The discussions with executive audiences have typically centred around a number of powerful key insights. One of the primary takeaways is that in business, the process of implementation must start far more quickly than the traditional planning approach allows. Just as the musicians begin playing almost immediately, business leaders must be prepared to act and adapt on the fly rather than spend excessive time in the planning phase. One regular conclusion that executives draw from this type of session is that they need to “start moving much quicker”. This highlights the need for a shift in mindset, from rigid strategic planning to dynamic, fast-paced decision-making. In addition, it requires courage to begin on a particular course of action before you’re fully comfortable. Another central lesson is the importance of active listening. Musicians in a band must focus intently on one another in order to respond and adapt. As one large business owner concluded: “I must learn to listen a lot more.” This mirrors the way leaders should engage with their teams, valuing the knowledge, skills and perspectives of others. In business, this means fostering an environment where leaders are not only directive but also receptive to the input of their teams, enabling more informed and flexible decision-making. The jazz musicians demonstrate that strategy is not a one‑off, linear process. Instead, it is an ongoing, iterative process, where plans evolve in response to changing circumstances. This
the others sound good.” This is done by trying to always support fellow musicians, constantly adjusting one’s own contribution to the group. As a pedagogical tool, therefore, the jazz band allows for demonstrating a multitude of scenarios in a very short time. The interplay between jazz performance, small group analysis and dialogue between business management and band members ensures that the lessons from jazz music are translated into the context of business and leadership. Music also has another dimension often absent in conventional management education: its direct emotional connection. By causing an emotional reaction in the audience, the jazz method makes the learning experience memorable. In addition, recent research has explored the role of emotions in strategy work and using music in learning may help managers better connect strategic management with emotions. Strategic implementation & iteration The business executives observing the jazz band are asked to analyse what they have witnessed. In small teams, they explore key questions: How did the musicians manage to collaborate so effectively without prior planning? How did they adapt to challenges during the performance? What leadership dynamics were at play and how did the musicians balance individual initiative with collective responsibility?
24 | Ambition | DECEMBER 2024
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