I Learned Leadership from Lionel Richie in the story of “We are the world”
Learning leadership from the production of "We are the World".
I recently watched the documentary “The Greatest Night in Pop,” which tells the behind-the-scenes story of the song “We Are the World.” It was one of the biggest hits in music history, which was created to bring awareness to the famine in Africa. Numerous talented artists came together and completed this masterpiece.
I originally learned about this song when I was a kid. Of course, I discovered it years after its release… At that time, Michael Jackson had passed away, and I started to learn his songs, including this one. MJ was considered one of the most important leads behind the creation of “We are the World”. He was also one of the biggest reasons why this song was such a success.
Artists behind the scene
In the film, we also got to see what each artist brought to this masterpiece. There were Stevie Wonder and Cyndi Lauper, whose vibrant personalities added both energy and unpredictability to the process.
There were Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, who, despite their legendary status, remained humble and gave their all.
Of course, there was Quincy Jones, who managed to do an unbelievable job organizing the voices of all these superstars.
And then there’s Lionel Richie.
Putting things together
Among all these stars, one presence quietly held everything together: Lionel Richie. Having the greatest talents working with each other on what they are best at is not an easy task. Each of them has their own opinion on the song. They might want to out-perform the others. Or they might not be engaged enough because they don't feel the need.
Lionel was incredible for navigating through all these artists and skillfully diffusing tension and guiding the room.
He was able to handle the situation by giving clear instructions, but at the same time not seeming bossy.
He offered encouragement when the group hit a wall, lifting spirits with empathy and ease.
He gave credits and praises to the participants while putting himself last.
To me, this is what true leadership looks like. It isn’t always loud or front-and-center. Often, it’s about humility, emotional intelligence, and quiet confidence.
Even though we might first associate this song with Michael Jackson. Or people talk mostly about other singers’ performances in the song. Lionel Richie is the one who made this song, this part of history, possible. And that is the kind of leader I want to be.