It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that (leadership) swing

Dancing toward Badass Leadership | Swing Edition

Yesterday was another Thursday and another fun ballroom class for Robb Coppock and me at Community College of Allegheny County! Both of us had rough days at work and our Judges and Saboteurs were telling us "You don't have to go. It's not like it's graded. Just stay home on the couch... potato-ing." However, we both slipped into Sage mode and encouraged each other to get ready and out the door - and aren't we glad we did! Last night, we learned the Lindy Hop and Swing! As per my usual modus operandi, I looked for what leadership lessons I could learn from the experience.

Clear(ly) communication is key

Traditionally, swing dancing relies on non-verbal communication between partners to signal upcoming moves. A touch at the back or a sway of the arms - these little gestures signal big changes in the moves being performed. However, what Robb and I learned was that, especially as beginners, the subtle directions weren't working. We needed to tailor our communications to our level of skill and expertise and not take it for granted that the other person would immediately catch on. I was immediately transported to all my recent conversations on change management. How you communicate is just as important as what you are communicating. In our case, trying the non-verbal cues ended up frustrating us as we were still learning the steps. After a brief negotiation, we decided that one set of steps before, we would tell the other person our expectations for the next set. Would it be moving from close to loose, a twirl, or a turn? Communicating clearly saved us a lot of exasperation (and toes being stepped on). The same is true of good leaders.

Trust me, I'm reliable

In dance, each partner must trust the other implicitly. This is especially true on a crowded dance floor. The leader must guide their partner not only through the dance steps but around other couples as well to avoid collisions. You must also trust those around you to do the same. These same principles hold in how leaders function in organizations. You have to be aware of guiding your followers, you also have to be aware of how others around you are leading and where they are going to steer clear of injury. The more reliably you can do both, the more trusted you will become by both your followers and others, and the easier making changes will be. Last night, given our inexperience, Robb and I stayed toward the back so we could practice without having to worry about the complexities of the larger group. However, after a bit of practice, we'll be right there in the mix - just like good leaders of change in an organization should be!

Erik and Robb swing dancing at their class.

Slow... slow... quickquick

Swing dancing is fast, dynamic, and fun. Dancers have to adapt to changes in rhythm, speed, and even (Robb and I aren't there yet) dance partners. Leaders, too, must possess the ability to adapt to changing business environments, pivot strategies when necessary, and embrace flexibility - all while communicating and guiding their followers in an environment where they feel trusted and safe. Being adaptable and flexible as a leader means being open to new ideas, willing to learn, and able to adjust your approach to meet the evolving needs of your team and organization - just like when the beat shifts on "Zoot Suit Riot."

See you next week!

Our adventure on the dance floor (read: cafeteria floor) at the Community College of Allegheny County has been much more than learning the Lindy Hop and Swing; it has been a masterclass in leadership. Robb Coppock and I discovered that the dance steps of swing aren't so different from the steps we take as leaders. Clear communication, trust, and adaptability aren't just principles for the ballroom; they're cornerstones of effective leadership.

Through the rhythm of swing, we learned that it's not just about moving to the music but moving together. It's about the back-and-forth, the give-and-take, the being in tune with your partner's and team's needs. We realized that leadership, like dancing, is a partnership where each person has a role that is vital to the overall performance.

We stepped out of our comfort zone (especially as the only same-gender couple!) and into a space where we could practice leading and following in a context that was immediate and real. The beats of "Zoot Suit Riot" may fade, but the lessons remain. Whether it's avoiding stepping on toes in a dance or in a boardroom, the keys to leadership are universal. We left the dance class not just with a new set of steps under our belts, but with a renewed sense of what it means to lead—and to do it with the joy and passion of a swing dancer, fully present in the moment and always ready for the next beat.