LECTURES
The conductor as manager - The manager as conductor
A conductor must always anticipate. But sometimes he or she can take it too far!
The famous and highly routined English maestro Sir Adrian Boult is rehearsing. Suddenly, he stops the orchestra and says: ‘Third horn, you’re a little flat.’ To which the second horn replies: ‘Excuse me, sir, but the third horn hasn’t arrived yet.’ The stoical conductor ignores his embarrassing mistake and – unperturbed – responds: ‘Well, when he does, please tell him he’s too flat!’
This anecdote and similar stories weave a common thread throughout conductor Jules van Hessen’s lively presentations about the analogies between conducting and leadership. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the conducting profession and even get a crash course in conducting and baton techniques. Frequently asked questions include – ‘What’s the conductor’s role?’ and ’What does the conductor do exactly?’ Van Hessen answers these and many other questions.
He also discusses a wide range of related themes such as gestural versus verbal communication, the nature and workings of charisma, cultural influences and the technique of policy transference. What’s more, you learn about the orchestra as a professional institution and conversely how to nurture creativity and creative potential within virtually any organisation – emphasising cultural differences and how to embrace them.
A conductor needs the right attitude to forge ahead and implement change. He or she has to create the right conditions for professionals under his or her direction for them to cooperate as fully as possible and act in unison. You’ll soon grasp how the relationship between an orchestra and its conductor serves as an excellent analogy for teams and their managers.
Jules van Hessen also reveals the differences between mediocre orchestras and great orchestras, and their conductors, and how these can relate to your own profession or organisation. You’ll discover that the processes and problems conductors have to contend with are familiar and relevant to any leader or team member.
His presentations blend education and entertainment sublimely, not only by projecting relevant video material and having the orchestra play live excerpts, but by infusing them with his own inimitable style and flair for entertainment and communication. Like the true conductor that he is, he conjures up a creative and interactive setting in which the audience plays an active role.
A briefing session precedes every presentation to tailor it to your organisation’s needs and requirements and make sure it’s relevant and applicable to your choice of audience.
Past clients include several Dutch ministries, numerous Dutch companies such as ENECO, Transavia, and Wessel Stevin and multinationals such as ABN AMRO, AT&T, Corus, EY, Hitachi, KLM, SAP and Universal.
