Leadership Wisdom of the Week #20

“It’s the pop singer’s day off. No one needs me today.”

– Ilkka Alanko
Neljä Ruusua, Poplaulajan vapaapäivä

This week’s quote is something of a mantra that has followed me for many years in working life. In this song by Neljä Ruusua, the singer reflects on how it is his job to help other people take their minds off everyday work and mundane stresses, and to give them some time off. And yet, even the pop singer — who is there for everybody else — needs to take time off in order to be available to others.

There must be something deeply rewarding in being able to create those moments for people, but it can be exhausting too. I can only imagine what it is like to travel around the country, or even the world, and perform to a new audience every day — and to do it with authenticity, as if it were the first time for the performer as well.

The same logic applies to many leaders. One of our main tasks is to enable other people to succeed in what they do, and in that sense, we are there for other people. It can be extremely rewarding, but it can also take a lot of energy. People often come to you when they have problems, and you are there to show empathy and help find solutions.

No one has access to an endless amount of empathy, presence and energy for others. So in order to be the best versions of ourselves for other people, we also need to recharge our batteries by not being available, and by not thinking about the challenges our people are struggling with. For many of us, it may take days — hopefully not weeks — to stop thinking about work-related matters during our holidays.

This week’s quote is a simple reminder that even pop singers need and deserve their days off.

And with that, the Leadership Wisdom of the Week newsletter will take a summer break and return sometime in August — hopefully full of new energy and inspiration from many interesting sources that I have happened to come across without thinking about writing a blog text. For me, that is what pop singers’ days off are all about: relaxation, inspiration and renewal.

Wishing you the same for this summer!