Written by: Linda Mendez on April 23, 2025

Singing has always been my escape, a way to clear my mind and release what weighs me down. I quickly learned a powerful truth in choir: you are not in control. Someone else is conducting, others are harmonizing alongside you, and if you miss a note, chances are no one will notice. You blend into the collective, a face among many, a voice among a sea of others. For someone who values control, who often steps into leadership roles, and who was constantly under watchful eyes as a pastor’s kid, choir became my refuge. It was the one place I did not have to be in charge. I could just be. To this day, I still sing in choirs as a form of therapy. Choir taught me I was never alone and that together, people can create something far more beautiful than any one person could on their own.

Now, I get to witness that same experience unfold in my children. Both of my kids love music and singing. As a mother, it has been gratifying to see them find solace in choir, just as I did. My eldest is a natural performer, frequently chosen for solos, yet he tends to shy away from the spotlight in everyday life. Choir has given him a place to build self-esteem and connect with his identity. My youngest, on the other hand, is quite the opposite. He loves attention and has no problem being the center of it. Choir has been challenging for him, not because of confidence but because it requires restraint. It asks him to listen, collaborate, and understand that it is not just about his voice, but about singing together. At one point, I questioned whether choir was the right fit for him. Some even hinted he might be tone-deaf, though, as his mom, I would never say that aloud!

Hoping for some direction, I approached the choir director to discuss whether stepping back might be best. Her response stayed with me. She said, “Linda, Kai is not tone-deaf; he just has not found his voice yet. My job is to help him and all the kids discover their voice, learn to use it, and bring them together to worship as one.” At that moment, I was reminded again of the magic of choir. That together, we can achieve something beautiful. Moreover, more importantly, everyone has a voice; sometimes, it just takes the right leadership to help them find it.

As I read The Sound of Leadership by Jules Glanzer, I deeply appreciated how he skillfully weaves musical metaphors into the fabric of leadership. He draws compelling connections between the harmony and structure found in music and the essential qualities required for Christ-centered, Kingdom-focused leadership. Glanzer affirms that “God-honoring, kingdom-seeking, biblically rooted leadership has a scale too,” emphasizing that authentic leadership emerges when three elements align: a situation in need of change, a group willing to pursue that change, and a leader who is both prepared and called to bring them together for the common good. Within this context, he highlights five core actions that shape effective leadership: Listen, See, Learn, Do, and Love.[1]

He begins with the foundational action of Listening, stating, “Leadership begins with listening, first to the voice of God, and then to the voices of people.” [2] Effective listening is essential in a choir, not just to the voices within your section but to the entire ensemble. Harmony depends on every part being attuned to one another. If each section sings to its own beat and rhythm, the result is chaos, not music. Success in a choir requires listening to those around you and staying in sync with the Conductor’s lead. Glanzer draws a similar parallel with the leadership skill of listening. He explains, “When attempting to solve problems, set goals, launch new programs, or prepare for strategic planning, listening to the people to hear their concerns, vision, and passions is important. However, listening to the voice of God is more important than listening to the people.” [3] Later in the book, Glanzer explores how leaders can navigate the many voices vying for their attention. He emphasizes that effective leadership does not mean giving equal weight to every opinion. Instead, a wise leader must develop “the ability to hold the voices in tension and bring the sides together.” This requires spiritual discernment, seeking God’s guidance to silently and prayerfully prioritize which voices align with the mission. From that place of clarity, the leader can then determine the right course of action to move the vision forward and turn purpose into reality.” [4]

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, we often see Him stepping away from the crowds to be alone with God. He constantly communed with His Father, drawing strength and clarity from those quiet moments. This deep connection allowed Him to recognize God’s whisper and receive divine encouragement as He walked among people and performed miracles. As Glanzer beautifully puts it, “Listening to the Voice of One leads to living a God-arranged life in which the variation of the tones of the leadership scale become a concert of service and praise.” When we intentionally create space to be with and truly know the One, we can lead from that voice, guiding others with clarity, purpose, and humility.[5]

The second action is to See. “Carefully observe the various aspects of the situation and attempt to see the situation the way God sees it. Seeing the situation as God sees it provides purpose, vision, and direction, often resulting in a third way.” [6] Imagine you are part of an orchestra and a violinist reading your sheet music. From your seat, all you see is your part, the notes, the rhythm, the dynamics you need to play. If something sounds off, your instinct might be to play louder or adjust your timing based only on what you hear around you. However, you are still just reacting from your limited position. Now imagine stepping up onto the Conductor’s podium. From there, you see not just one section but how every part fits together: strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion. You hear the harmonies, anticipate the tensions, and guide the resolution. From that higher vantage point, the music makes sense. What felt like dissonance on your part might be a purposeful clash that resolves beautifully a few measures later. That is what it is like to seek God’s perspective. Instead of reacting from our limited view, we ask for His higher, fuller vision. From there, what once seemed like a problem with only two conflicting solutions often reveals a third way that brings harmony, direction, and beauty we could not see before.

