A Human Masterpiece
Just when I thought I had read and learned everything about leadership, who knew that picking up the book The Sound of Leadership would provide me with a different perspective and deeper insights! As great as it is, my favorite part describes God as an artist and creator, portraying us as something artistic and special. In the age of AI and robotic machines, with Apple’s creative retina displays, smartphones transitioning to 5G, rockets launching into space and returning, and cars driving themselves, there is nothing, absolutely nothing, like a human being created by God! God is an artist, and we humans were made in His image. Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created mankind in His own image…”¹
The Sound of Leadership describes leadership as an art. “Leadership is an acoustical art.”² Leadership is like music. Just as music is built on notes, Glanzer introduces the Do-Re-Mi Framework for leadership: Listening, Seeing, Learning, Doing, and Loving.
Listen – Leadership begins by listening to God and to others. This foundational act tunes the leader’s inner ear to purpose and people. “Faith comes from hearing the message…” (Romans 10:17).³ Isaiah 30:21 also says, “Your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”⁴
See – Observation follows listening. Leaders must see reality as God sees it, not merely through human eyes. As Elisha prayed in 2 Kings 6:17, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.”⁵
Learn – After listening and seeing, leaders synthesize what they’ve heard and observed. They process truth and form strategies through reflection and discernment. “Let the wise listen and add to their learning…” (Proverbs 1:5).⁶ Glanzer writes, “Reflecting, processing, and interpreting the sounds and sights of the situation… becomes the music that those involved will play.”⁷
Do – Action follows discernment. Leaders must have the courage to act, even in the face of criticism or uncertainty. James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the word… Do what it says.”⁸ Theodore Roosevelt captured this courage: “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena…”⁹
Love – The ultimate tone. Leadership without love is noise. “If I speak… but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1)¹⁰ Glanzer quotes General Eric Shinseki, “You must love those you lead before you can be an effective leader.”¹¹
Since I was a kid, I have been obsessed with music. Not just listening, but actually participating in choirs, singing in groups, attending music school, playing the violin and guitar, and even performing a solo at school. I can say that some things are innate, but even for talented individuals, it takes years to develop a skill or elevate it to another level. I wish I could simply pick up a new instrument, watch a YouTube video, and then play it, but no—it requires days, weeks, months, and even years to achieve. The same applies to leadership. Developing leadership skills takes time; understanding people takes time; creating something new and meaningful takes time.
Glanzer applies the same principle to leadership. He writes, “Everyone is called to serve. Some are chosen to lead. God takes great delight in creating individual masterpieces that sing His songs and play His music to the world.”¹² To read people, to lead a team, and to serve society is like learning and applying music—it takes time, training, and trust in the Voice of One.
Leadership, as Glanzer sees it, is like participating in a divine symphony. Each of us has been given a unique sound, and together, we are meant to create something beautiful and full of purpose. It’s not about performing solo—it’s about blending, harmonizing, and contributing to something bigger than ourselves, conducted by God Himself. In a world that thrives on chaos and noise, our role is to tune in to the Master Conductor and play our part well.
I’ve started asking myself: what kind of music is my leadership creating? Is it a rushed, off-key tune trying to impress others, or is it part of the rich, God-composed melody that brings peace, hope, and love into the world? Glanzer’s book reminded me that great leadership doesn’t always come with applause—it comes when we’re in sync with God’s rhythm and we choose to play the notes He’s written for our lives.
Footnotes
- Genesis 1:27, NIV.
- Glanzer, Perry. The Sound of Leadership, p. xii.
- Romans 10:17, NIV.
- Isaiah 30:21, NIV.
- 2 Kings 6:17, NIV.
- Proverbs 1:5, NIV.
- Glanzer, Perry. The Sound of Leadership, p. 54.
- James 1:22, NIV.
- Roosevelt, Theodore. “Citizenship in a Republic” speech, 1910.
- 1 Corinthians 13:1, NIV.
- Glanzer, Perry. The Sound of Leadership, p. 89.
- Glanzer, Perry. p. 91.
About the Author
Ivan Ostrovsky
13 responses to “A Human Masterpiece”
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Ivan,
Thank you for the clear overview of Glanzer. You remind us of a key piece in the book that “leadership does not always come with applause.” Sometimes people forget that part, and sometimes people don’t like what they experienced.
We are called to play His music and seek His approval. Have you found any keys to avoiding the distraction of others’ approval and remaining focused on His?
Darren, when I read your comment, the first thing that came to mind was Romans 12:18, which states, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” I can say that honoring this verse has taken me very far in life. I believe there are two sides to how we approach the question of “approval of others.” I used to be a people pleaser, wanting everyone to think and speak highly of me. The problem with that is that what others said about me became more important than what God said about me. My kindness and desire to please others led to burnout and being taken advantage of. But then there is another side, which involves being cautious about how I respond to and treat others. If I didn’t care, what I say could come across as rude and inconsiderate. At the end of the day, I will not be able to please everyone with what I do and how I live my life.
– Placing on what God thinks about me first.
