We’ve all experienced unexpected loss. My blog posts are typically optimistic about positive leadership qualities and techniques. But even the best leaders fail sometimes. We don’t always get it right. We fail. People get hurt. It’s not intentional, but it happens. Life (and death) happens.
One of my all-time favorite bands (Linkin Park) wrote many songs about pain, suffering, and death – but many of us were not actually listening. If we were truly connected to his message, we would have known that lead singer Chester Bennington was crying for help. Instead, we enjoyed the melodies and pretended like we understood the lyrics.
Chester committed suicide in 2017 at age 41. If we step back and consider the lyrics of just one of his many hits (because there were many signs), are we ready to admit the signs were there? As leaders, should we have read the tea leaves and taken action?
Here are the lyrics to ONE MORE LIGHT – music/video found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVDzli9OjV0
Should've stayed, were there signs, I ignored?
Can I help you, not to hurt, anymore?
We saw brilliance, when the world, was asleep
There are things that we can have, but can't keep
If they say
Who cares if one more light goes out?
In the sky of a million stars
It flickers, flickers
Who cares when someone's time runs out?
If a moment is all we are
We're quicker, quicker
Who cares if one more light goes out?
Well I do
The reminders pull the floor from your feet
In the kitchen, one more chair than you need oh
And you're angry, and you should be, it's not fair
Just 'cause you can't see it, doesn't mean it, isn't there
If they say
Who cares if one more light goes out?
In the sky of a million stars
It flickers, flickers
Who cares when someone's time runs out?
If a moment is all we are
We're quicker, quicker
Who cares if one more light goes out?
Well I do
Who cares if one more light goes out?
In the sky of a million stars
It flickers, flickers
Who cares when someone's time runs out?
If a moment is all we are
We're quicker, quicker
Who cares if one more light goes out?
Well I do
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If you need more evidence, let’s consider the lyrics to another colossal hit, BATTLE SYMPHONY
I got a long way to go
And a long memory
I've been searching for an answer
Always just out of reach
Blood on the floor
Sirens repeat
I've been searching for the courage
To face my enemies
When they turn down the lights
I hear my battle symphony
All the world in front of me
If my armor breaks
I'll fuse it back together
Battle symphony
Please just don't give up on me
And my eyes are wide awake
For my battle symphony
For my battle symphony
They say that I don't belong
Say that I should retreat
That I'm marching to the rhythm
Of a lonesome defeat
But the sound of your voice
Puts the pain in reverse
No surrender, no illusions
And for better or worse
When they turn down the lights
I hear my battle symphony
All the world in front of me
If my armor breaks
I'll fuse it back together
Battle symphony
Please just don't give up on me
And my eyes are wide awake
If I fall, get knocked down
Pick myself up off the ground
If I fall, get knocked down
Pick myself up off the ground
When they turn down the lights
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I’m not pretending like I saw this coming. I was devastated when I learned that Chester Bennington had committed suicide. As leaders, we failed. We appreciated the music and the melodies, but we missed the message and the signs. We failed as fans (and leaders). We should have been there. I truly believe we (his fans, his band, his managers, his family, his friends) missed an opportunity. We failed him. We should have sensed that Chester needed “more” than we were giving him.
This same sequence of events happens daily to families, coworkers, and others. Let’s strive to be more:
· Aware
· Present
· Caring
· Grateful
· Appreciative
· Thankful
· Hopeful
· Sensitive
· Connected
· Kind
· Human
…and my posts are my own
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