Intuition Isn’t Magic—It’s a Muscle
For some leaders, “trust your gut” is second nature. For others, it takes practice. Intuition grows when you exercise it early and often—something many gospel singers learn young while listening, blending, and responding to the moment.
I learned this firsthand under my favorite minister of music, Gaye Arbuckle—a Stellar Award–nominee and gospel recording artist—during seven powerful years in Concord Church’s music ministry here in Dallas. Under Gaye, we didn’t just learn notes. We learned leadership.
The Hallway Masterclass with Gaye Arbuckle
Back in 2017–2018, Gaye ran a spontaneous Instagram series. She’d catch one of us in the hall, hit record, and we’d deliver a verse and chorus in harmony—impromptu and under 60 seconds (remember IG’s limit?). No riffs or ad-libs. Just the notes…and something deeper.
Both of us began leading solos for adult mass choirs as kids—I was 12, and Gaye was even younger, soon recording with gospel legend James Cleveland. Those early reps forged skills that leaders spend years trying to build later.
What Gospel Choirs Teach About Leadership
Even with a familiar hymn, gospel culture—call & response, communal timing, shared story—turns music into a leadership lab. Watch closely and you’ll spot:
Emotional Intelligence in Real Time
Reading the room, regulating your own energy, and elevating others’ emotion—on cue.
Intuition & Rapid Decision-Making
When to enter, when to hold, when to rise—micro-choices that keep teams in sync under pressure.
Active Listening & Situational Awareness
Locking blend and balance requires deep listening to your section, the director, and the room.
Trust, Psychological Safety & Belonging
You sing bolder when you know your section has you. That safety drives performance.
Adaptive Leadership & Shared Ownership
Passing the mic to different voices builds capacity and keeps the whole stronger than the sum.
Discipline, Repetition & Excellence
Tight harmonies come from consistent practice—just like high-performing teams.
From the Choir Stand to Carnegie Hall—and the Boardroom
Many corporate leaders I interviewed for my next book take the same choir-grown skills—emotional intelligence, intuition, teamwork—straight into boardrooms and onto big stages. If you’re like Carla Harris of Morgan Stanley, you’ve taken them all the way to Carnegie Hall—ten years running.
Join the Conversation
Are you a gospel singer or choir enthusiast? Drop a 🙌 in the comments if you’ve felt these dynamics in rehearsal or worship. What leadership muscle did the choir help you build?
Inside Call & Response: The Book
What you’ve read here is just a taste of the mash-up inside Call & Response: 10 Leadership Lessons from the Black Church—where history and culture meet applied science and evidence-based leadership theory.
Publisher: Amistad (HarperCollins) & JVL Media (founded by Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, and Lavaille Lavette)
Why it matters: It translates the proven leadership playbook of the Black church into practical strategies for today’s complex workplaces.
Pre-Order
Reserve your copy today so it lands on your doorstep February 10—and bring the power of call & response to your leadership.
FAQs
What makes gospel music a leadership incubator?
Its culture—call & response, collaboration, and real-time adaptation—demands EQ, trust, and decisive action, the same competencies top leaders need.
How does “just singing the notes” still teach leadership?
Constraints (like short formats or simple melodies) sharpen listening, timing, and team discipline—exactly the conditions that build strong leaders.
Who is Gaye Arbuckle?
A Stellar Award–nominated gospel artist and respected minister of music who’s developed countless singers and leaders at Concord Church in Dallas.
Call & Response is your field guide to leading with heart, science, and soul. Pre-order now and step into your next level of leadership.
