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The Jazz of Teamwork
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Playing music together suggests powerful metaphors for both leadership and teamwork. I tell people I play guitar, but I’m not a musician. I’ve played in a few bands and have a grasp of what it means to play together. I’ve found the connection between great conductors and great leaders useful in helping people grasp key skills in coordinating, motivating, and empowering followers.[1] While watching Ken Burn’s documentary on Jazz,[2] my thinking was nudged in a different direction.
Playing classical music as part of an orchestra requires discipline, attention to the conductor, and listening to each other to stay together. Success requires a masterful plan (sheet music), performers (musicians), and a strong, confident leader (conductor). All the musicians are very good, but the success of the program leans heavily on a few who play “first” on their instrument. Great musicians play a huge part in the success of the performance, but not every musician needs to be great. This offers a leadership and team model focused on a singular strong leader, star performers, and a set strategy. Doesn’t this resemble many traditional organizational structures; led from the top, some outstanding performers and lots of second-tier workers?[3] It requires a strong, static plan in a predictable setting. While this may fit some companies today, very few…
