The TED talk by Itay Talgam titled “Lead Like the Conductors” was enjoyable, humorous (he has a lovely sense of humor) and contained short clips of beautiful music, but within those three things was also a message about leadership. Talgam used several different conductors and their conducting styles to make a point about being a good leader and getting what you want out of your “players”. Each conductor had his own style of conducting and each got difference types of responses from their orchestras both while playing – doing their jobs - and outside of their jobs.
The major issue Talgam spoke of was control and what kind of control each conductor had over his orchestra and how that control affected the players/how the players did their jobs. At first, it was difficult to see what Talgam saw, but once he explained it, you could see how the leadership style of each conductor affected the results of the orchestra. Just as in any other job, the leadership style of the leader, the way the leader speaks to and acts toward his team, and the message that the leader sends to his team will determine the outcome.
Talgam showed us the joyous leader who enables and empowers people to tell their story so that the stories of the entire team are told and they work together to achieve success. He has control, but the control is a partnership. They work together in a harmonious way because they are motivated and feel as though they have some say in the process. Then there was the “I’m responsible” leader who used his team as instruments, but not as partners. This leader is very controlling and does not get the same kind of cooperation or harmony that the first gets. In fact, in the end the team asked him to remove himself from the orchestra. The third was the “let it happen by itself” or “play by the book” leader who does not interfere with his team, but who offers nothing and allows no interpretation. He is controlling, but because his team is not encouraged they have no real harmony and they do not feel encouraged. The last was the leader who left his team guessing, feeling “I’m not sure what he wants”. His instructions were vague and the team had to look to each other to try to figure out what to do. The team did not dislike the leader, but there was no real harmony because they were not being led and were not sure what to do.
Having worked for a number of years and in different arenas, I have seen each type of leader and have experienced the frustration that employees experience when their leader does not lead, does not provide harmony, does not give the employees a say, and does not make their employees feel empowered and motivated. It is amazing how a leadership style can affect the entire organization and it makes me think about how I, as a leader in any capacity, even as a leader (teacher) in my own classroom, can affect the results of those I am working with.
Gayle,
ReplyDeleteYour last paragraph, in particular the following statement, “It is amazing how a leadership style can affect the entire organization and it makes me think about how I, as a leader in any capacity, even as a leader (teacher) in my own classroom, can affect the results of those I am working with”, brings me back to an undergraduate class. Our professor shared with us something that I continue to carry with me. The following is quoted from Hiam Ginot, “I’ve come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized.” Although the words are spoken from the teacher’s point of view, it is truly applicable in every aspect of life, professional and personal. The central message I embrace is that attitude, positive or negative, are in my control. It is from my attitude that I make each and every decision. Although Ginot viewed this as a “frightening conclusion”, I view it as empowerment.
Rachel, Thank you for sharing that quote from Ginot. I totally agree with it and with you. It is a serious job that we have. It is a "frightening conclusion" but it is also very empowering. We have an opportunity to make a difference and we control the difference that we make. All it takes is the right attitude....and a definite love for the job.....and the knowledge that your administration (leaders) is supporting you in your mission. I have cut and pasted so many quotes from TED talks and students of this class because I feel they are so motivating to me in my job. Ginot's quote is another one that I will cut and paste. By the time this class is over, I will have a wall-to-wall collage of words of wisdom!! :) Again, thanks for sharing.
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