Brennan, Dana, Dave, MichelleBrennan, Dana, Dave, Michelle

Leadership EnsembleLeadership EnsembleOrpheus: A Conductor-less Orpheus: A Conductor-less

OrchestraOrchestra

IntroductionIntroduction

New York based orchestra established in New York based orchestra established in 19741974

Founded by Julian FiferFounded by Julian Fifer Consists of 27 membersConsists of 27 members Famous for implementing a “leaderless” Famous for implementing a “leaderless”

orchestraorchestra ““Orpheus” – name for Greek god who Orpheus” – name for Greek god who

created music so powerful, stones rose created music so powerful, stones rose and followed himand followed him

AgendaAgenda

Motivation Motivation Decision MakingDecision Making LeadershipLeadership Team Cohesion and StructureTeam Cohesion and Structure ConclusionConclusion

MotivationMotivation

SuccessSuccess The Early StagesThe Early Stages Job SatisfactionJob Satisfaction ProblemsProblems SolutionSolution

MotivationMotivation

Musicians: More talent = greater career Musicians: More talent = greater career options options

No matter how successful, most resort to No matter how successful, most resort to teachingteaching

Members of Orpheus unsatisfied in Members of Orpheus unsatisfied in conventional orchestras; under the control conventional orchestras; under the control of a conductorof a conductor

The Early StagesThe Early Stages

Motivation undermined by having to follow Motivation undermined by having to follow conductor’s strict rulesconductor’s strict rules

Success is defined as “how you can follow Success is defined as “how you can follow other orchestra’s members actions”other orchestra’s members actions”

““The climate in most conductor-led The climate in most conductor-led orchestras is appalling”orchestras is appalling”

The Early StagesThe Early Stages

The aspect of “making good music” is The aspect of “making good music” is relinquishedrelinquished

Must be self-motivated due to steep Must be self-motivated due to steep competitioncompetition

Much time devoted to studying music – Much time devoted to studying music – individuals invest much pride and ego in individuals invest much pride and ego in careercareer

The Early StagesThe Early Stages

Self-expression in music more difficult if Self-expression in music more difficult if orchestra conductor-ledorchestra conductor-led

Individuality proves relatively useless in Individuality proves relatively useless in conventional orchestras as conductor tells conventional orchestras as conductor tells you what to doyou what to do

Formal training is only required for entry Formal training is only required for entry into orchestrainto orchestra

Job SatisfactionJob Satisfaction

Widespread discontent among symphony Widespread discontent among symphony musicians in 4 countriesmusicians in 4 countries

Musicians believe that their talent is Musicians believe that their talent is underrepresented in an orchestraunderrepresented in an orchestra

One Orpheus member said, “You must be One Orpheus member said, “You must be careful not to let symphony job conflict careful not to let symphony job conflict with making music.”with making music.”

ProblemsProblems

Conductor control leads to lack of Conductor control leads to lack of communication between musicians communication between musicians

Overall spirit lost due to strict control of Overall spirit lost due to strict control of conductorconductor

Members not inspired to work as a teamMembers not inspired to work as a team

SolutionSolution

Create an orchestra based on a new Create an orchestra based on a new philosophyphilosophy

Julian Fifer selected musicians who could Julian Fifer selected musicians who could handle and give criticism to fellow handle and give criticism to fellow musiciansmusicians

Create an atmosphere where individual Create an atmosphere where individual spirits and enthusiasm determined spirits and enthusiasm determined orchestra outcomeorchestra outcome

SolutionSolution

No particular method was implemented to No particular method was implemented to gain ideas for pieces of musicgain ideas for pieces of music

Every member contributes ideas for each Every member contributes ideas for each piece of musicpiece of music

This encouraged members to use their This encouraged members to use their talents and training to determine overall talents and training to determine overall successsuccess

Decision MakingDecision Making

Unanimous DecisionsUnanimous Decisions Core GroupsCore Groups Concert MasterConcert Master

Unanimous Decision MakingUnanimous Decision Making

All 27 members participatedAll 27 members participated Strong willed musiciansStrong willed musicians Why this is a problemWhy this is a problem

Core GroupsCore Groups

Formulate interpretationsFormulate interpretations Same preparations as a conductorSame preparations as a conductor Each presents to ensembleEach presents to ensemble Rotate regularlyRotate regularly

Concert MasterConcert Master

Team Captain vs. CoachTeam Captain vs. Coach ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities InfluenceInfluence RotationRotation Executive CommitteeExecutive Committee

LeadershipLeadership

Leadership and feedbackLeadership and feedback Teamwork leads to trustTeamwork leads to trust Every musician is a leaderEvery musician is a leader

