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Name: BarryNet Articles & Reviews Date/Time: 8/8/2019 7:46 PM Subject: Lead Like Barry Manilow: Five Powerful Lessons From A Consummate Pop Artist
Forbes, 08 August 2019 Last night I saw Barry Manilow perform on Broadway, and I observed five things he does that evince strong leadership. Do any one of them, and you'll be a stronger leader. Do them all, and you may become the sensation in your field that Barry is in his. Here's how to lead like the consummate pop artist, Barry Manilow: Why do Barry's songs hold up for decades? Are they magically imbued with something special that no one can quite explain? Maybe. He's gifted, no doubt about it. But above all else, he works at the craft of songwriting. Hard. And often. He even tells the audience that his goal in life was to be a songwriter, not a performer. Songs as good as "Daybreak," "Copacabana" and "Could It Be Magic" don't write themselves. He does mention that one song came to him fully formed in a dream. Paul McCartney has said the same thing about "Yesterday." But although Barry and Paul are both supremely talented writers, they also focus like lasers on the craft of songwriting, and they never stop working on it. It's also worth noting that Barry shares the writing credits for all of the above songs with other people. Lead Like Barry. Master the skill at the heart of your work. Barry Manilow is just as powerful a performer as he is a songwriter. He brings his A game night after night. It can't be easy singing the same songs for almost fifty years, but he still gives them his all. Robert McKee says that screenwriting at its best follows a rule created by the performing arts: "Save the best for last." That's Manilow in concert. Each song is structured to build to an emotional climax, and the show itself is structured that way too. Lead Like Barry. Bring your work to life. What's astonishing about Manilow's performing acumen is that singing and playing music is an anxiety-laden experience for him. Consider this recent exchange he had with Rob Tannenbaum in The New York Times: “Audiences in your shows are always giddy. When you perform, are you also having a good time?" "I never have a good time. I’m working. I kind of bleed up there, night after night, because in order to do these songs, I’ve got to find it in my stomach. Will I be having a good time like they are? No." You wouldn't know this by watching him, however. Whatever self-doubts and agita he may have on stage, he keeps it all well hidden. As well he should. We've paid a lot of money to be there. How entertaining would it be if after every song he said, "Man, I'm really nervous up here"? Lead Like Barry. Know that your work is about serving others, not yourself. Throughout his two-hour show, Manilow constantly thanks the audience. He tells us that he owes his success to our support. He expresses gratitude and humility for having friends like us all over the world. He sincerely utters those two magic words that are too often said without feeling or meaning: "Thank you." How often do you thank the people who've helped you become the success you are? Does your gratitude come from the heart? In a previous column here, I talked about how making a regular practice of writing unsolicited recommendations on LinkedIn is a simple way to thank the people who have enriched your life. It takes no more than six minutes but makes a big difference. In another column, I explained how to reclaim the lost art of handwritten thank-you notes. Lead Like Barry. Be grateful, and not only in your heart. In your actions, too. Although there is a healthy dose of self-promotion in his shows, Barry Manilow in concert is not an egotist. He makes self-deprecating jokes throughout. Not a lot, but enough to let us know he doesn't take himself too seriously. For example, he displays the cover of his first album and then says, "I look like Taylor Swift on a bad hair day." He jokes about his sex appeal and the size of his nose. It's honest and refreshing and makes him relatable. Lead Like Barry. Disarm your critics by taking yourself down a few pegs from time to time. 
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