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| Phil Ramone |
We all have our favorite musicians, artists and song writers. Think of that one body of work from one of your favorite artists that you never tire of playing start to finish. It's likely you feel that the group of songs is a wonderfully intricate yet cohesive exploration of the boundaries of their musical talents. Every song delights you, inspires you and is a treat for the ears. Or you simply love the set of songs because they move you and brighten your day.
Now think of that album you bought because you liked one or two of the songs, only to be disappointed after hearing the rest. Are you wondering why there are only a few songs that seem to belong amidst others that are banal, uninspiring and never worth hearing twice?
What makes for an exceptional artistic studio album?
An exceptional body of music is a combination of many things including the musicians, the equipment, the studio environment, the quality of the song writing and the record producer. Yes, the Producer - and you thought they were just another name on the liner notes.
In fact the producer is a critical component of any successful music production process. A producer wears many hats but he or she is ultimately charged with ensuring all the things that contribute to an exceptional artistic work are orchestrated at the proper time and within balance. Notice I didn't say "with perfection".
I've been fortunate to be a musician and have spent time in the studio with both effective and ineffective producers. Once without any producer, which in hindsight was worse than simply having an ineffective producer - the results were far from stellar. In reflecting on my experiences there are some interesting parallels to effective business leadership worth discussing.
First it's important to recognize not all producers operate in the same manner. Some are in fact orchestrators of musicians, session artists and music machines intent on creating a product that sells records simply for the sake of selling records. There is no art in this example, and usually no team of individuals working for a higher level of artistic impression.
Instead let's discuss the type of record producer that is intent on ensuring the artist has all the right elements necessary for the individual or band to achieve musical greatness. What are some of the parallels for effective leaders of business?
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| George Martin |
The producer runs interference with the record company so the artists can concentrate on their art. Record companies are profit seeking businesses. Just like any business they continually strive to lower operating costs and meet important deadlines while extracting as much productivity out of their existing resources (the musicians) as possible. Artists, who typically don't come from a business background would be overwhelmed with the pressures of producing music, staying within budget for studio time and of course meeting deadlines so their music can be released at optimal times. A good business leader also runs interference between their team and the pressures coming from higher levels of the organization so colleagues are able to focus on delivering an exceptional product or service.
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| Roger Waters |
The producer is a coach first and foremost. Artists can be an emotional roller coaster in the studio. Having significant creative strength as left-brained humans stuck in a right-brained dominant world leads to stress and uncertainty that hinders the creative process. The producer as coach smooths out those edges and gives emotional and spiritual support. Not all musicians are created equal. Each is different in personality, talents and experiences. A good producer is able to coach based on the individual. As in the creative studio environment effective coaching is essential in the business world. Leaders who lack the ability to effectively coach their direct reports through challenging situations will simply find performance is never exceptional. And those that coach using a one-size fits-all approach will never have a team of properly motivated individuals.
The producer co-creates and also serves as a guide for the vision for the artists final work. A good producer is a visionary and maintains the creative direction for the body of work. This keeps the musicians on the right path ensuring the end result is coherent, complimentary and delivers a product that will delight the listeners ears. In the business world we recognize leaders who are visionary and able to lead their teams to delivering exceptional results. We also applaud those leaders who co-create that which the organization aspires to be - the vision. In contrast leaders who create that vision in a vacuum without their organization's input are viewed as autocratic and transactional. This can be very demotivating for the individuals not to mention it can result in a vision that is short-sighted or simply ineffectual.
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| David Gilmore |
The producer is intent on ensuring the artists work is the best that it possibly can be. One of the more important aspects is for the producer to challenge the artists,
their song writing and musical abilities. She pushes the artists to stretch, grow
and realize higher forms of artistic expression. This is not unlike a good leader challenging her team to develop themselves and achieve their full potential.
The producer also creates an atmosphere conducive to the creative process incorporating input and ideas from all of the artists, not just the primary song writer. The producer assures all of the artists involved understand that they are mutually responsible for the final product. There can be no hidden agendas, no desires to outshine or alienate fellow musicians for selfish reasons. And it is the same in business. The leader who establishes a team that is mutually accountable for the results of the team is more likely to be successful. In business we recognize that the leader who embraces a mutual learning approach, incorporating ideas and information from her team, is much more likely to achieve exceptional results.
Now think of the end result of that musical masterpiece. In the music industry it's the artist who receives all the praise, adoring fan base and financial rewards. The producer sits quietly behind the scene happy in knowing he made it possible for that artist to achieve greatness. Of course there is also a financial award, but as with great business leaders that is rarely the primary motivator. And who does the artist thank on the stage at the Emmy ceremony besides their mother? You guessed it - the producer. The individual who helped them get there by realizing their artistic greatness. It's the leader who enables their team to achieve greatness, let's them present it to the organization and enjoys a happy moment when they are recognized who is truly indispensable.
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| Brian Eno |
The producer also receives something else that has parallels in the business world. They get recognition from other artists wanting to work with them on their next production. It is the same in the business world. We've all come across leaders we sit back and remark on who are exceptional at connecting with us as individuals. We'd love a chance to work with, or even for them on their team. It is the same in the music industry. What you create as an enabler of talent and exceptional results resonates with the people around you. In the music world they want your help on your next album. In the business world you want to be part of their next endeavor. You want to follow them because you know they can lead you to greatness.
Image of Phil Ramone courtesy of Berklee Jazz. Image of Brian Eno courtesy of polymathperspective. All other images via Wikipedia.