Doing more with less: a very powerful lesson via a short Leonard Bernstein video

Watch this short video below and observe how Leonard Bernstein is conducting without (seemingly) doing anything, in a completely different, blissful and benevolent style. This, to me, is a great example of the kind of leadership that we may need, going forward: using humor and letting others blossom by allowing for space and letting things happen, i.e. achieving much more by doing less.

I found this video via a blog post of my dear colleague, friend and collaborator, Didier Marlier, Founder of the EnablersNetwork and internationally renowned leadership and innovation thought-leader. Didier writes in his blog post (and I couldn't have said it better myself): 

"With minimal mimics, hands and stick under his arms, Bernstein conducts an outstanding orchestra who performs in an exceptional manner. Our audience commented this rare piece and great insights came out:

• Leonard Bernstein is very present and engaged with his team. He is not abandoning them. Devolving is not abdicating.
• By his humble posture, the Maestro unleashes the energy of his orchestra. Faced to such an unusual gesture of trust and respect, the team will do their utmost to prove their leader right
• The team and their leader are intellectually and emotionally “in sync” and aligned on a shared, superior Purpose
• Leonard Bernstein presents us with a formidable and counter-intuitive challenge: How to do only the essential –eliminate all the excessive energy and arm waving- to truly provide conditions for others to be their best…"

Related articles

• Announcing my new company: The Futures Agency (TFA) (mediafuturist.com)
• Catching Up With Leonard Bernstein (online.wsj.com)
• The Futures Agency (futurist.com)

Comments

[PaulFlanigan]

Hi Gerd,

Great little post. One thing that struck me was that Bernstein is able to do this because of the sweat equity he built before this moment. How many thousands of hours did he pour into this moment? How many 1:1 discussions with the musicians? How many rehearsals? All of this also shows that his team knows him better than anyone else. They are in sync with the music.

[Gerd Leonhard]

Good point, Paul. No pain no gain I guess:)