Leadership lessons from the orchestra

Just this past week I had the opportunity to see the Sydney Symphony Orchestra perform at the Sydney Opera House. Part of a series of concerts celebrating Spanish musical works, on the afternoon that I attended, the orchestra performed Ravel’s Boléro, along with other Spanish-inspired pieces in celebration of Ravel’s 150th birthday.

As always, even if you’re not a particularly musically inclined person, a visit to the Opera House to see some of the world’s greatest artists on show is always a joy and this was no exception.

It gave me cause to reflect on the organism that is an orchestra, the team work involved and the leadership skills required to step out on stage and perform timeless works as one, living, breathing team.

The leadership of a conductor

Standing at the helm of every performance, conductors are a unique piece of the puzzle of an orchestra. When they do their job well, you would be forgiven for thinking that if they stepped away, the orchestra would continue playing seamlessly.

But their leadership is critical. They need to be aware of their players’ strengths and challenges and shape every performance – in rehearsals and on the stage – to bring out the best of every single performer.

In a recent interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Jaime Martín – the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s Chief Conductor, and the conductor for the performance I witnessed this past week – says that his job is “to focus the energy of everyone”, reading the room, seeing different approaches and outcomes, and guiding his team towards a result.

Interviewed by Elizabeth Flux, she notes that his approach to his leadership role is clearly evident in the way he lives his life: “The conductor part of him is also clearly not something he leaves behind on the stage – it’s ingrained. He’s fully present in the conversation, never letting a thread drop, but also constantly observing all that is going on around him.”

Psychological elements of team management

Music is a highly emotional realm, and emotions can impact the final performance, even for the most accomplished players.

The best conductors know how to harness these emotions – their own, and their players’ – work towards resolving any pent up frustration, and empower their team to bolster each other through every piece.

The same goes for every team. Emotions can be the driving force for great work or the roadblock that sees a team fall apart. The difference lies in a leader who can help the team navigate through it all.

Leadership isn’t a solo

As you move your team and organisation towards a new goal, there will be a lot of different opinions flying around. Things might not go to plan. For a while, it might seem like the goal is out of sight.

Conductors may stand at the front of their orchestra, but they are far from the star of the show. In fact, if they are pulling focus, they’re not doing their job.

All leaders should take a leaf out of conductors’ playbooks as they look to bring their team together, push the boundaries of performance … not to just deliver on expectations but to use their unique team dynamic to create a new standard in their field.

Want to be a leader capable of creating a strong team dynamic? People Make the Difference can help. To find out more, visit www.pmtd.com.au or call us on 0412 333 415.