I love the parallels between music and
leadership. Music can consist of a simple tune or a small group
playing in ensemble or a large orchestra engaging in complex
counterpoint. Melody, harmony, rhythm,... key signatures, notation,
time signatures, dynamics....chord structure, dissonance, resolution.
Music can tell a story, paint a picture, and move us emotionally,
spiritually, and intellectually. Music is powerful, it must be
created, it must be orchestrated, it must be presented, it must be
heard.
Now that we all thinking musically....
for all those who have participated in music either as a singer,
composer, instrumentalist, conductor, or active listener, I hope
these notes ring true in your reflections. First, practicing music
alone is important but playing music in a group enables it to come
alive and be shared in community. I have so enjoyed playing music by
myself and noting my development as a musician, but inserting my one
small voice into a symphony of others allows my voice to make sense
and gain significance. Listening to the sounds of others, adjusting
volume and pitch in order to reach an intonation that captures
balance and blend, and sensing the magnificence of musical
collaboration transforms practice into communication. The message of
the music reaches deep into the heart of the performer and the
audience enabling a joint experience of emotion and identification.
So in leadership – planning and
preparation alone (in the office, at the computer, at the desk of
retrospection, prayerfully dreaming visions of the future) can be
exciting, motivating and even inspiring. But leadership does not
happen in isolation. Leadership occurs in interaction, in the
engagement with others, in the joining of hands and hearts and
spirits around a common banner and a shared vision. As each member of
the organization has a voice and plays their part in the message of
the institution, then the music is heard, then the identification
happens, then joint experience is real.
Second, often the most important person
does not sing, does not play an instrument, and does not compose the
score. In musical groups of any size, the conductor is key to
balance, interpretation, cohesion, and unity. A good conductor does
so much more than wave his/her arms around in an attempt to establish
the downbeat and keep the group together. The conductor must utilize
his/her ears as he/she listens for every voice and concentrates on
the message. The trumpets might sound absolutely glorious but if the
primary voice of the music is in the oboe and cannot be heard over
the brass then the message goes without piercing the heart of the
listener. The heart of the conductor provides the emotion of the
composition. I have heard some groups perform with accuracy of notes
and rhythm but fail to capture the dynamics, the life, the passion of
the music. Dull music is deafening.
Often the leader is not on the front
lines. He/she does not interface with the customer. Much like the
conductor his/her role is to turn his/her back on the audience and
coordinate the music itself. But the leader must listen to the
organization, The leader must bring balance to the multiplicity of
events and programs making up the institution. The leader must have a
sense of interpreting the purpose and vision of the organization to
every voice in the company. The leader must be the glue that holds
the organization together and seeks after unity and clarity. A dull
company is boring.
Third, music (when done well) looks so
easy and it appears to be such great fun. But music involves lots of
hard work and lots of time. Discounting those musical geniuses that
seem to have an extra chromosome, most people have to spend years
learning their instrument, training their voice, reading music, and
understanding the dynamics of ensemble. I remember the early years of
saxophone – the squeaks and squawks that would come out of the horn
would make my dog howl and my mom tear-up. How either of them lived
through those long hours of practice I do not know. Music is a
lifelong learning process as well demanding constant focus to
maintain skill levels and high levels of proficiency. Leadership can
look real easy when one observes a gifted and effective leader. But
the process of leadership demands a life-long pursuit of creating,
communicating, and transforming vision into reality.
Finally, I appreciate good jazz and
skillful improvisation. I have very few skills in this area but I
enjoy listening to jazz musicians who can create music in the moment
governed only by a chord progression and rhythm. And yet, when I hear
great jazz musicians interviewed I often hear that improvisation
takes in incredible amount of trust, cooperation, and intuition.
Instead of being free of rules and structure, jazz truly provides
freedom within well defined agreements of community and focus. It is
not a matter of each member taking his/her turn playing whatever
he/she wants. Rather there is a river of music flowing and the boat
floats in intentional, purposive paths down the water toward a common
destination. The path may vary every time the tune is played,
but the boat is the same and the destination is sure.
Leadership can involve lots of
improvisation, but trust and a common destination must be shared by
all within the organization. If only one leader is blowing his/her
horn, the music is not effective. But providing authority with
empowerment and delegating without micromanagement can produce some
mighty fine jazz.
Music and leadership: the comparisons
are deep and worth some reflection.
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