Who is your
“Beethoven”?
Musings on having
a powerful Mission
Who is your “Beethoven”
December 2013
The world of professional music has some of the highest performing teams that
exist anywhere – orchestras of up to 100 tremendously experienced and
phenomenally well trained individuals, all of whom can step forward and lead, all
of whom can take a back seat and follow and support, all of whom can play solo
when needed, all of whom can listen and adapt and blend with their colleagues,
all of whom can function as a single unit, all of whom can both see the big picture
and yet focus on the details. Not only this, but they have to – and can – work with
astonishing speed. And then, despite the intense pressure of public scrutiny, they
deliver the goods flawlessly, night after night after night.
In that sense they function far better than many teams in the organisational
world. But at the same time, let’s not kid ourselves. Orchestral players are not
some sort of superhero. Fundamentally, they’re just ordinary people (albeit doing
extraordinary things), and so they suffer from all the usual problems that infect
any group – frustrations, niggles, irritations, misunderstandings, differences of
opinion and perception, perhaps even downright dislike or hatred of colleagues.
What distinguishes professional orchestras and choirs from their organisational
counterparts – and, in the process, allows them to overcome these everyday
difficulties – is that they have a true “raison d’etre”, a very clear Mission, if you
like. And that is… to perform great music to the highest possible standards. And
that is a tremendously powerful drive.
The great works of classical music are among the pinnacles of Western Culture,
and their composers are some of the most gifted and visionary people ever to
have walked the planet. Of course, such exalted standards bring their own
pressures, but at the same time they can make life much easier for conductors
who are wanting to “rally the troops”. Because, to be honest, “the troops” don’t
need to be rallied to perform Beethoven or Mozart or Bach. No matter how tired
or jaded or fed-up a performer might be, no matter how bad a day it’s been, after
two or three notes everything negative is forgotten and Beethoven takes hold and
carries ”the troops” along.
Charles Grimes
Who is your “Beethoven”
December 2013
But that’s not all. Beethoven acts not simply as an inspiration, providing some
much-needed Get-up-and-go, but he’s there almost as a mentor. It’s as if he is
constantly looking over your shoulder, encouraging you to give of your best,
keeping you focused on the highest standards imaginable.
In the organisational world, as a team-leader or a manager or a director or even
(especially??) the CEO, part of your role is to inspire your team, to “rally the
troops” to achieve the mission. Now, if you’re really lucky, the mission is sexy and
exciting, and everyone is immediately on-board and bought in to it. But you and I
know that that’s not the norm. In the workplace, most projects are not overtly
thrilling, and getting colleagues fully engaged and giving of their best is a
challenge.
But hey, that’s what you’re paid for. That’s precisely why you’re the team-leader
(or manager or director or even the CEO!). Part of your job is to discover how to
transform a “dull project” into an “inspiring project”, how to transform a “lacklustre
group” into a “fully engaged group”, and how to transform a “low achieving group”
into a “high performing group”.
As I said, as “team leaders”, Orchestral Conductors have a distinct advantage
here over their organisational colleagues, in that they have a ready-made allinspiring mission. But my point is this: We ALL have “a Beethoven” in our lives…
someone (or perhaps something?) that inspires us to get off our backsides, to get
involved, and to give of our very best, even when the going gets tough..
So, a question for you….
”Who is your ‘Beethoven’? Who (or what) will truly inspire you to engage with the
task and give of your best?”
And when you’ve answered that, it’s time to ask your team the same question.
*****
Charles Grimes