Five Steps to Leading a Healthy Team

Have you ever seen a one-man band? While entertaining and sometimes quite talented, their music is far from harmonious. Orchestras, on the other hand, are beautiful to listen to. They can produce the most quiet, soothing music or excite you with loud sounds and pulsating rhythm. Whichever you prefer, the differences between the two provide us with great leadership lessons.

What's the Difference?

In terms of leadership, one-man bands "do it all." They don't trust subordinates, and they micro-manage every detail. You have probably seen this before and may even be guilty of practicing the same centralizing type of leadership, but the biblical image of leadership is not about star performers but more like the conductors of an orchestra.

Paul testifies to this statement in his letter to the Corinthians when he writes:

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone, it is the same God at work. Now to each one, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
— 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

Maestros and Leadership

I love going to the symphony and watching the orchestra. Beyond enjoying the music, an orchestral performance can teach us at least five powerful leadership lessons.

1. The Maestro Does Not Make a Sound. Many conductors are also musicians, but most of the time, they stand behind a podium, with batons in hand, ready to give direction to the orchestra.
   
   Leadership is not about doing everything but working as a team to accomplish the beautiful symphony of a God-given vision.
    

2. The Conductor Communicates with the Orchestra. The conductor's hand gestures may mean little to the average observer, but to the musicians, they are a rich language of rhythm, tempo, emphasis, dynamic, etc. In order to communicate during the performance, the conductor and the musicians create a common language during rehearsal.
   
   Leaders need to create a culture and common language with their teams to allow quick and effective communication.
    

3. The Best Conductors Inspire Top Performance. A good orchestra has many instruments playing together at one time, but an outstanding orchestra plays so well together that it appears as one instrument.
   
   Building a team that "plays as one instrument" is the main task of the leader.
    

4. The Main Job of the Conductor is to Make Each Musician Shine. This seems opposite of my last point, but if you have been to a concert, you know a good piece of music highlights various sections of the orchestra at different times.
   
   Great leaders build on each team member's strengths and understand that when one person shines, the entire team and its leader shine as well.
    

5. The Conductor is Always a Little Ahead. You may not know this, but every orchestra lags behind the conductor a fraction of a measure. This is easy to understand when you realize the musicians have to pay attention to the score, their instrument, and the conductor. A good conductor knows this and allows it to happen.
   
   Visionary leaders are always "ahead of the pack" and motivate others to come alongside them with the understanding that not everyone will be able to keep the same pace.

Which of these five lessons can you apply to your leadership this week?