Humanise: Why Human-Centred Leadership is the Key to the 21st Century

CHAPTER 17 Leadership at the speed of relationship

‘In every deliberation, we must consider the impact on the seventh generation …'

GREAT LAW OF THE IROQUOIS

Following a long day at a conference discussing leadership trends we had been asked to gather at the top of the staircase at precisely 7 pm. As we stood talking to one another the sounds of a live orchestra emerged from the adjoining room. Where 90 minutes earlier had been a room of flip charts, whiteboards and work, we were astonished to find members of a leading symphony orchestra playing beautifully — each with a vacant chair beside them. CEOs more used to gathering around boardroom tables sat alongside violinists and cellists, and squeezed in beside trumpets and trombones. We looked and listened with wonder and awe as the conductor and musicians displayed their talent and their art.

One of my colleagues wondered whether the conductor added much value as a leader in such an illustrious group of world-class performers. The conductor answered by leading the orchestra through an exquisite rendition of a short piece from Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Then, in a simple and profound demonstration, he invited the musicians to perform the same music to the best of their ability without his leadership. With a gesture of his baton the conductor initiated the recital, which quickly degenerated into a chaos of unmodulated sound, ego and attitude, lacking cohesion, tempo, harmony and beauty in the absence of the conductor's shaping and ...