I am not much of a TV watcher. (I have basic cable and recently learned what a PVR was). I’m often confused or bored when people talk about the latest episodes of TV dramas. I have certainly never liked reality shows. That said, I have a crazy obsession with The Voice and American Idol. Recently asked by my 7 year old son why I love it and why I cry when I watch, I had to stop and reflect before answering.

I believe that the best musical artists carry traits that the best leaders also share. Here are a few tips that leadership can learn from shows like The Voice:

Watch Your Tone

Being able to adjust your tone to any situation is critical to successful business communication. If you sound monotonous, ineffectual, annoying, or even dispassionate you may lose your audience (a client, an investor or an employee). If your tone is lackluster, they think you’re bored. If you sound angry or bullying, your aggressive style can turn people off. Great artists (and great leaders) tailor their tone. If you suit your tone to a specific occasion, you’ll win the day or at least that moment.

Stop Overthinking

Overthinking isn’t something you’re born doing, it’s a learned habit you form over time, usually as a defense mechanism to the possibility of failure. Musical artists get lost in their heads, worried they missed a note, or sang off key and when they are caught up in overthinking they miss all the goodness of the moment. They lose their connection to the song or the audience. Striving for perfection is a recipe for disaster, and the sooner you give up those perfectionist tendencies, the sooner you’ll move past the thing that’s occupying all your thoughts. Being your perfectly human self and that alone will draw people and opportunities to you.

Connect to your Audience

Much has been written on this topic (for leader and sales reps) so I won’t do it the justice it deserves but it does deserve a spot on this list. Think about some of the greatest performers you have seen. They connect. They are in flow and in tune with their audience. They listen and know full well what the audience is needing and wanting. They make eye contact. Deeply look into the eyes of some of your audience members or listeners. Notice how they are reacting and what they are connecting to. If you’re not connecting, acknowledge it. The more authentic you can be with yourself and your audience, the easier it will be to connect in the end. Employees don’t quit companies, their quit their leaders. If you aren’t connecting with them, they will quit you.

Feel the Emotion

Just tonight I was sitting with my son as he practiced his piano. He was doing the song by rote, simply getting his homework done and not connecting with the music in any way. He asked me how he did. I said “technically good, emotionally you have work to do”. He’s heard me say this before. I reminded him “It’s the attitude by which you play, more than how well you played”. As a listener, I tune out when the musician is lacking emotional connection to the song. I want to share the moment with the artist. I want to know that the artist knows how I feel. I want his music to find a way to express emotion in ways I could not. A great leader has the capacity to feel the emotion, to have empathy and understanding for his audience. A great leader has access to his emotions and doesn’t sugar coat his message or hide his feelings. He’s not afraid to share a real feeling and be vulnerable and when that happens, we are riveted and inspired.

No One Can Do it Like You Can

The best musicians understand that no one can do a song like they can. They are clear on their strengths and their weaknesses as a performer and they leverage their strengths to the fullest extent. They never try to be another artist. They bring their full selves to each performance and never compare themselves to others. Great leaders understand this. They are authentic and have learned how to use their full authentic voice. The most inspiring and influential leaders therefore don’t lead because of what they do (though they do plenty), but because of who they are, naturally.