portion of a list unplayed. It will even repeat a song within an hour on occasion. My personal hack for this is that I broke up my “Liked” songs into smaller playlists of about 50 songs each. I listen to a list in order and then go to my next list.
One thing I do like on Spotify is it’s introduction of new songs. It suggests songs similar to what it knows I like. It also suggests new songs by artists it knows I like. I must admit, without this, I’d be prone to listening to the same songs over and over. I’m a child of the 80s and I love 80s music, but I can’t (or shouldn’t) just limit myself to that. When I get a new song suggested, if I like it, it goes on the latest list.
I believe there’s a parallel to our development as leaders. We may have our favorites and greatest hits that we took in during our formative years. We may even go back to those periodically to refresh our minds on lessons learned. Still, it’s essential that we continue to introduce new thought, or maybe the most contemporary expression of timeless thought. Even more important is thought that challenges what we think we already know or are convinced of. Otherwise, we risk stunting our own growth through a self-constructed echo-chamber.
This begs the question: What are each of us doing to make sure we’re prompted to look for new resources and thought? Are we keeping up with what our favorite authors have done most recently?
Let me give you two recent examples:
Over the holiday break, I was listening to a podcast with Simon Sinek, Brene Brown and Adam Grant. What drew me to the podcast was Sinek and Brown. I must confess, I didn’t know who Adam Grant was but I really liked him. His cohosts’ endorsement was enough. I finished one of his books (Give and Take) already and am starting the second this week (Think Again).
I’m a big fan of Liz Wiseman. I’ve recommended Multipliers probably more than any other single leadership book. I really like Rookie Smarts as well. So, when Impact Players came out, it was a must read. Finished it yesterday.
Please don’t take this as a self-brag. I just work really hard at paying attention to who’s doing, saying and writing what and how that can be useful for me and my clients. And I know I have to keep sourcing new information.
How about you? What’s on your playlist? And maybe more importantly, what should be?