I attended a concert where I had an excellent vantage point to watch the artist play the pipe organ. This instrument is a multi-million-dollar monster and I can’t imagine what it takes to master it effectively. In addition to utilizing both hands as on a piano or standard organ, the pipe organ is also played simultaneously with both feet. It was mesmerizing to watch the coordination required to utilize each foot on a separate part of the instrument, all while reading music and playing both hands.
I thought about the organizational parallels — where leaders are required to maintain the throughline of music by coordinating multiple different parts simultaneously. Leaders must mentally juggle short-term and long-term issues while tending to budget issues, personnel needs, and external demands. It’s like playing the pipe organ where you must operate at mental and physical capacity to succeed.
On days as a leader when you feel like you can’t do it all, think about being a musician. People can master playing the pipe organ. People can play the drums and utilize their hands and feet simultaneously. You, too, can make organizational music if you play all your parts separately and together.
You hit the nail on the head with this one. Thank you Beth for your insightful posts.