An invaluable business leadership lesson from The Grateful Dead

Phil Lesh, the incredibly iconic and beloved bassist of the Grateful Dead, died last week at the age of 84. He was a beautiful musician, a wonderful man, with a sweet soul. He also – through his distinctly unique approach to his instrument and how it becomes an integral part of the band’s creative development – ​​set an example of more than just music.

And the lessons we’ve learned from him – and the boys – are more applicable to business than ever before. The most current of all comes from Phil and is expressed in the book: In search of sound (2005).

“Infinite variability…”

He explained that the essence of the Grateful Dead is the “infinite variability of our music.”

If anything epitomized the Dead – and explained their longevity, both until Jerry Garcia’s untimely and shocking death in 1995 and since – it was this: infinite changeability. My personal library contains about 40 volumes about, about, or by the Dead, but I cannot point to anything more essential or express it more convincingly: infinite variability. And if anything signals the imperative for business survival in today’s dizzyingly changing world, it’s this: infinite variability.

The main task of the CEO: change.

Call it like Phil, or call it adaptability, holistic change, innovation or flexibility, Phil has done it. Successful CEOs will be the first to agree with this.

Ever since I attended my first Grateful Dead concert at New York’s legendary Fillmore East sometime in late 1968 or early 1969 (I don’t remember exactly, but that’s typical of old Deadheads like me, ha ha, who went to about 120 of their concerts – these are also quite rough estimates), that’s what I knew about them. Every time they took the stage, they were a living, breathing experiment in creativity, fearless of breaking new ground, easily indulging in their 20-minute (or longer) performances of “Dark Star,” “Goin’ Down the Road” or ” Morning dew” or whatever flowed through, anything was possible. So in the 30 years from their inception until Jerry’s death – and in the 29 years since their inception – they have remained fresh, new, fearless and constantly innovative.

And who taught us this lesson? Phil, the quiet, unassuming bassist who was usually seen immediately on stage, away from the spotlight, while Jerry and Bobby took the vocal and instrumental lead, and Mickey and Billy created an integrated drum partnership unlike anything else. All the time. There was Phil – the most innovative bassist I’ve ever seen – laying the groundwork for the Dead’s endless variability, sometimes pulsating and powerful, sometimes as lyrical as frontman Jerry Garcia. For mere mortal bassists, this wasn’t even a remote possibility, let alone a practical thought.

For Phil, it was a way of being.

Make no mistake, each of the boys – and later Donna Jean – played a key role in creating the most unique band in history. It’s easy to understand: without Phil, the Grateful Dead, as talented as they were, would not be the band we know.

In this light, I see Phil approaching the Pearly Gates, Saint Peter recognizing his unique new arrival, turning to the others who are already there, and declaring, OK, boys. You can tune now. Phil is here.

Infinitely variable as ever. Forever.