The Boss

A week ago tonight I had a bucket list experience: I saw Bruce Springsteen in concert!

I’ve been a fan since the 80s but had never been to a show. I’m so glad I finally did.

Bruce’s group, the legendary E Street Band, is still made up of almost all the same musicians that started together 5 decades ago. They are truly a force.

On top of singing along to some of the greatest hits and hearing a few songs I didn’t recognize at all, I was impressed by the camaraderie and confidence that comes from playing together for a lifetime. The talent is undeniable, but it was the mutual love that struck me.

After nearly 3 hours of rock, without an intermission, Bruce led the band to their exit. But instead of going first down the ramp, he stopped. He turned and had a moment with each of the dozen or so performers as they went past him to the backstage area. It was just a few words, a hug for some, a pat on the back for others. I could see on the jumbo screens that the thing he said most frequently was “Thank You”.

I found it very moving.

Bruce returned for a final solo acoustic song to close out the night. But the whole show really seemed to be a celebration of all that E Street has been for as long as I’ve been alive. It felt both intimate and overpowering. To have that kind of history and legacy and still commit to performing at the highest level, and clearly have a blast doing it together; that’s truly special.

There’s no question that Bruce is the leader. We don’t call him “The Boss” by accident. But what I saw was genuine gratitude to these fellow artists who are more like family than coworkers. And those extra moments spent acknowledging the contributions of each one at the end of a long show only added to the experience for me as a fan.

I don’t know what the secret is to that kind of longevity. There are well documented traps and troubles that break up bands and end careers. Bruce made sure to pay tribute to the two E Street legends who are no longer living. But I have a hunch that saying a sincere and individual thank you every night while tens of thousands of people scream their appreciation helps a lot.

Do your team members know how grateful you are for their particular roles in what you’re accomplishing together?

Contact me if I can be helpful to you and/or your organization.

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