What The Who Can Teach Us About Connection, Presence, and Showing Up for Each Other
There is something beautiful about hearing a band find its pocket. Every musician is invested in the music, the moment, and each other. You can feel when a band is completely locked in, and that connection becomes palpable to the listener. I find myself drawn to those moments in the music I love, especially when I listen deeply and discover how each musician contributes to the overall sound.
One of my favorite examples of this musical synergy happens in “Bargain” by The Who, from their classic 1971 album, Who’s Next. Written by guitarist Pete Townshend, “Bargain” is a deeply spiritual song inspired by his devotion to Meher Baba. The song explores the transformative power of spiritual love and the willingness to surrender oneself to something greater. Beyond its powerful lyrics, there is an instrumental passage built around Townshend’s synthesizer work that absolutely moves me. The band settles into a shared groove where every musician seems completely invested in the sound they are creating together.
I often get chills listening to that passage. There is something astounding about the way Townshend’s guitar and synthesizer work blend with John Entwistle’s bass and Keith Moon’s drumming. Roger Daltrey’s commanding vocals help bring the entire performance together. Every time I hear that instrumental section, I feel uplifted and energized by the musical connection. The musicians are playing tight and right, completely locked into the moment. Each contribution matters, and the collective sound becomes something greater than the individual parts. There is an unmistakable sense of investment in the music and in each other.
I recognize that feeling beyond music. Sometimes a conversation becomes more than an exchange of words. It becomes a shared investment in listening, learning, and discovering possibilities together. I often hear that passage from “Bargain” playing in my mind when I experience those moments of genuine connection with others.
Earlier this week, I had a wonderful conversation with the team from Thinkering Collective about a potential collaboration. There was genuine excitement about the possibilities ahead, but what resonated most with me was how everyone listened and responded to one another. Ideas flowed naturally. People built upon each other’s thoughts, encouraged possibilities, and remained fully present in the conversation. I could feel that same sense of musical synergy. We were finding our groove together.
I experience something similar through my podcasts. Some of my favorite moments happen when an interview moves beyond prepared questions and becomes an authentic conversation. I think about my collaborations with Donya Ball on Real Riffs and Sonia Matthew on Leading While Human. Our conversations often transcend the structure of a podcast because they are grounded in friendship, mutual respect, and a genuine desire to learn from one another. We listen, respond, laugh, reflect, and build upon each other’s ideas. There is a shared investment in the conversation and in the people having it.
I also think about my longtime friend Max Pizarro, who recently turned the tables on me and interviewed me for an upcoming episode of Leadership Liner Notes. Our conversation was filled with memories, reflection, and opportunities to learn from each other. We were not simply recording an episode. We were reconnecting through a friendship built upon years of shared experiences. That kind of investment brings a depth to a conversation that no script or format could ever manufacture.
These experiences remind me that genuine investment is rooted in mutual presence rather than transactions or surface conversations. There is something deeply meaningful about connecting with people who are interested in more than audience size, influence, favors, or social media metrics. Those are the relationships that sustain us beyond the trends, numbers, and fleeting attention of the moment. They are grounded in compassion, empathy, curiosity, and the sincere recognition of another person’s humanity.
What does it mean to invest in someone simply because of who they are? I believe this is a question every human centered leader should consider. Creating cultures of belonging and mattering requires more than programs, initiatives, or carefully crafted statements. It requires us to be genuinely invested in the people around us. We must listen with intention, recognize their contributions, and create opportunities for others to feel seen, heard, and valued.
Having played music in a few bands over the years, I still remember those acknowledging smiles and nods from my bandmates when we found our musical pocket. Sometimes we did not need to say a word. A quick glance or smile communicated that we were connected and creating something special together. I have experienced similar moments as a school leader. A knowing nod, an encouraging smile, or a shared look of excitement during a successful project could communicate more than a lengthy conversation. Those gestures reminded us that our contributions mattered and that we were part of something meaningful.
There is something worth celebrating when people in a school, organization, or community become invested in listening and creating together. I find myself reflecting with gratitude on the people who have illuminated my life through those moments of genuine connection. Their investment has helped me feel seen and valued, especially during seasons when support was not always reciprocated. Remembering those relationships provides a sense of comfort and perspective. It reminds me that authentic connection is possible and that the right people can make a profound difference in our lives.
I remain grateful for the bandmates who have locked into the groove with me over the years, whether we were making music, launching a new initiative, or taking bold steps together in the schoolhouse. We invested in each other because we believed in the people and the possibilities. That investment made the work richer, the challenges more manageable, and the shared accomplishments more meaningful. The connection itself became part of what made those experiences worth remembering.
Maybe that is what real investment sounds like. It sounds like people listening with intention, contributing with sincerity, and recognizing the value of what others bring to the moment. It sounds like a band finding its pocket, where every contribution strengthens the music and everyone feels connected to something greater.
The music becomes richer because we are making it together.