LeadershipLeadership

““Each musician in Orpheus will…sit in the Each musician in Orpheus will…sit in the audience to hear how each piece sounds audience to hear how each piece sounds to a concertgoer”to a concertgoer”

Without a conductor each member must Without a conductor each member must play the role of leaderplay the role of leader

Personal feedback from colleagues is vitalPersonal feedback from colleagues is vital

Teamwork & LeadershipTeamwork & Leadership

Teams in Orpheus rely on individual Teams in Orpheus rely on individual members having a common objectivemembers having a common objective

Each team shares common values leading Each team shares common values leading to a high degree of respect among all to a high degree of respect among all membersmembers

Highly cohesive team with defined roles, Highly cohesive team with defined roles, accountability and trustaccountability and trust

Stage 2 OrganizationStage 2 Organization

Teamwork & LeadershipTeamwork & Leadership

Core-group in Orpheus changes regularly Core-group in Orpheus changes regularly Each member responsible for leadership trainingEach member responsible for leadership training Leaders are constantly dealing with change in Leaders are constantly dealing with change in

groupsgroups Responsible for envisioning, energizing and Responsible for envisioning, energizing and

enabling new members in orchestraenabling new members in orchestra Personal development among members: ”This Personal development among members: ”This

experience has allowed me to discover strengths experience has allowed me to discover strengths that I didn’t know I had.”that I didn’t know I had.”

Team Cohesion and Team Cohesion and StructureStructure

Practical ConsiderationsPractical Considerations Team CohesionTeam Cohesion DrawbacksDrawbacks BenefitsBenefits

Practical ConsiderationsPractical Considerations

No director, or full-time membersNo director, or full-time members Members must take on freelance Members must take on freelance

opportunitiesopportunities Bassoonist Frank Morelli: Only provides Bassoonist Frank Morelli: Only provides

10% of his yearly income, but “artistically, 10% of his yearly income, but “artistically, it may be the most rewarding work he’s it may be the most rewarding work he’s ever done.”ever done.”

Team CohesionTeam Cohesion

Substitutes to cover for unavailable Substitutes to cover for unavailable membersmembers

The ‘whole’ must be the same, in spite of The ‘whole’ must be the same, in spite of the rotating identities of the ‘parts’the rotating identities of the ‘parts’

One member from each instrument section One member from each instrument section fluent in Orpheus’ leadership process must fluent in Orpheus’ leadership process must perform at each concertperform at each concert

Team CohesionTeam Cohesion

Orchestra has a dozen regular substitutesOrchestra has a dozen regular substitutes

An “extended family of musicians”An “extended family of musicians”

Substitutes must contribute their opinionsSubstitutes must contribute their opinions

““Hearing fresh, new ideas is always good.”Hearing fresh, new ideas is always good.”

Team CohesionTeam Cohesion

A high degree of interaction among membersA high degree of interaction among members

Somewhat difficult entry Somewhat difficult entry • Both in terms of skill and artistic philosophyBoth in terms of skill and artistic philosophy

A common external challenge A common external challenge • Upcoming performancesUpcoming performances

Team CohesionTeam Cohesion

Longevity leads to familiarity, not only with Longevity leads to familiarity, not only with your job, but with your co-workersyour job, but with your co-workers

Familiarity leads to predictabilityFamiliarity leads to predictability

““You can anticipate one another’s every You can anticipate one another’s every move.”move.”

DrawbacksDrawbacks

The pressure to achieve cohesion The pressure to achieve cohesion quicklyquickly

The time it takes to organize a structure The time it takes to organize a structure that worksthat works

Divergent philosophies may lead to Divergent philosophies may lead to conflict among team membersconflict among team members

BenefitsBenefits

FlexibilityFlexibility

Collaboration = free exchange of ideasCollaboration = free exchange of ideas

An essential formation of trustAn essential formation of trust

Artistic freedom and self-expressionArtistic freedom and self-expression

Higher levels of job satisfactionHigher levels of job satisfaction

ConclusionConclusion

MotivationMotivation Greater involvement leads to greater job Greater involvement leads to greater job

satisfactionsatisfaction

Decision MakingDecision Making Dividing into core groups leads to teamwork Dividing into core groups leads to teamwork

and trustand trust

ConclusionConclusion

LeadershipLeadership Collaborative due to common objective and Collaborative due to common objective and

shared valuesshared values

Team CohesionTeam Cohesion Cohesion results from new ideas contributed Cohesion results from new ideas contributed

by rotating membersby rotating members There are benefits and drawbacks; success There are benefits and drawbacks; success

depends on situationdepends on situation

Questions…Questions…