LESSONS FOR
LEADERSHIP
FROM JAZZ
“Do not fear mistakes. There are none.”
- MILES DAVIS
What can we learn about the way Jazz musicians work and play together that will enhance the way we work together in organizations? After members of a Jazz ensemble are done playing a great song or set -- when they've been able to get really "out there" -- so often they say that the only thing on their mind is, "How soon can we do that again?"
How often do you walk out of a meeting in your organization and ask yourself, "How soon can we do that again?" If your organization is like most, the answer is, "Not often enough."
During Lessons for Leadership from Jazz shows, participants hear great live music and interact with members of a Jazz band to learn more about what it takes to create world-class performances. The band plays Jazz numbers to both entertain and illuminate the dynamics of Jazz. A show host orchestrates the conversation between members of the band and the audience to understand how lessons from Jazz can be applied in very practical ways in organizations.
All shows are designed to be both engaging and informative, so they work very well as either a substantive part of any meeting or a featured entertainment event.
Show Formats
Lessons for Leadership from Jazz shows can be done as:
A full evening’s entertainment that includes dinner and the show.
An afternoon session with a more in-depth focus on application to an organization's values, strategy and operations.
A featured presentation during a late afternoon or early evening cocktail hour.
Types of Shows
Clients can choose from among the following types of show:
Jazz Ensemble Shows use a Jazz quartet or quintet to illustrate the essentials of collaboration and innovation in teams and organizations. Jazz Ensemble Shows allow for a wide exploration of Jazz genres including traditional New Orleans Jazz, Straight Ahead Jazz, Hard Bop, Bebop, West Coast Cool Jazz, Latin Jazz and the more contemporary Smooth Jazz.
Big Band Shows explore the dynamics of a larger Jazz orchestra that might include as many as 20 musicians. Discussions focus on the unique challenges of leading and managing across larger organizations, combining more formal structures with a continued commitment to innovation. Big Band Shows also can feature Lindy Hop Swing dancers who offer their own example of “orchestrated improvisation.”
Lessons for Leadership from Jazz shows represent the best in "edutainment" — education combined with entertainment.