– Live at peace with everyone by being kind, patient, and loving.
– I aim to be not a people pleaser, but a doer of what is right. I won’t let others take advantage of my kindness while also being mindful of them and helpful where I can.
Ivan, I am drawn to the self-reflection in your concluding paragraph. In keeping with the music theme, I recognize the thin line separating leading worship and performing on the stage. I am glad I am not a worship leader (well, so is the church!) having to check my attitude every time we gather. Your reflection makes it clear that all of us hold that tension between leading with excellence for the benefit of others and simply leading with pride.
Darren beat me to the punch! I wanted to hear how you manage that tension. Thank you for responding to the question before I had the chance to ask.
Absolutely! Being a worship leader is not the easiest task. Although I have never held a position in high-scale worship services, I have many friends who do, and it’s a lot of pressure.
Darren is always the fastest to comment on posts! Lol. I appreciate your comment.
Ivan,
You note Glanzer’s reminder that “action follows discernment.” Discernment in community has been such an essential part of moving toward thriving in this season for me, and I’m always curious how others who note discernment effectively put that into practice. So, what has worked well for you to cultivate a “discernment first” posture? What have you done to effectively remove barriers there?
What a great question, Jeremiah! My understanding of discernment is that one seeks the will of God by attentively listening to His voice. I recently watched a video of a father who surprised his son at martial arts practice. The son had his eyes covered, thinking that his instructor was giving him directions on what to do next. As he listened to the instructor’s voice and hit where he was told, the father switched places with the instructor. The moment the father started giving instructions, the boy became confused because he began to recognize his father’s voice. He kept hitting until the father continued speaking, slowly realizing that this must be his father. He took off his blindfold and jumped into his father’s arms with joy, happy that it was his father and that he was back home. John 10:27 says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Actively listening to my Father’s voice and letting the Spirit guide my next steps in this fast-passing world is crucial. For me, cultivating discernment looks a lot like slowing down my rhythm and finding a quiet place for reflection. I will admit, it is not easy to do, especially as we approach the final stages of our first year in the Doctoral program. I’m not sure if I have answered your questions, but finding daily reflection time through journaling, listening to my community’s needs, and seeking spiritual direction from the Father by listening to His voice is what helps me.
Thanks for sharing this reflection, Ivan. One of the things I have been thinking about is slowing down and pacing myself – even as a leader. Is it possible to slow down in this fast-paced and ever-changing world? Or should we adopt other coping strategies?
Alex, I believe it’s possible to find ways to slow down in this fast-paced world. We live in an age of entertainment. I’ve noticed that wherever I go, people are always on their phones (including myself). I think this is because we are so attached to them that they’ve become a part of our habits. For some reason, we consistently find time to watch sports highlights, catch our favorite TV shows, spend hours on YouTube, play phone games, or scroll through social media posts, yet struggle to find enough time to rest and adapt to the demands of our work. John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Maybe, just maybe, we should spend less time on our phones and more at the feet of Jesus to feel His peace. I am certain that Jesus’s life on Earth was exhausting, busy, and filled with many tasks; yet He always found time with the Father. I believe it is our choice whether we want to slow down or not, and that it may look different for everyone.
Thanks, Ivan! This is a great reminder for me. I am also aware of my connection to the phone, and we definitely can “form new patterns,” as we read in Rocks’ book last week. Blessings for the week ahead.
Ivan,
I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and personal reflections. Music can be incredibly uplifting, and whoever listens can perceive and resonate differently with it, which is where beauty truly lies. The ability to lead distinct individuals into one divine symphony is extraordinary, humbling, and rewarding.
Much of the focus of the reading has been on discernment and listening (and hearing) of God’s voice. What if there is no music or voice present? What does that look like and how would we thrive in those seasons?
Michal, I love that question! “What if there is no music or voice present? What does that look like, and how would we navigate those seasons?” I know that for me, most of the time, I don’t have that music in my life, and it can be quite boring and discouraging. I am grateful for Jesus’s example of how even He couldn’t hear from His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane. The sin of this world was separating the Son from the Father, and even Jesus had to go by faith all the way to the cross without feeling or hearing from the Father. When I do not feel music or feel discouraged, applying faith to whatever I am going through is the best thing I can do.
I always appreciate your blogs. You bring the books to life and have an energy that animates the principles. Thank you for bringing in the actual practice that is required to learn an instrument well. Sometimes I forget that change and growth takes time. I read all the material for this course and am expecting myself to be different the next week. There is beauty in the music even when we are at the beginners level. There will be off-key sounds, wrong tempos and dissonance, but the tune somehow shows through. I must remember this as I grow in leadership- practice makes it easier and elevated in due time.
Jess, that’s very kind of you to say! I appreciate your nice words and feedback about my blogs. I really resonate with you regarding how we are just in the beginning stages of learning and how each week brings something new. That’s true; the melody somehow shines through, and while there is still so much for us to accomplish and a distance to cover, as we continue learning, let’s enjoy the sounds of this journey!