![]() These shortcomings kill performance, whereas pocket leaders drive it. And we’ve all seen weak leaders who either fail to set standards, change them whimsically, or operate at full throttle all the time. We’ve all heard weak drummers who rush or drag or play with no change in volume or emphasis (called “dynamics”). When this is clear to teams, they know the code–deadlines matter, preparation matters, and quality matters. A leader must set deadlines, know when to push and back off, and when to emphasize vital moments - like a product launch or customer go-live. Someone needs to set the pace and cadence for a team’s work, and in well-led companies, this is the CEO/founder. Aspire to be the leader who is in the pocket Tempo and Dynamics ![]() This isn’t the only thing that matters, of course, but it matters a lot and can be overlooked by founders and CEOs who have a tendency to be directive, micromanage, and especially to those who hog attention and credit. The best CEOs know it deeply so the team can get the guidance it needs - and the security and structure from someone in charge who cares. One of the core jobs of a CEO is to create the culture and feel of an organization. This same kind of “big listening” and additive superpower is what I’ve observed in the very best leaders. ![]() And when he plays, it’s truly high impact. My biggest takeaway from watching Ringo in action was how he’s always listening, engaged, and tuned in. He makes it exciting and just feel right, not because he starts with the genius idea, but because he listens intently before deciding what actually adds to the song to make it better. It’s uncanny how he produces interesting grooves and patterns for the song that’s just being formed. I recently watched the Peter Jackson documentary Get Back and saw how Ringo hovers, watches, lets the songwriting process unfold, and then slots in when he’s ready. Successful startups can find a Ringo who listens and is tuned in for high impact You may not even realize the songs don’t work without Ringo’s structure and feel. These all fit the Lennon/McCartney songwriting perfectly. ![]() Listen to the hi hat on Getting Better - how he swings on All My Loving, the snare shuffle on Get Back, the toms and ride cymbal rhythms on Let It Be. His playing fits the songs and does so about as well as any drummer ever has. Ringo is the epitome of service drumming. Similarly, being in the pocket is a vital and underappreciated characteristic of great leaders and startup founders. Doing this with skill is called being in the “pocket,” and drummers who do this are called pocket drummers. The core job of a great drummer is to serve the song and the band, to hold the group together so the music works, and they are the spine and structure of a group. The core job of a great drummer is to serve the song and the bandĭrumming is much the same. The core job of a founder in a tech company is to get results, build a product, get and serve customers, and succeed in the market. It’s a profound statement about service leadership and caring about the end result of an undertaking instead of attribution - and, of course, about humility. You might know this Harry Truman quote: “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” What does Ringo have to do with VC investing and startup companies? A ton, in fact. But, the older I get, and the closer I listen to music and to the Beatles, the more I’ve come to realize - he’s not just good - he’s incredible. I saw him as a goofball, the silly Beatle, and just a so-so drummer - or worse. For most of my life, I’d heard and even believed Beatles drummer Ringo Starr wasn’t that good.
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