745: How Music Can Help Us Lead, with Mort Sherman

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Aug 18, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Mort Sherman, a retired leader from the American Association of School Administrators and author of Resonant Minds, reveals the surprising ways music can enhance leadership. He shares insights on using music to set a positive tone in the workplace, boost team morale, and foster emotional connections. From creating team playlists to leveling up meetings with mindful music, Mort illustrates how intentional sound choices can transform organizational culture and build community. Tune in for a harmonious blend of leadership and melody!

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INSIGHT

Resonance As Leadership Frequency

Resonance is the leader's ability to listen, connect, and create an emotional frequency with others.
Great leaders prioritize listening and enabling agency rather than being the sole authority.

ADVICE

Intentionally Use Music To Shape Mood

Use music intentionally to set mood and influence stress hormones like dopamine and cortisol.
Involve others in choosing the music so it establishes shared tone and increases buy-in.

ANECDOTE

Chef Uses Music To Orchestrate The Kitchen

Chef Jessica Mazzanotti uses music to choreograph kitchen movements and lower stress.
She selects music to calm, focus, and transform a pressure-cooker kitchen into a coordinated dance.

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Mort Sherman: Resonant Minds

Mort Sherman is the retired Senior Associate Executive Director of the American Association of School Administrators, known for his visionary leadership as a superintendent dedicated to elevating academic standards and promoting equitable education. Throughout his career, he championed initiatives that addressed achievement gaps and empowered communities to foster inclusive, impactful learning environments. He is the author, along with his daughter Sara Leila Sherman, of Resonant Minds: The Transformative Power of Music, One Note at a Time.

So many of us love music, and it’s often at the core of a lot of our personal lives, celebrations, and emotions. But we don’t often think about how we can leverage its power at work. In this conversation, Mort and I explore how music can help us set the tone for better leadership.

Key Points

One way to nurture our teams and ourselves is a continual call for leaders, and music is an avenue we don’t often consider.
Using music as mindful action, coupled with executive function skills, supports the habits of successful leadership.
Start meetings with music or mindfulness exercises for collective focus, productive discussions, and creative outcomes.
Create team playlists to build community. Combine playlists with meetings to help support trust and respect.
Use music to reinforce a message or theme, tied to the needs of the moment.

Resources Mentioned

Why Cooks Cook from The Bear

Interview Notes

Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required).

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