Orchestrating your Leadership
Recently I had the opportunity to lead an orchestra. It's an experience I recommend to all. Admittedly, I had my doubts. With no formal training I wondered:
- Would I lead correctly?
- Would others respond, and if so, how?
- Would I look foolish?
Follow My Lead
I did look foolish - but somewhat by design. My orchestra was a conference audience whom I was training to step into their own leadership. And follow my amusing lead each guest conductor did...magnificently. (Some joked I was an easy act to follow. My mission had been accomplished.)
Conductor Gets All Aboard
While a soundtrack played in the background I passed the baton to a random attendee and took the seat of my surprised successor, who then took a short stint as leader. Each subsequent conductor's seat was filled in turn by the previous conductor at their whim. And to my satisfaction the audience of aspiring leaders responded to each conductor. Their styles varied yet the audience caught on to each leader's style and direction. They clapped, vamped and even soloed.
During our debrief, it became clear we learned a great deal about leadership through this symphony ice-breaker:
- There is no one right or wrong style of leading - many styles and approaches abound
- Leadership goals and gains may be dependent upon one's talent pool
- Your leadership approach may be dependent upon the score, script or soundtrack you're expected to follow
- Your leadership may be dependent upon the conductor you follow and impression he or she has left
Each guest conductor remarked upon how different the view was from in front of the audience. Conducting felt differently than they imagined it when they had been sitting down.
Upon returning to their seats after conducting, conductors also better appreciated the role, risk and responsibility of each who led that day.
Leaders: 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.?
- Do you appreciate the various talents of your ensemble? How?
Unconscious Trumps Self-Conscious
Each "leader" 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 your time comes to lead, may you conduct your musicians as a conductor leads the symphony. Be brave and expressive and you'll hear the bravos and bravas of your devotees.
Leaders in Training
You say you're a leader in training? Consider the following recommendations to hone your leadership skills:
- Join a Toastmasters club (www.toastmasters.org). They develop leadership skills as well as communication skills. Become an officer within and beyond the club you join. They have hundreds of positions where you can gain valuable experience as a leader.
- Identify and secure a mentor for yourself, whether within your organization or in your field.
- Become a student of leadership: read books and watch movies about leadership.
- Observe leadership styles of world and local leaders.
- Don't underestimate the value of cultivating your leadership skills beyond your workplace: in church, through volunteer and service organizations, or elsewhere in your community.
- Avail yourself for leadership opportunities in your organization: spearhead a blood or food drive, plan a sports tournament, coordinate your company's presence in philanthropic endeavors, etc.
Related Tags: leadership, management, speaking, team management
Craig Harrison's Expressions Of Excellence!™ helps professionals express their sales and service excellence with style. Contact him at (510) 547-0664, via Excellence@craigspeaks.com or through http://www.ExpressionsOfExcellence.com regarding speaking, training, consulting, coaching and curriculum licensing.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- A Few Of The Skills Of An A Successful Leader
Among the most important factors in determining the result of a group exercise of any style is the m - What Do Leaders Have In Common?
Who are "THEY"?"THEY" are all the top performers -- the best of the best. But what does it take to m - Lms Mentoring - More Fresh Ideas
Simple and effective LMS training on both managerial roles and staff mentoring strategies are a huge - Leadership Training in the 21st Century. How to Bring Your Leadership Training Up to Date
If you're reading this article, you're probably someone responsible for delivering an effective and - How to Create a Leadership Development Plan
HR leadership and executive leadership training both take a lot of practice and motivation. To becom - Six Secrets To Building Your Confidence
If you have seen the movie or stage musical The Sound of Music, you likely remember Maria leaving th - Six Ways To Defeat Complacency
Complacency - and its ill effects - is all around us.Consider politics. Democrats held one Senate se - Getting Back To The Basics Of Problem Solving
Everyone has problems. Big problems, little problems, work problems, relationship problems; pick an - Five Ways To Pick Your Best Development Tools
Personal development.Professional development.Leadership development.Regardless of which words you u - Market Leadership is Extremely Difficult - What You Need to Do to Succeed
Online marketing is becoming increasingly difficult to succeed in as a continuing marketer, nevermin
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Engaging The Five Senses
We were all born with five senses, each one helping us to make generalizations about the world. You - Power Inspires Your Audience
Power is intricately connected to persuasion in that it increases your ability to persuade, influenc - NLP A Personal Development Tool
Like many personal development innovations, NLP - which stands for neuro-linguistic programming - is - Team Building in Bristol
Many employers in Bristol take the vision of their companies very seriously. This is true whether it - Occam's Razor And Leadership
PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in newsletters and on web sites provided at - Leadership In The Workplace As A Boss
Do you give your employees the type of leadership in the workplace that they come to expect? What is - Seven Ways to Improve the Results of Your Leadership Development Efforts
Every day we deal with a variety of matters of urgent importance in our organizations. Seldom is lea - Metal Detecting Is Also About Obedience
Are you purchasing a detector to use occasionally at a lake or beach? Or do you now find yourself wi - Why Most Leadership Development Efforts Fail
George was seen as an up-and-coming leader in the organization. People the worked for him liked and - Get Courage and Build Unstoppable Strength!
What shape are your courage muscles in? Courage is our ability to act despite fear. What honestly ca