Monday, May 16, 2011

Elevation of listening

I spent the weekend reminiscing and exploring musical relationships at my alma mater, Westminster Choir College during their alumni events around the 2011 commencement.  What an amazing, and exhausting series of moments.

As a part time performer these days, I'm not privileged to live in these experiences 24/7 but I listened, and learned a great deal.  Inspiration, emotions, collaboration, competition, and judgement were everywhere.  I was struck by the comparisons to my every day job in corporate leadership... yet I was proud that I know how to listen. Stephen Paulus touched on some of these ideas during his excellent address during the commencement on Saturday morning.

A new performer's trinity emerged for me.. crystallizing some ideas we have been using at DaCapoVa for several years as we seek to engage both the musical and non-musical communities to enable ALL... with context and relationships.


A great performer has to help the audience listen and engage. 


Success is derived from a trinity of perspective... Intention, execution, and audience... where all parties carefully manage and are aware of the cascading moments.

As communicators so often repeat. If you are "explaining", you are "losing"
Same applies to singers, and even instrumentalists.

Our imperative must be to explore the transformative power of the moments... Not sing/play the notes & words.

We must elevate the musical dialogue! It is as much about listening, as it is about singing.


Interestingly, this same approach will "transform" your meetings and leadership model as well.  Spending more time listening and thinking about how you listen, is a tremendous "crossover" key to success in "performance" no matter the traditional world.

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