Ego and Teamwork on the Stage

Conducting an orchestra is a lot like managing a team in the business world. Both require bringing together different talents and perspectives to create something special. Recently, I had an experience that showed this exact similarity.

We were preparing for a big concert, and our two soloists had very different ideas about how the piece should be played. Each of them was incredibly talented and passionate about their interpretation. The rehearsal room became quite tense as they each tried to convince the other (and the rest of us) that their way was the best.

As the conductor, I could have stepped in and made a decision about which interpretation to go with. On the one hand, it is my job to decide on the musical direction of the piece, but on the other, it’s customary to let the soloist (or soloists) lead the strategy in a piece that features them.

I decided to let the situation evolve naturally, in hopes that they will get to know each other and agree on a joint gameplan. Try to imagine the situation, these are super-experienced musicians, usually with a huge ego, that need to find a way to understand one another and myself included, all in 1-2 rehearsals. Add to the mix an entire orchestra who’s just sitting and waiting to see what the musical approach will be like, and also watching closely to see if the conductor, that’s me, can hold it together,

Oh, and let’s not forget, the concert takes place just a day or two after, with thousands of people in the audience. No second chances are given.

This is similar to what happens in many companies. When leading team members have conflicting ideas, a manager's first instinct might be to quickly resolve the conflict. But sometimes, that can lead to further challenges because these leaders must find a way to communicate with each other effectively on their own.

When it was finally time for the concert, the tension was still there. There was no love between the two soloists. They’ve managed to agree on some things in order to move forward, but everything was still quite unstable when we got up on the stage. I was really stressed about the situation and knew that we would all need to do our best under these circumstances.

Thankfully, we are all professionals. Each soloist brought their unique style to the music, and although some parts felt a little unsure, the result was a powerful and dynamic performance. The audience loved it, and the concert was a huge success.

This taught me an important lesson: allowing different perspectives to coexist, as hard as that is sometimes, can lead to extraordinary results. In a business setting, this means encouraging team members to bring their unique ideas to the table and not being afraid of a little creative tension.

Despite our success, I couldn't help but feel that we could have enjoyed the process more. The days leading up to the concert were stressful, and that stress took some of the joy out of our work. If we had found a way to connect and communicate better, the entire experience could have been more enjoyable for everyone involved.

In the corporate world, this is a crucial insight. Achieving goals is important, but despite having a professional team, it doesn’t just happen automatically. We all must learn to communicate better, to try and put our egos aside, and really see the person in front of us. This is one of the hardest things to do, especially when it’s someone that rubs us the wrong way.

As an orchestra conductor, every time I take the stage, I’m reminded that leadership is about more than just getting results. It's about transformation, about creating an environment where everyone can contribute their best and enjoy the journey. Whether you're leading a team of musicians like me or a team in the business world, the principles of teamwork, respect, and open communication are what we all need to achieve.