I met New York jazzman Tim Armacost in college almost 25 years ago, at a time when we were both grappling not only with what careers we ought to pursue, but with what kind of adults we wanted to become. Tim comes from an illustrious family, boasting more than its fair share of bank presidents, ambassadors and college presidents. I would not have been surprised if he had gone into finance, diplomacy, or academia. And yet, with seemingly limitless professional options open to him, Tim chose a more modest path ? that of the jazz musician. For two decades he's been traveling the globe, pursuing his career as a professional tenor saxophonist, in such exotic locations as Amsterdam, Delhi, and Tokyo. His albums, including Live at Smalls and The Wishing Well, have received high praise from the Washington Post and Jazz Times. Fluent in Japanese, Tim is also a longtime student of Zen Buddhism; his meditation practice infuses his music and contributes strongly to his relaxed yet passionate performance style.
I asked Tim to share a few of his thoughts on team leadership ? from a jazz improv perspective. Here are his insightful comments:
"What I've learned from leading jazz groups, and from being a sideman for that matter, is that a group functions best when the leader is strong, confident, and has a vision. Within the context of that, he must also give the members of the band the feeling that they are totally free to express themselves within the boundaries of what the leader is setting out to do. I often find myself describing an improvising quartet as an excellent example of living, dynamic democracy. The jazz group was born to express the American spirit, and it has evolved into a form that is capable of expressing the spirits of communities of musicians throughout the world.
"The leader needs to pick members who will be compatible, and create an environment of mutual respect. With this in place, the sidemen can relax into a feeling of safety, from which they can explore and take risks without being judged unfairly for mistakes. If the leader is too selfish or demanding, the band members start to see themselves as just being there to do a job and collect a paycheck, and they lose respect for the leader. But more importantly, they become detached from the music and go on autopilot, ceasing to be actively expressing their own true music. On the flip side, if the leader defers too much to others in the band, the sidemen lose respect for him because they expect to be led somewhere interesting. This situation can result in everyone acting like a leader to pick up the slack in the band, and arguments over decision making and the direction of the music inevitably ensue.
"Then there's the issue of "swing". There's the fundamental level of swing where everyone is feeling the beat together, and the music has natural momentum. Then there's the next level where four artists all hearing the music in its moment of creation together generate an incredible propulsion. The rush of that stream carries each individual and the group into a place where they are all playing in a way that no one imagined before or could possibly recreate. The music is not only in the moment, it is of the moment. That's what I live for! Occasionally it happens, and I dream of the day when I can play enough and have enough work for my band to live in that place more.
"So I see the wisdom of team leadership lying in the ability to acknowledge and nurture each individual's freedom and creativity while simultaneously having the vision to create a group dynamic that takes the individuals bound together to a new and unforeseen place."
Editor's Note: Business team leaders can learn much from the world of Jazz improv. Before your next meeting, considering asking yourself the following questions:
1) Do I have a strong, confident vision for my team, and if so, what is it and have I communicated it sufficiently? Am I taking people somewhere "interesting"?
2) Do I provide my "sidemen" the freedom to express themselves within the boundaries of my vision?
3) On the flipside, do I provide so much freedom that my team members are confused about the direction they're being asked to take?
4) Do we "swing" as a team? Are we attaining, on a regular basis, that feeling of flow you get when people are functioning at their highest performance level? If not, what aspects of my leadership style might be preventing this?
Let the spirits of Miles Davis and Duke Ellington be your guide.
(Visit Tim Armacost on the web at www.timarmacost.com)
Dave Blum is the founder of Dr. Clue treasure hunts, the national leader in business teambuilding with a treasure hunt game as the core simulation.
Visit us on the web at http://www.drclue.com
You may have heard that bagpipes are a Scottish invention;... Read More
Jealousy ? do you feel it? Do you sense it... Read More
Piano lessons for adults is generally LOTS more fun than... Read More
Curious about MIDI? Want to find out what tools are... Read More
Both of these timbers make great soundboards on flat top... Read More
When Akio Morita came up with the idea of the... Read More
Gibson guitars have been around forever. It's funny, but although... Read More
The guitar is one of the most popular musical instruments... Read More
Three times in the last month I've been asked the... Read More
I have always believed that success, in practically any subject... Read More
Celebrities now such as Outkast, a fashion wear can be... Read More
Anyone who has recorded vocals to tape knows there is... Read More
Did you know that good songwriting is often the key... Read More
Every once in awhile a guitar student will express a... Read More
You've probably heard the saying "practice makes perfect" and it... Read More
Performance anxiety is not something that only happens to musicians,... Read More
Following, is a list of alternative sources that may be... Read More
Britney Spears was born December 2 1981 as Britney Jean... Read More
You've got your recording (or songwriting) contract in hand and... Read More
What is "Episcopal" music?We often hear people express concern about... Read More
A while back, I wrote an article that compared flower... Read More
When you first learn how to use a mixing console,... Read More
Who would have ever thought that a call out for... Read More
Music licensing can be a very confusing subject. My... Read More
Every once in a while a band comes along that... Read More
There are basically two ways you can compose a piece... Read More
All through the age's music and spirituality as served hand... Read More
When Clear Channel controls the radio and the monopoly newspaper... Read More
Most people look forward to the summer months because they... Read More
Chords. They're amazing. There's no doubt about it. Especially when... Read More
New bands looking to book gigs and establish contacts often... Read More
Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com is delighted... Read More
(1) The BMG Music Service offers the best deal you'll... Read More
In reflecting on the world of the Music Business in... Read More
From the Telecaster to the Flying V to the Iceman... Read More
New York born singer songwriter Michael Alan, who records with... Read More
The gong is one of the oldest musical instruments in... Read More
Have you ever dreamed of penning your own compositions? Writing... Read More
(1) The BMG Music Service offers the best deal you'll... Read More
Like starting with any instrument, beginning clarinet is a process... Read More
Every day musical instruments enrich the lives of people around... Read More
Pop/Rock Recording Artist Amber, who has scored seven #1 Billboard... Read More
Have you ever done any of the following?1. Made excuses... Read More
Most people these days would associate singing with the popular... Read More
Would you like to pop in a CD and have... Read More
When you think of music in Atlanta you generally think... Read More
Will listening to music make you smarter? Will learning to... Read More
The harp that once through Tara's halls the soul of... Read More
When I first set out to write this article about... Read More
Interviewed by Scott G (The G-Man)G-Man: When people think of... Read More
The violin is a bowed stringed instrument and is the... Read More
The lyric writing side of songwriting is known to create... Read More
Ostinato means "repeating pattern" and is used frequently in all... Read More
Everyone talks about the negative impact of the Internet on... Read More
Every once in awhile a guitar student will express a... Read More
Britney Spears was born December 2 1981 as Britney Jean... Read More
This months tip deals with micing kick drums.You wouldn't believe... Read More
Every searching artist wants to get there. It's that magical... Read More
Chord symbols (for example, Fm7, Cmaj7 or G6) are a... Read More
Recently, I had a student ask me to offer some... Read More
Lately, I haven't been using my guitar pick all that... Read More
It all started with Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" in... Read More
Celebrities now such as Outkast, a fashion wear can be... Read More
There are basically two ways you can compose a piece... Read More
Welcome back to Part II of Rhapsody Music Downloads! I... Read More
How is it that a little white boy from Kansas... Read More
Music & MP3 |