Orchestrating Your Leadership
By Craig Harrison
Recently
I had the opportunity to lead an orchestra. ItÕs an experience I recommend to
all. Admittedly, I had my doubts:
v
Would I lead correctly?
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Would others respond,
and if so, how?
v
Would I look foolish?
I did look foolish Ñ but somewhat by design. My orchestra
was an audience whom I was training to step into their own leadership. And
follow my amusing lead each guest conductor didÉmagnificently. (Some joked I
was an easy act to follow. My mission had been accomplished.)
While
a soundtrack played in the background I passed the baton to a random attendee
and took the seat of my surprised successor then took a short stint as leader.
Each subsequent conductorÕs seat was then filled by the previous conductor at
their whim. And to my satisfaction the audience responded to each conductor. Their styles varied yet the audience
caught on to each. They clapped, vamped and even soloed.
During
our debrief it became clear we learned a great deal about leadership through
this symphony ice-breaker:
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There is no one right
or wrong style of leading Ñ many styles and approaches abound
v
Your leadership goals
and gains may be dependent upon your talent pool
v
Your leadership
approach may be dependent upon the score, script or soundtrack youÕre expected
to follow
v
Your leadership may be
dependent upon the conductor you follow.
Each guest conductor remarked upon how
different the view was from in front of the audience. Conducting felt
differently than they imagined it while sitting down.
Upon returning to their seats after
conducting, conductors also better appreciated the role, risk and
responsibility of each who led that day.
Making Beautiful Music
The most effective
conductors, and leaders, are the ones who elicit the best from each of their
musicians: the strings, brass, percussion and woodwinds. The best leaders get
their teams to meld their strengths together to make beautiful music. How well
do you conduct the groups you lead? Do you connect with the various
temperaments of your orchestra: the quiet ones, the soloists, the steady
backbones of your team, etc.?
Unconscious
Trumps Self-Conscious
Each ÒleaderÓ agreed that
they performed best when they let go of concerns about how they looked while
leading. When their focus shifted to results and bringing out the best in
others everything else fell into place.
Each leader learned from
those before and after them, and recognized that as the music changed, so too
did the role of each leader.
When the time comes to
lead may you conduct your musicians as a conductor leads the symphony. Be brave
and expressive and youÕll hear the bravos and bravas of your devotees.
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