What I learned about leadership at a high school recital

I had the unique pleasure of attending my middle son's orchestra recital (that's his picture). There were young men and women from 9th grade to 12th grade who presented to those attending all that they had prepared. Some played alone (with an accompanist) while others played in an ensemble. As I listened to what they offered us, I thought of these three leadership lessons:

1. How you practice is how you play. One young man, a sophomore, played a very difficult piece by memory nearly without mistake. It brought tears to my eyes. Really. He was that good. As he finished and sat nearby, I told him, "well done!" He said, "Thanks. I've been working on that piece since November." November! Over four months! I responded, "it showed." Yes, it did.
   
   As we practice, so we play. What is practice, but purposely doing something repetitively so that we can do it easily without thinking? Scales, scales, scales. So it is with leadership. We consistently document our conversations. We think ahead (also consistently) to prepare for the day, the week, the month, and the year - and for the meeting, the conversation, the presentation. We practice asking questions. We listen intently (and consistently). All these things are then brought out in the next lesson...


2. Our preparation is displayed in our presentation. There were some, like the young man above, who had been working a looooong time on whatever song they had to play. And, that worked showed. Others, clearly hadn't spent that much time on their pieces of music. And, that lack of work showed.
   
   When we don't prepare, it shows. When we do, then it also shows. The King of Wing can hold the throne only so long. We all, as leaders, must be prepared. Because if we are not prepared - if we don't know where we are going and haven't prepared ourselves and others to get there - then we will not be leaders very long.


3. Finally, a team cannot perform at any acceptable standard without spending time as a team. There were ensembles who had a strong player or two, but the ensemble itself did not do as well as they would have liked. While others played strongly and as a team - intonation, timing, dynamics, and rhythm - demonstrating that they had clearly spent a great deal of time with one another to get the song done rightly.
   
   In order to perform as a team, it takes time. Time to get to know one another. Time to trust, confront, and hold one another accountable for the acceptable standard of the team. When all this is said and done, then the results are strong because the team strongly desires strong results and is willing to encourage and expect each other to reach perhaps higher than they could alone.

Who would have thought that lessons like these could be so universal, eh?

I'm glad to have been able to attend. My son also did well - I'm so proud for him.