Thanks to my wife, I got to experience the Grammy Award-winning Jon Batiste live in concert this week. I say “experience” because his jazzy fusion of funk, rock, R&B, blues, soul, and African-style percussion was mesmerizing.
Batiste is one of those artists who successfully draw their audiences into their performances—at some point we ceased being mere consumers and became participants. That takes leadership. It takes the ability to foster trust.
So how did he do it? From my observations, Batiste harnesses three aspects of trust to cultivate trust in his audiences.
- The Power of Authenticity. Jon Batiste illuminates the stage with unapologetic joy. He’s like a kid in a candy store when he gets to play with and for others. He brings every bit of himself—his heritage, beliefs, dreams, and struggles—to his genre-bending music.
- Competency is an Investment. The 90 minutes I experienced Tuesday night was the result of years of honing his craft. Two degrees from Juilliard, Seven years leading the band on the Late Show, countless hours practicing and pushing himself as an artist.
- Trust unlocks the Team. Throughout the night, he listened to and responded to the band he was “leading.” A chord added here, a suggested rhythm there—he would pick up what they offered, acknowledge them, and run with it, giving us a truly one-of-a-kind experience.
You may never headline a music concert, but you can use these same principles to foster trust and engagement at home and work. Double down on who you are and dive in wholeheartedly. Keep seeking opportunities to challenge and grow yourself. Surround yourself with diverse experts and let them cook!
For Reflection: which of these three aspects of trust do you need to work on?
