things i learned about management by working with rock musicians

Things I learned about

management by working with rock

musicians.*and being one!

Summerfest 2007

Port Washington Band Shell 1974

I believe everyone wants to be a rock

musician. •We call great sales people “rock stars” for a reason. •Rock musicians ‘own’ the world. •They have immense influence.•They can have a crowd of thousands eating out of their hands.•They get perks most humans dream of, including wealth (and special parking!).

The things I’ve learned

have interesting parallels in

management and

leadership.

You simply do not tell a musician what to do. •You need to work with their natural and deep motivations for success and recognition.

Musicians build efficacy through failure

and regrouping.•Musicians take a beating on their way to the top starting with garage bands.

Musicians invest a lot honing their craft …

and expect something in return.

•High levels of investment in time and energy build an expectation to be recognized.

Musicians are highly self-invested 

•Freedom in creativity is a goal of many musicians.

Truly great musicians become humble and

deeply satisfied in the joy of their craft•The great ones (those who

through suffering and struggle and hard work) eventually come to a place of contentment with the joy of their work, irrespective of the approval of others.

Working with individual musicians is a far cry from working with a band!

•The dreaded band meeting …

The reality?•When you stop to think about it, musicians are just the rest of us on stage. That’s why everyone wants to be a rock star.

Pro/Axios

• We offer plainspoken guidance for those who do the work. • Check out the Rapid Diagnostic @ www.ProAxios.com• info@proaxios.com• 651-302-1574 • Grafton, WI USA 53024• @DrJimBohn [twitter]

05/01/2023Organizational Insight Leading to Organizational Transformation