This article was first published on LinkedIn.
Quincy Jones was arguably the most influential and successful music producer of our generation. When he passed away in 2024, he left an indelible mark on the music, film, and television industries—one that will likely never be rivaled. His career spanned multiple musical generations and genres, and he collaborated with some of the greatest artists of all time, including Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, and Michael Jackson. Along the way, he amassed an astonishing 28 Grammy Awards, solidifying his place as a true legend.
Beyond his musical genius, Quincy Jones was a leader whose legacy offers valuable lessons for anyone seeking to inspire, innovate, and excel. Here are four of the most impactful leadership lessons we can learn from him.
1. Have an Audacious Vision
Quincy Jones never accepted limitations—whether imposed by society or industry norms. He constantly defied expectations, taking on roles and challenges that few believed were possible for him. As the grandson of an ex-slave, he achieved many historic firsts, including becoming the first African American to compose a major Hollywood film score (The Pawnbroker) and the first African American executive at a major record label (Mercury Records).
He brought this bold mindset to every project, always aiming beyond conventional success. A perfect example of this was his collaboration with George Benson. After the success of Breezin’, George Benson was encouraged to collaborate with Quincy Jones on a new project. Benson recalls their meeting:
"I had a meeting with him at his house, he and his engineer. He said, 'George, I got a question for you. You want to make the greatest jazz record in the world, or you want to go for the throat?' I laughed. I said, 'Quincy, go for the throat, man. Go for the throat, baby.'"
(Source)
Rather than producing another critically acclaimed jazz album, Quincy envisioned a major crossover success appealing to pop and R&B audiences. The result was Give Me The Night, Benson’s most commercially successful album to date.
Are you setting audacious goals for your teams, or settling for the expected?
2. Only Hire the Best
Quincy Jones was known for assembling the best musicians, producers, and engineers in the industry. His liner notes read like a who’s who of musical greatness. For example, on the track Setembro from Back on the Block, the personnel included:
- Gerald Albright – Saxophone
- George Benson – Guitar
- Paulinho Da Costa – Percussion
- George Duke – Electric Piano
- Herbie Hancock – Keyboards, Synthesizers
- Steve Porcaro – Synthesizer Programming
- David Paich – Keyboards
- Greg Phillinganes – Keyboards
- Ian Underwood – Synthesizer Programming
- Take 6 – Vocals
- Sarah Vaughan – Vocals
Because Quincy only worked with the best, being invited to his projects became an honor no musician could turn down. When Quincy called Eddie Van Halen to play a solo on Michael Jackson’s Beat It, Van Halen initially thought it was a prank. But once he realized it was real, he agreed—despite the Van Halen band's policy of not playing on outside projects. (Source)
Long before the term "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" became commonplace, Quincy embraced musical diversity. He blended cultures, generations, and genres, such as featuring 13-year-old Tevin Campbell and 72-year-old Ella Fitzgerald on Back on the Block, pairing Bruce Springsteen and The Brothers Johnson’s Louis Johnson on Donna Summer’s Protection, and infusing Brazilian music through his collaborations with Ivan Lins.
Do you seek out the best talent for your team, or are you settling for what’s expedient?
3. Don’t Micromanage
Quincy Jones exemplified the philosophy that great leaders hire smart people and give them the freedom to excel. He trusted his team to bring their best ideas forward, creating an environment where true magic could happen.
For instance, while producing Thriller, Quincy told guitarist Steve Lukather that the song Human Nature was "too pop" and needed a little "glue." Armed with nothing more than that brief direction, Lukather crafted the iconic guitar riff that defines the song. (Source)
Similarly, during the recording of Rock With You, Quincy asked drummer John Robinson to come up with an intro drum fill that would forever be identified with the song. With just one take, he delivered one of the most recognizable drum intros in music history. (Source)
Keyboardist Greg Phillinganes, a longtime collaborator, said:
"The thing about Quincy is, if he invites you in, it’s assumed you are worthy of being there. He has a gentle way. If he’s sweating, he never lets you see it. He’s always able to bring out not only the best in you, but qualities in you that you didn’t even know you had. It’s only after the fact that you realize you’re a better musician than before you went in."
(Source)
Do you micromanage your team, or do you give them space to be creative?
4. Constantly Innovate
Despite his immense success, Quincy Jones never rested on his laurels. He was always looking to innovate, adapt, and push boundaries.
His career spanned multiple generations and genres, producing twelve #1 hits over seven decades—from Lesley Gore’s It’s My Party (1963) to Michael Jackson’s Dirty Diana (1988). He was one of the first mainstream musicians to embrace rap on the title track of 1981’s The Dude and prominently feature hip hop artists on 1989’s Back on the Block.
Rob Moon describes Quincy as a "Master Innovator," recalling his experimentation with emerging technology as Vice President at Mercury Records. (Source) He worked on early eight-track machines, synthesizers, and groundbreaking recording techniques.
Quincy’s engineer, Bruce Swedien, developed the "Acusonic Recording Process," a cutting-edge multi-track technique that revolutionized sound engineering. (Source) Long before digital recording and Pro Tools, this technology was state-of-the-art and played a key role in the success of Off the Wall, Thriller and may other albums, setting new industry standards.
Have you become complacent with your success, or are you constantly striving to innovate?
Final Thoughts
Quincy Jones' approach to leadership was a masterclass in vision, talent management, trust, and innovation. His legacy reminds us that great leaders:
- Dream big and challenge expectations.
- Surround themselves with the best talent.
- Trust their team’s creativity and expertise.
- Never stop evolving and embracing new ideas.
By applying these principles, we can all strive to be more effective and inspiring leaders—no matter our field.