An experiment in motivation
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Last week while conducting an opera production, I decided to try something for the first time. At the final dress rehearsal, I asked the musicians, “what would make you proud?”
It was an experiment in motivation, and I had no idea how it was going to come across.
Now, in order for me to ask them that question, it's only fair that I share what would make me proud of myself. So here's what I said:
I would be proud if the music made sense, if every phrase and sound was with intention, if I took care of the details and nuances. It would not be enough for me to simply have the right notes happening at the right time.
I would also be proud if I provided comfort and security for the musicians to do their best work, if I could be consistent, clear, and supportive in the performances.
Those were my goals and standards.
Then, I invited the musicians to ask themselves "what would make you proud?” and encouraged them to do those things to the best of their ability.
I can't say it proved anything, yet it felt good to spend 2 minutes doing this in the dress rehearsal.
And afterward I realized there was a bonus side-benefit to this - it helped me let go of control as a leader.
I was allowing musicians to have artistic standards that were their own, giving them permission to feel pride about whatever they want to feel pride about in this moment of their growth.
And if my standards inspired them to want something similar, that's fantastic. If not, I can accept that as well.
I consciously stopped myself from demanding they adhere to my standards in the exact way I wanted to achieve them. I also trusted that their standards would not be contrary to mine, but rather they would somehow support and enhance mine.
I am curious about how inviting musicians to consider what would make them proud could help us become more effective conductors.
I'd like to think that giving this tiny dose of agency could be key to increasing individual motivation that all add up to something stronger than even one most strong-willed conductor could generate.
So I hope you'll ask yourself what it is that makes you proud. And I hope you'll ask your people what it is that makes them proud.
P.S. Watch me conduct some of my favorite moments from this opera.
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