pop | Journey

February is the month of love, which means it’s a time for Valentines, roses, and love songs. Do you know that love songs are more than just sappy lyrics or heart-wrenching vocals? In fact, some of the most popular love songs today have a message that can apply to your job search or career as well.

Here are five workplace lessons you can learn from popular love songs playing on the radio today!

“Shut Up and Dance” – Walk the Moon

The lyrics say, “Oh don’t you dare look back. Just keep your eyes on me. I said you’re holding back. She said shut up and dance with me.” This song has many timely messages for the workplace. Like the lyrics suggest, don’t look back on past jobs, failures, or mistakes. Keep your eyes on the present and the ways you can succeed. When you look back, you lose track of your future, so ignore the voice that constantly reminds you of your past, and dance into making your career the best it can be. Stop procrastinating and holding back.

“Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars

Are you “too hot” and you know it? This song is perfect for you. Learn to accept your victories at work and do not be afraid to let your superiors know when you have succeeded. Letting your boss and co-workers know that you’ve achieved a milestone lets them see your talents, but also shows off the skills of the people on your team. And if someone thinks you can’t finish a project or deadline, just borrow the line, “Don’t believe me? Just watch!”

“Stressed Out” – Twenty One Pilots

Yeah, we’ve all been there. We remember “the good old days when our momma sang us to sleep,” but now “we’re stressed out.” This song helps us remember that stress can be detrimental to not only our health, but our work quality as well. If you find that you are overwhelmed at your job, find ways to deal with that stress, like getting regular sleep, exercising to burn off energy, or talking with a supervisor about ways to lighten your load.

“Like I’m Gonna Lose You” – Meghan Trainor featuring John Legend

This song is a great reminder to be grateful for your job every day. With the confusing economy, lots of workers have been laid off and are desperate for a job. Never take for granted that your position is not invincible. Work at all times to make yourself valuable and irreplaceable so you won’t have to worry about losing your job.

“Sorry” – Justin Bieber

Guess what? Even rock stars make mistakes. In this song, Bieber says, “You gotta go and get angry at all of my honesty. You know I try but I don’t do too well with apologies. I hope I don’t run out of time, could someone call the referee? ‘Cause I just need one more shot at forgiveness.” If you make a mistake at work, own up to it. Honestly confessing that something went wrong and then finding a way to make it right works much better than covering up the mistake or blaming someone else. Sometimes, everyone needs one more shot. Likely, if you are honest and have a plan to correct your mistake, you’ll get that shot to redeem yourself.

Do you have any love songs that motivate you at work too? Share your favorites in the comments section below!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Every day, the radio plays the hottest songs of the season, and while these songs entertain, they can also teach us a thing or two about leadership.

Leadership lessons from popular songs? Why not? When it comes down to it, everything can be a way to improve leadership skills. Some of these tunes have a deeper underlying theme that can help you find your steps and improve your life.

So, without further adieu, let’s find our leadership lessons in these popular songs.

1. “Shake it Off” by Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift manages to shake off the naysayers and bounce back bigger and better every time. You too can follow this example. You’ll have people trying to cut you down, hold you back, and make you feel less than perfect, but it’s your choice how to react. Everyone makes mistakes. Success comes from how you handle that mistake, and great leaders don’t let others bring them down. Concentrate on doing the best you can, learn from your mistakes, and strive to move on.

2. “I’m Not the Only One” by Sam Smith
This song is about listening to your instincts when something doesn’t feel right. In today’s world, the art of listening to your inner voice is sometimes nonexistent. However, knowing what’s in your heart can lead you on the right path. If something doesn’t feel legitimate or if you can’t trust who you are dealing with, you might want to keep your guard up. If you come across an opportunity, like a job posting, that feels good, explore it further. Research the company and learn about its culture, goals, and history. But, remember the age-old wisdom – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

3. “Ghost” by Ella Henderson
Sometimes we make mistakes or go through a bad time, and we can’t seem to let that mistake go. We keep “going to the river to pray” because we need something to wash the pain away, but it keeps haunting us. Ella makes a good point. She’s losing sleep, she’s dealing with the devil, and she’s still hurting. Maybe it’s time for you to give up the ghost. What has happened in the past cannot be changed, but dwelling on those destructive feelings can only cause more harm. Maybe you’ve had a bad job experience, or your interviews aren’t always going perfectly. Find a way to make peace with your past and enter the future with a bright, positive outlook.

4. “Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5
The first line of this popular song is “just shoot for the stars, if it feels right.” The boys from Maroon 5 have the right idea. If you have a dream and it feels right to you, then go for it. Consider what you want to accomplish and start making progress to reach your goals. If you want to start a side gig, switch careers, or go for a big promotion, you have to be the one to make it happen. Having dreams and goals are important, but so is believing in them. Every day, do something that helps you reach your goals.

5. “Superheroes” by the Script
As the lyrics say, “When you’ve been fighting for it all your life, you’ve been struggling to make things right, that’s how a superhero learns to fly, Every day, every hour, turn the pain into power.” This song teaches us to never give up and to always keep fighting for what is important. Challenges, victories, defeats, and experiences give us the tools to become superheroes, especially if you learn to turn pain into power. No matter what happens, you can overcome the difficulties and become a super leader to others. Take all your experiences and become stronger because of it.

Next time your favorite song comes on the radio, listen hard. You may learn a life lesson from simple lyrics.

Do you have a favorite song that inspires you as a leader? Share with us in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

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