ARTISTS AS LEADERS
It took me a huge effort to blog. And people who know me better know that I am not a big blogger fan. Still I really like the idea to write down some experiences, cognitions, that you have during living your life.
This first blog was one of these cognitions. Inspired by Miha Pogacnik who combines music to business, I thought myself, if I could see linkages between music and business.
And one linkage I saw in the phenomenon, why some artists are so exceptional, similar to true leaders.
Everybody who plays or played an instrument knows that the capability to play depends mainly on your technical skills. You can see it even as a sport, listen to Paganini or Liszt and you often admire the artist like a sportsman.
My question is: Can somebody who is not at all music talented play Paganini Caprices, because he is a good sportsman?
For sure not! You need basic prerequisites!
The same accounts for managers. For being a good manager you need as well certain prerequisites!
But the most interesting question:
Why is somebody with perfect managing skills not exceptionally successful?
Why is somebody with perfect instrument techniques not exceptional successful?
Did you one time experience in a concert: You listen to a piece that you heard already thousand times and somehow you feel bored? Your mind moves away, even you see the artist playing with an amazing technical perfection?
And did you another time experience in a concert: You listen to a piece that you heard already thousand times and suddenly you get inspired, something is totally touching your heart, it seems the artist performs magic.
As a business student I call this difference leadership!
In leadership courses there often occurs the question if everybody can be a leader, or if you are born as a leader.
To turn this question a bit: Would it be possible for every musician becoming a leader and playing like a leader? Apparently we try in business … otherwise thousands of leadership courses, seminars and trainings would not be offered!
In my opinion it is very similar. Becoming a leader means to discover yourself. The music has to come out of your inner feeling.
Everybody who plays or played an instrument knows that the capability to play depends mainly on your technical skills. You can see it even as a sport, listen to Paganini or Liszt and you often admire the artist like a sportsman.
My question is: Can somebody who is not at all music talented play Paganini Caprices, because he is a good sportsman?
For sure not! You need basic prerequisites!
The same accounts for managers. For being a good manager you need as well certain prerequisites!
But the most interesting question:
Why is somebody with perfect managing skills not exceptionally successful?
Why is somebody with perfect instrument techniques not exceptional successful?
Did you one time experience in a concert: You listen to a piece that you heard already thousand times and somehow you feel bored? Your mind moves away, even you see the artist playing with an amazing technical perfection?
And did you another time experience in a concert: You listen to a piece that you heard already thousand times and suddenly you get inspired, something is totally touching your heart, it seems the artist performs magic.
As a business student I call this difference leadership!
In leadership courses there often occurs the question if everybody can be a leader, or if you are born as a leader.
To turn this question a bit: Would it be possible for every musician becoming a leader and playing like a leader? Apparently we try in business … otherwise thousands of leadership courses, seminars and trainings would not be offered!
In my opinion it is very similar. Becoming a leader means to discover yourself. The music has to come out of your inner feeling.
First challenge is to know what lies in there.
Second challenge is to know how to express it and transform it into music. And of course without a perfect technique this won’t be possible.
Business schools have already recognized the value of leaders and almost every school develops future leaders. (At least in marketing brochures)
But at music schools I am still missing this linkage. Not only that I don’t see any support – instead you have a great teacher – it often seems to be a huge challenge to save your inner centre in the surrounding of a stressful climate of competitiveness at music schools.
Something, music schools could learn from business schools?
posted by Ernesto at 1:27 AM
3 Comments:
Zeitgenössische Musik ist eine Wüste mit ein paar ausgespuckten Dattelkernen hier und da...
Pablo Casals
span. Cellist, Komponist u. Dirigent
1876 - 1973
i think it is even hard for business schools to "teach" leadership. i would say it is something that you only can "experience". learning or studying leadership is something that comes with trial and error.
the question is whether this "göttlicher funke" as you describe it can be found in everybody or not... another thing that comes into my mind is whether a true leader is a leader in every occassion? does it mean that if you are a leader you will be able to lead any team in any situation. or is it somehow as well some part of luck that you need to have (in the sense of getting a team that fits to you or where you as a leader fit to them)...
What are we doing in all these leadership sessions.
Huge part is reflection, to think about where your passion lies in.
This exactly explains, that there is no leader for every area or situation.
But every indiviual can try to find this area, where he will have this extra power to lead and inspire other people.
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