release to rise: how to let go of control and lead with trust (music edition)

Picture an orchestra. The conductor sets the vision and guides the flow while trusting each musician’s expertise. In the same way, a business leader empowers her team to make their own decisions. In fact, putting trust in one’s employees has been shown to increase productivity and job satisfaction. But talking about releasing control is one thing; putting this rule into practice is quite another.

Edyta Rogowska-Żak about leading with trust and letting go

Edyta Rogowska-Żak, a singer, vocal coach, and manager at ROXSA festival, knows just how important it is to put trust in yourself and others. From leading a band to managing a music festival and workshops, she has learned that “true leadership means listening, co-creating, and trusting the group’s expertise over imposing a vision alone.” But how does one go about it on a practical level? Let’s find out.

“Be patient – with yourself and those you lead. But also, trust your gut. If something feels misaligned, it's okay to let people go.” — Edyta Rogowska-Żak

1. protect your energy to protect the tempo

When asked about a significant challenge that altered her approach to leadership, Edyta tells us about a time at the ROXSA festival when she faced burnout while leading a mostly volunteer-run event.

“I was managing everything, from PR and programming to community relations, and still faced harsh, misdirected criticism. I realized I couldn’t carry it all alone,” she says. 

“The turning point came when I told my team: either something changes, or I step away. I learned to set boundaries, delegate, and focus on impact over emotional micromanagement. Leadership means knowing when to protect your energy.” 

Research backs this up: a 2023 study has found a positive link between work-life balance and effective leadership. If you want to lead well, you also have to learn to let go – and trust that the sky won’t come crashing down in your absence. 

The best way to guide the orchestra’s tempo is to conserve your strength when needed so that you can perform at your best when necessary.

2. compose your own song – no matter the expectations

“Early in my leadership journey, I often doubted my intuition and leaned too much on others’ opinions – sometimes making choices that weren’t truly mine,” Edyta admits. Once she decided to start letting go of external validation and pressure, though, something changed: “Over time, I’ve learned to trust my instincts.”

She gives us a great example: “Speaking my own truth sparked real change. Others stepped up, redefined our values, and took shared ownership. Letting go created space for healthier, more empowered leadership.”

What’s more, her confidence is a result of many diverse mentors, from a Down syndrome actress who once taught Edyta how to climb a trapeze (“her confidence and clarity transformed how I think about inclusion and communication”) to her ROXSA co-leader, who taught Edyta that trust in one’s co-leader, sharing responsibility, and open dialogue could instantly shift team dynamics.

“Others' confidence in my path often gave me the courage to keep going when I doubted myself,”  Edyta says.

All this goes to show that when you dare to compose a unique song, something wonderful happens: you inspire others to write their own, too.

3. remember you’re not a soloist

While Edyta admits that there have been moments in her leadership journey when she felt like giving up (a very common experience among leaders), she also highlights that her vision was what kept her going. 

“My main goal has always been to bring people together through co-creation, whether in music, events, or workshops,” Edyta reflects.

Creativity and connection keep her motivated: “I paint, journal, and turn to live music – being in a crowd, receiving pure energy from the stage, reminds me why I do what I do. That shared emotional moment, when music moves everyone at once, is deeply inspiring. When I need a reset, I paint or go to a gig – it brings me back to my core and fills me with purpose.”

No matter what you do or where you are in life, you’re not doing it solo. You’re part of a larger ensemble. You have people to rely on. Reminding yourself of that can help you release a bit of that stress and keep you going – even when it’s tough.

4. make sure you all play in the same key

Edyta believes that patience is the companion of wisdom. But while she states that we should be patient with ourselves and those we lead, she also trusts her gut instincts a lot: “If something feels misaligned, it's okay to let people go.”

“As someone with a helper’s heart, I often held onto team members out of care, even when it wasn’t working,” she admits. “I’ve learned that true leadership means recognizing when paths should diverge – for everyone's growth.”

If one instrument is out of key, it can disrupt the whole harmony. It’s never easy to let go of people, ideas, or tools that don’t match the collective vision. That doesn’t make it any less necessary, though.

5. listen instead of rushing to fix

According to Edyta, “Mentoring starts with presence – holding space for someone to speak freely, without rushing to fix.” She continues: “I focus on what can change now and what needs time. I also try to understand the deeper context – cultural, social, personal – behind someone’s behavior.”

Any musician worth their salt knows just how important it is to listen to other artists’ work and learn from it. The key here lies in empathy and understanding, both of which play a vital role in leadership, too.

Edyta agrees: “Rather than judge, I zoom out and lead with empathy,” she says, ending the interview on a strong note. “Everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt and a chance to grow.”

releasing to rise beyond business failure

One of the most enjoyable aspects of music is just how easily it can carry you away, wave after wave after wave. When you listen to a song you love, you’re releasing control and letting the melody guide your attention. 

Interestingly enough, the act of releasing can be just as valuable in leadership, be it letting go of others’ expectations, people or ideas that are out of key, the need to immediately fix everything, or too many responsibilities. The moment you let go of some things, you are also carving out a bit of space for new experiences to come in – and becoming a better leader in the process.

about Edyta

Edyta is a multifaceted artist and cultural professional based in Berlin. With a Master's degree in Sociology from Marie Curie-Skłodowska University, she has been the frontwoman of Duxius since 2020, where she has created an original genre known as "Polish Future Retro." 

Her artistic journey extends beyond music. She has collaborated with theater ensembles, gaining valuable experience in both performance and organizational aspects, and her work aims to redefine power from a non-masculine perspective, offering a fresh and authentic intercultural voice.

In addition to her musical endeavors, she conducts the "Free Voice-Free Mind" workshop, which focuses on liberating participants' voices and encouraging self-expression. She also works as a producer and manager of ROXSA Festival, a small music festival in Bad Sülze, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

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