What I learned about leadership from a jazz concert

Dear Diary,

Some weeks ago, my significant other and I had the great fortune of taking in some exceptional jazz at Morristown Performing Arts Center in New Jersey with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Wynton Marsalis is a world-renowned musician, composer and bandleader, but his leadership approach extends far beyond the realm of music.

Although I have seen Marsalis work his magic as a storyteller in both words and music before, this concert felt like a masterclass in leadership. Perhaps this is because I am observing leaders differently now that I am in the early days of my tenure as CEO at Digital Workplace Group, but I found myself observing that…

• Marsalis led the band from the back row. He is both the third chair trumpet as well as the band leader. He is hands on. He is a leader. He is a curator of excellence.
• He curated the concert knowing that his orchestra’s success depends on the contributions of each member and their ability to work together as a team.
• He took great care to recognize all orchestra members for their contributions throughout the evening. When their contributions were named (for a solo, as a composer or creator of a special arrangement, etc.), he asked team members to take a bow. Although each demonstrated their brilliance and expertise in those moments, they equally bowed with such humility and great respect for Marsalis, their team members and their audience.
• He has surrounded himself with exceptional talent and gave them opportunities not only to deliver their best, but also to create and/or re-interpret jazz pieces. Everyone exuded a sense of teamwork, collaboration and innovation, as well as clarity of purpose.

So how did these observations translate into a leadership masterclass?

Marsalis’ approach throughout the evening was a testament to his leadership philosophy, which is grounded in an interdependent ethos. Reading up on him following the concert, it became clear that Marsalis believes that great leaders must…

• Have the courage to speak out and the endurance to deal with what comes their way.1
• Know what their team members can do in order to appropriately challenge those who need to be challenged, carry those who need to be carried, and sometimes even let go of those who need to be let go.
• Lead with passion and purpose by bringing your whole self to every performance. Instill the same in each band member and celebrate their accomplishments in real time with respect, inclusiveness and humility, knowing that all team members are both experts and life-long students of their craft.
• Balance empathy and decisiveness. Marsalis believes that a leader must be kind but also have the courage to make tough decisions and act when necessary.1 This balance of kindness and toughness is essential for effective leadership, as the combination allows a leader to be both empathetic and decisive.
• Share arranging duties and authority among team members, setting a tone of shared and distributed leadership.2 It’s important too to leave space for everyone to speak up and make suggestions – and they do!
• Exercise discipline. Marsalis feels that it is essential to be disciplined in his own life in order to lead effectively.2 This discipline extends to his work as an educator and advocate of American culture, as he is committed to passing on his knowledge and passion to future generations.3
• Have a deep, spiritual insight and the ability to make connections. Marsalis is also a mentor and teacher, and he brings young jazz musicians on stage to highlight and develop their skills. He teaches them not only music but mythology as well, enabling them to recalibrate how they look at the world.4,5

So, just to sum things up…

Marsalis’ interdependent leadership approach can be a model for anyone looking to lead with courage, empathy, decisiveness, purpose, passion, discipline, respect, inclusiveness and humility. In addition, his approach to leading the Jazz Orchestra is a testament to his commitment to education and advocacy, as is his dedication to passing on his knowledge and passion to future generations. Marsalis’ approach is not only applicable to effectively leading an orchestra, but it can also be applied to running a company or any other organization.

On a personal note, I felt a real sense of connection with Marsalis’ leadership approach and everything that I aspire to bring via an interdependent leadership approach inside Digital Workplace Group. We share not only a passion for our professions, but also team members with deep expertise with a proclivity for connection, collaboration, creativity and continuous learning.

References

1 Life’s Work: Wynton Marsalis (HBR, 2010)

2 Wynton Marsalis: Interdependent Leadership (Tune In To Leadership, 2020)

3 Wynton Marsalis, Pulitzer Prize for Achievement (What It Takes, 2021)

4 Wynton Marsalis: Reclaiming the Jazz Tradition (wyntonmarsalis.org, 1991)

5 Jazzman Marsalis trumpets youth, musical diversity (Reuters, 2014)

Categorised in: Diary of a She-e-o