3 lessons in leadership I learned from the bass guitar

For me, the intersection of my scientific roots and the creativity that helps me lead innovation for one of the world’s largest food and agriculture companies came from an unlikely place—the bass!

Playing the bass is a deep passion of mine. I could spend hours covering the greats, from James Jamerson Jr. (You may not know him, but you should! He was the driving force on countless Motown classics) to Verdine White, anchor and cofounder of the iconic band Earth, Wind & Fire.

That turned out to be time well spent. What’s really that different between a TED Talk, supporting a Santana-type solo, or pitching a first-of-its kind innovation? While on the surface they might seem completely separate, they rely on the same three principles.

1. Lead by lifting up

The bass is rarely in the limelight. But together with the drums, the bass drives the beat of the song, at the same time providing the harmonic foundation. It helps set the stage for the singer and solo instruments. The bassist’s number one job is to make everyone sound better. The mood, the feel, and the vibe of the song heavily rides on the bass.

Much like the bass, I’ve always felt that my role as a leader is to set the organization’s foundation and rhythm—moving everyone in the same direction and to the same beat. Like the bass, I try to focus on maximizing everyone’s individual potential while moving collectively with a shared vision to accomplish the organization’s biggest priorities and tackle its hardest challenges.

2. The magic comes from preparation and practice

The best musicians seem so relaxed and in control when they play. The same is true for leaders—whether in the boardroom, the lab, or in customer meetings. The more command you have in the hot seat, the more preparation is required beforehand.

This one I learned from my mother, Hedwig Bilgram, who was a world-famous classical organ and harpsicord player. As a professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich, Germany, practice was her number one expectation for all her students. Growing up I remember her practicing long hours regardless of whether she was playing in front of 50 people or 2,000. She told me, “Everyone who paid for a ticket to listen to me play deserves my fullest effort,” followed by her typical line, “The more effort you put into practice, the more effortless on stage!”

The same is true when you give a presentation or are motivating a global team. Having your material down allows you to deliver the message with confidence and make it stick.

3. Learn to improvise (or walk)

Improvisation is key, especially in jazz music but also in many other styles. The melody, the chord progression, and often the overall structure is set. But for the remainder, the bass player needs to improvise to fit the music. That includes “walking,” which refers to a bass line that remains in constant motion versus sticking to one note. To do this you must know the chord harmonies as well as transitions from one chord to another. Once you’ve mastered this, you will be able to adjust real time to what the band and the audience need.

The same is true in innovation—and business overall. Our world is constantly changing. Knowing how to take the first steps when you’re leading through change is critical. After that it is all about improvisation with a good “chord sheet” of values and vision! There are several areas I rely on as a leader to help navigate new territory.

• Play up: Focus on attracting, developing, and highlighting talent. Surround yourself with people better and smarter than you. At Cargill, we are constantly looking for experts in their fields—from food science to AI to precision fermentation. With this breadth of expertise, new ideas and inputs come from all corners of the world. And when it comes to leadership, raw talent beats expertise every time in the mid to long term.
• Keep learning: Lead with curiosity, questions, and insights. Truly seek to understand the benefits and challenges related to a change. What is happening in the market? How will it benefit customers or consumers? Why is this better? With most changes, you won’t make everyone happy at the beginning. But a “seeking to understand” mindset will take you far towards finding creative solutions.
• Experiment: Test, try, revise, and repeat. Change is constant and our work “walking” teams toward the new and different is never done. Create your best theoretical model, then test, iterate, and always stay open to feedback.

When you lean on these three foundational chords, driving change and making the leap from what you know to what’s possible becomes much easier. Whether you’re moving the audience towards the dance floor or your team to the world’s next great innovation, I hope you find these tips helpful to create memorable and lasting impact.

Florian Schattenmann is CTO and vice president of R&D and innovation at Cargill.