Leadership: Two before 198
Under the stars, just after sunset, three hundred people sat in their deck chairs at the Sun Bowl in Sun City Arizona, listening to a symphonic band perform a complex Latin American composition. Up to this point, our group, the Arizona Winds, sounded good. The crowd was pleased, and cheered regularly. The brass was bold, the woodwinds were sexy, and the rhythm section was charged with cha-cha spice, particularly on the Cuernavaca piece.
We came apart suddenly. The coherence of the band fell apart. The melody was lost. Where were we? The musicians of the band depend on counting their part *and* listening to the voice of other sections. Carolyn, my conductor-sweetheart, calls this experience a musical trainwreck. My stand partner muttered "you've got to count, people!"
I wondered if the piece would be halted, and we would finish the concert in disgrace. The volume of the band spiraled downward. In the next few seconds, we would stumble to a halt.
Leadership solved the problem.
Rich Shelton, the conductor clearly told the fifty-member band, "two before 198," a cue for reading our parts. His voice was bold, less than a shout. That was all we needed. Within five seconds, we were a tight ensemble again. The voice of leadership is powerful.
Are you an effective leader? I would like to hear your story.
We came apart suddenly. The coherence of the band fell apart. The melody was lost. Where were we? The musicians of the band depend on counting their part *and* listening to the voice of other sections. Carolyn, my conductor-sweetheart, calls this experience a musical trainwreck. My stand partner muttered "you've got to count, people!"
I wondered if the piece would be halted, and we would finish the concert in disgrace. The volume of the band spiraled downward. In the next few seconds, we would stumble to a halt.
Leadership solved the problem.
Rich Shelton, the conductor clearly told the fifty-member band, "two before 198," a cue for reading our parts. His voice was bold, less than a shout. That was all we needed. Within five seconds, we were a tight ensemble again. The voice of leadership is powerful.
Are you an effective leader? I would like to hear your story.
Posted by Steve Broe at 10/12/2009 12:06 PM 
Categories: decisions, Leadership, communication
Tags: leaders in transition Career Impact Coaching Steve Broe
Categories: decisions, Leadership, communication
Tags: leaders in transition Career Impact Coaching Steve Broe
Leadership. Clear, concise and bold without being overbearing.
Brings people to the place where they work for a common goal.
Everyone knowing their part and how it fits with the other parts.
Result harmony.
Reply to this
Leadership is bring all the pieces together; whether it's a large business group, a small business or an orchestra. Like tribal leadership, your tribal leader knew what it would take to get everybody on the same tune.
Reply to this