Orchestrated Leadership

Orchestras provide a unique example of harmony in teamwork. At their best they can transform an audience with the beauty of their work, each individual member playing a vital role which makes up the total experience, often without the audience noticing the individual contributions of dozens of musicians.

In any given orchestra, away from the concert hall, there is just as much, if not more, professional rivalry and political infighting as you’d find in any other commercial organisation, yet when the conductor walks in between the orchestra and the audience and they begin to play those concerns are left behind for the good of the ‘team’. Any inappropriate showboating ruins the performance for everyone and peer pressure will quickly rein it back in.

What does it take to gain this kind of extreme high performance team activity?

• The team is very clear about its performance objective
• Individual team members are very clear about their role within the team
• Team members respect each others abilities and understand the unique contribution that each individual brings
• The leadership team within the orchestra holds the trust of their section
• The conductor, acting as leader, sets direction clearly and carefully balances the contributions of each group

Does your team measure up?