The Drum Major Instinct
Over the last few days, I’ve been thinking about Dr. King’s speech on The Drum Major Instinct.
In high school, I was a drum major for several years. My drum major duties were mostly limited to rehearsals after school, Friday night games, and the occasional parade.
As a drum major, you know what I didn’t do? I didn’t walk up to band members in the hallway and ask them to mark time, march in place, or play a song—because it would’ve looked ridiculous. I bring that up because, as leaders, we don’t want to impose on people or perform authority just to prove we have it.
This morning, on a holiday, I was grateful for the time off—and the privilege of sitting with a cup of coffee. While I was there, I noticed a young woman working hard on her laptop. About thirty minutes later, I saw her crying, and a male friend was comforting her. It made me pause and think about what it looks like when someone is trying to hold it together in public.
I don’t know what her workplace is like, but I couldn’t help wondering what people are carrying on a day like today. I saw vulnerability up close, and it reminded me that you never really know what someone is walking through.
And that’s what keeps coming back to me from Dr. King’s message: the drum major instinct is real in all of us—but what matters is what we do with it.
As Dr. King said, “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.” If we want to be “out front,” let it be in love, humility, and compassion—because we never know what someone is facing. “If you want to say that I was a drum major… say that I was a drum major for justice… for righteousness… and for peace.”
As I get older and find myself out front more often, my goal is to lead with love, humility, and compassion. I reject the idea that leadership requires fear or harshness. At the same time, I’m not trying to please people or lead just to be liked. My goal is to do the right things simply because they’re the right things.
Question for readers: Where in your life can you choose service over ego this week?
