OS 60: Reverse Polarities - Must We Be Right or Wrong?
b'It\\u2019s interesting to observe in the news accounts of politics the fact that people with opposing opinions both claim to be precisely correct. Is there a danger in claiming to be right?\\n\\nI observe that there is typically common ground in diverse points of view and that many people don\\u2019t know how to get that perspective lost in the debate or argument about who is right and who is wrong.\\n\\nGetting unstuck often is about observing reverse polarities.\\n\\nDo you wish to be great? Then begin by being. Do you desire to construct a vast and lofty fabric? Think first about the foundations of humility. The higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation. \\u2013\\xa0Saint Augustine \\n\\nIs It One or the Other\\u2026Or Both?\\n\\nMany times in interviewing leaders about their organizational culture, performance standards, and strategy, I get the response that there\\u2019s not sufficient time to write down the plan and it\\u2019s not important anyway. The response to my question as to why it\\u2019s not important typically is, \\u201cToo much structure interferes with my creativity.\\u201d\\n\\nIn my discipline as a musician, I understand that creativity is unleashed when the structure is clear. In addition, it\\u2019s crucial for the performer(s) to master the techniques and the notes, to then be able to be creative.\\n\\nBalance is Key\\n\\nMy 4th leadership principle is about Systems, \\u201cRehearse for Success.\\u201d It\\u2019s mastering the notes that leads to excellence in performance. We don\\u2019t utilize this concept in non-musical settings. We just go directly to performance and continue playing the wrong notes, so to speak. We continue to proceed by ignoring the very things that compromise our performance and limit our results.\\n\\nThere\\u2019s a natural tension between form and freedom. There are many ways to interpret this dynamic. As a musician, I\\u2019m able to process information by using both sides of my brain. Those who are not musicians consider us to be right-brain thinkers without structure, when, in fact, we must learn to be creative within a very rigid structure. Music is a highly structured and organized system that\\u2019s mathematical and linear, very much like computer programming.\\n\\nThis podcast is part one on the topic of the reverse paradigm of form versus freedom. I invite your comments as I explore the different ways this principle plays out in the cultures we lead.\\n\\nStructure and Creativity\\n\\nHere are some of the parameters for unleashing creativity through structure:\\n\\n\\t1.\\tStructure Enables Creativity: If you have ever listened to a jazz ensemble, you might not have realized that this most creative of musical performance genres is actually very structured. To a non-musician, it seems as if there is no structure and the performers just make things up. Well, not true. The chord structure, the meter, the tempo, the form, and the melody, are just a few of the things that are structured. Mastering these elements allows each performer to then improvise around this structure. This is a simultaneous right/left brain function \\u2013 being creative within a structure. Getting off the chord progression, or playing too loud when it\\u2019s not your solo, are reasons for not being invited to the next performance with that ensemble. Knowing the structure allows each performer to then be creative\\u2026they don\\u2019t need to spend energy thinking about what\\u2019s already defined. This is the same principle in non-musical settings: the structure prompts and encourages active engagement.\\n\\t2.\\tConsistency: Knowing the sequence and the milestones allows all the participants to coordinate efforts. The plan identifies what activities are concurrent and which are continuous. It also identifies what activities depend on the completion of other activities. This is necessary for consistency and synergy in the group\\u2019s performance.\\n\\t3.\\tQuality:\\xa0When the outcomes are specifically defined, the benchmark for quality is a measurable objective. Quality, like artistry,\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices'