Leadership Sets the Tone

Leadership Sets the Tone December 16, 2014

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I enjoy watching orchestras. There are times when I get distracted from the music, watching how the musicians work together. I wonder about the tensions between the sections. How do the brass instrumentalists get along with those playing woodwinds? Do the violinists even talk to the percussionists?

What are the differences that make world class orchestras better than the ones that are very good?

For me, an orchestra is a great example of a group in which all the members are leaders.

Each member of an orchestra plays a crucial part. Each works hard to be their best, then shares their best to bring out the best in the people around them. They each lead by bringing their best selves to bear on a common vision, common goals. How they perform, individually and together, grows from the values they share.

Leaders do not try to play all the instruments by themselves. They practice on their own, developing skills and understanding. Leaders work together to create harmony, balance, and rhythm.

Even when they are working their hardest, the leaders are still playing.

I have read that if you want to conduct the orchestra, you must turn your back to the audience. That is true, but none of the leaders in an orchestra is really facing the audience. They are working and playing together, focusing on creating their best shared performance. They are doing their best together to serve the audience.

There are times when people working together make a lot of discordant noise. They each may try to play all the parts without any help, or head in different directions.

As they become the leaders they have the potential to be, leadership sets the tone.

Who sets the tone for your leadership?

What rhythms, balance, and harmony is your leadership creating today?

[Image by chrisbb@prodigy.net]


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