The following contains excerpts from the book, The Leader In You (Dale Carnegie & Associates).
At our music school in Odessa, Texas we believe that music is more than sound, it is relationships. At the top of understanding how relationships work is the subject of Leadership. We believe that in order to be successful in music and the arts, one must understand and apply successful attributes of leadership.
This is one of the most comprehensive Dale Carnegie books I have come across regarding Leadership. Although echoes of these ides can be heard in much of today’s leadership materials, it is enjoyable to find the original source of many of these ideas, which are presented in their ‘rawest’ and most simplistic form.
In the introduction, the author admonishes, “Keep your mind open to change all the time. Welcome it. Court it. It is only by examining and reexamining your opinions and ideas that you can progress…The winners will be the organizations with smart and creative leaders who know how to communicate and motivate effectively- inside the organization and out. Good human-relations skills have the ability to change people from managing others to leading others.”
In Chapter 1, the changing work environment is discussed, “Back when business operated in a more stable environment, management skills were sufficient, but when the business environment becomes volatile, when the waters are uncharted, when your mission requires greater flexibility than you ever imagined it would- that’s when leadership skills become critical.”
In Chapter 2 ‘Starting to Communicate’, the author’ point is, “The ability to communicate well is what lights the fire in people. It’s what turns great ideas in to action. It’s what makes all achievement possible…Communication doesn’t have to happen in big conference rooms. Some of the best corporate communication occurs in seemingly informal ways…I use the term bottom trawling, going to the bottom of the organization and asking, What is really going on? We are interested in others when they are interested in us. If you can show your colleagues you are receptive to their ideas, they’re more likely to be receptive to yours- and to keep you honestly informed about things you need to know…So if you have an environment where people genuinely believe that at the end of the day they can trust in your interest and concern about their well-being, then you have created relationships that have more meaning to them.”
At our music school in Odessa, Texas we endeavor to create an environment in which each student feels valued, and we try to communicate that value back to the student and parent in ways that paint a picture of future possibilities and growth.
Chapter 3, ‘Motivating People’ encourages, “Give someone a real sense of purpose, the feeling that he or she is working for a valuable, mutually important goal. That’s where true motivation comes from – motivation not just to go through the motions of working, motivation to excel…Take care of your people, and the business takes care of itself…Action springs out of what we fundamentally desire. That’s why people need a stake in their work lives. That’s why their successes need to be rewarded, praised, and celebrated. That’s why their failures need to be handled gingerly. Do those things. Then stand back and watch the results roll in…However you do it, do it. Let the people in your life know that you respect them, that you appreciate their work, that they are important to you and that you want them to learn, grow, and reach their potential.”
We believe in the potential of our students at our music school in Odessa, Texas and try to communicate that there is a greater purpose of studying music and the arts, and that is the development of self for the purpose of community.
Chapter 4, ‘Expressing Genuine Interest in Others’, echoes similar thoughts, “You can make more friends in two months by becoming genuinely interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other interested in you…An expressing of interest can be as simple as using a pleasant voice on the telephone. When someone calls, say hello in a tone that implies, ‘I’m happy to hear from you.’ When you see a familiar face at the shopping mall, greet the person and express a genuine pleasure at the coincidence.”
The interest we have in students at our music school in Odessa, Texas is evidenced by our focus on their development, not only in musical skills, but in their character, discipline, and self-worth.
In Chapter 5, ‘Seeing Things from the Other Person’s Perspective’, the author quotes Bill Makahilahila, “I don’t care whether you’re a janitor or a receptionist. You’ve got to learn how to get along with people. If you think having position gives you the authority to ride over people, it’s not true anymore. You’re going to have to start thinking in terms of the interests of others.” He goes on, “Exceed your customers’ expectations. That was always one of Sam Walton’s rules. If you do, they’ll come back over and over. Give them what they want and a little more…thinking about what the customer will want next- a few days, a few weeks, a few months from now. This is all part of thinking in terms of the other person’s interest, a reversal of What’s in it for me? If you can help people solve their problems, the world is your oyster.”
As we continuously share, at our music school in Odessa, Texas, music is about relationships, and this is evidenced by our emphasis on collaborative endeavors of creativity and ensemble playing. This is what develops the student to understand the value of synergy.
Chapter 6, ‘Listening to Learn’, the author places high value on the skill of listening. “Listening is the single most important of all the communication skills. More important that stirring oratory. More important than a powerful voice. More important than the ability to speak multiple languages. More important even than a flair for the written word…Active listening requires an intense involvement in a conversation, even when the listener’s lips are still. That isn’t always easy. It takes concentration. It requires genuine engagement. It calls for questioning and prodding. And it demands some kind of response, quick, thoughtful, on target, and concise…It’s impossible to ever listen effectively when fear, anxiety, or nervousness is present…Strangely enough, listening to someone else’s opinions is often the best method of getting them around to your way of thinking…Most people trying to win others to their way of thinking do too much talking themselves. Let the other people talk themselves out. They know more about their business of problems than you do. So ask them questions. Let them tell you a few things.”
Perhaps the greatest lesson a student in our music school in Odessa, Texas can learn is how to listen attentively. Listening is entirely different than hearing. Listening requires focus, and one simply cannot succeed in music and the arts, as well as in life, without understanding the value of perceptive listening. This is yet another hidden truth in the study of music.