Next comes the action of Learning. My parents enrolled me in piano lessons as a child, and I hated it. I loved the idea of playing the piano, but I lacked the discipline to practice and grow. Later, when I began singing in choirs, I realized how much sticking with the piano would have helped me. While others could look at a music sheet and immediately find their part, I had to work harder, slowly figuring things out, note by note. However, the more time I spent in choir, the more I sat with the music; the easier it became to read and understand where I needed to go next. That learning curve taught me something valuable: consistency breeds confidence. Glanzer reflects a similar truth in his book. He explains that effective leaders must learn to hear God’s guidance, listen to others, and carefully observe situations from all perspectives, especially through God’s eyes. From that process, a leader begins to compose a new vision, like writing a piece of music. Over time, the more you engage in this practice, reflecting, interpreting, and discerning, the more natural it becomes. Eventually, you craft a “musical score” for leadership that others can follow, contribute to, and be uplifted by. Like music, leadership takes patience, practice, and a willingness to learn from every note. [7]

The action of Doing is often the scariest for me, as I fear failure and letting others down. It requires taking all the gathered information and putting it into action for the world to see. As Glanzer puts it: “Listening, seeing, and Learning help you evaluate the past and focus on the future. They help you create the song you are called to direct. All that’s left is to play the music.” Growing up as a pastor’s kid, I was taught to be someone others approved of, often second-guessing decisions out of fear of judgment. This carried into adulthood, marriage, motherhood, and even ministry, where I struggled to make decisions for fear of disappointing others. However, as my relationship with Christ deepened, I realized that as long as my decisions reflected Him and served His purpose, others’ opinions became background noise. You must know the difference between noise and music to create something beautiful. Glanzer states, “If you want to participate in what God is doing in the world, you must respond to the call by taking action to fill God’s world with His music.” [8]

The last action Glanzer presents is Love. The apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, “If I speak in the tongues of humans and angels but do not have Love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains but do not have Love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions and if I hand over my body so that I may boast but do not have Love, I gain nothing.” [9] According to Glanzer, the most significant expression of God’s symphony is Love.

Through the remainder of his book, Glanzer dives deeper into some of these concepts, explaining that the leader who practices the acoustical art of leadership is constantly fine-tuning the sound, listening, adjusting, and aligning each voice for a harmonious outcome.[10] Like a skilled conductor, they bring together diverse perspectives and talents, shaping them into a unified vision that inspires those actively working toward the preferred future and impacts those who witness their efforts. In this kind of leadership, the harmony created is not just organizational; it is transformational, resonating far beyond the immediate moment and inviting others into something greater.

As I reflect on Glanzer’s words, I am reminded that leadership through the lens of faith means following the example of Jesus, who spoke truth in Love and lived with a purpose far greater than Himself. Our calling is to devote our lives to influencing others toward God’s purposes here on earth. We are invited to weave the vision and values of eternity into the fabric of our daily lives. We are called to find everyone’s voice and harmonize it in a sea of voices. As Glanzer concludes in his book, even when God’s ways are beyond our understanding, our role is not to have all the answers but to trust Him completely and to lead with faithfulness from that place of trust.[11] God is the ultimate Conductor; when we walk closely with Him and seek His will each day, we become His instruments, hands, and feet, leading the chorus of His work here on earth.

[1] Glanzer, Jules. “The Sound of Leadership.” (Tx: Invite Press, 2023) pg. 2

[2] Glanzer, pg.2

[3] Glanzer, pg. 4

[4] Glanzer, pg.15

[5] Glanzer, pg. 31-32

[6] Glanzer, pg. 4

[7] Glanzer, pg. 5

[8] Glanzer, pg. 5-6

[9] Bible, NRSV Version. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2013&version=NRSVUE

[10] Glanzer, pg. 72

[11] Glanzer, pg. 119-127

About the Author

Linda Mendez