The Ted talk video clip with Talgam was an interested look
at how leadership behaviors are shown through musical conductors. Having played
an instrument in an orchestra style band for 10 years, I can relate to the different
conductor’s styles. During my time in the band, we had 4 different conductors
and each of them had different expectations and had varying demands. Using conductors
is a genius idea. It allows for the comparisons, similarities and differences
between the theory of leadership and conductors acting as leaders. The comical
way Talgam portrays the conductors and their individual personalities was a
great way to emotionally connect the ideas presented through the conductor’s leadership
methods.
I think that Talgam was able to make these connections
because of the straightforward manner each of these conductors led their orchestras.
Whether it was aggressively or passively, each conductor was exhibiting some
kind of reaction and it was fun to see this throughout the video.
In my opinion, all musicians are really part of the
in-group. As followers, the musicians see the conductor as the leader of the
music. As much as some of the video’s commentary mentions the conductors are
allowing the musicians to take over, there are still plenty of examples of the
conductors guiding the orchestras throughout the video. Northouse says, “those
that were based on expanded and negotiated role responsibilities (extra-roles),
which were called the in-group” (pg. 22, 2018). In this manner, I believe musicians
are all part of the in-group. Otherwise, you’d see musicians simply refusing to
play or not play well.
In Making Sense of
Leadership: Exploring the Five Key Roles Used by Effective Leaders, it
mentions John Adair being one of the first writers to demonstrate that
leadership is a trainable skill and the definition of management beyond task
control and production to include decision making and communication activities.
Using Adair’s theory, we can see that these conductors learned and honed their
craft over time. Each conductor has created his own way of leading these
orchestras.
Playing music and being in a group of high performing group
of people is very task oriented. The musicians practice while the conductor
leads them through the music. But in the case of the Ted Talk video, these
conductors having taken the task of playing music to a different level by
establishing relationships with the musicians to the point that in some
examples, the conductor just stands there, nods or makes small gestures. I see
that transactional, path-goal and skills approach leadership are all in action.
Talgam’s examples left me feeling nostalgic about my time
playing music. I think he’s ideas of leadership through the eyes of talented
and accomplished conductors were well thought out and they apply to an
interesting side of leadership. There is more to the establishment of
relationships in leadership than I can really imagine. We all know leaders,
both fictional and in real life that can command the authority of a room with
just a look. Conductors, in many ways, are critical to the success of an orchestra
and it is build on the relationship with each member of the team. There is bias
on both sides, because even if a musician didn’t care for the conductor, while
they are part of the team, they must perform and be held accountable for their
actions. I see quite a similarity between this example and that of an office environment.
The difference is the sweet, sweet music!
Marques Thomey
November 16, 2019
References:
Cameron, E and Green, M. (2008). Making Sense of Leadership: Exploring the Five Key Roles Used by Effective
Leaders. Kogan Page Publishers. ISBN: 0749455586, 9780749455583
Northouse,
P. G. (2018). Leadership: Theory and Practice (7th Ed.) Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publishing.
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