Beyond the leader-centric approach: Leadership phenomena and aesthetics in a conductorless orchestra

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to go beyond the leader-centric approach to highlight the shared leadership phenomena happening in organizations where there is no head leader. Seeing interactions between the orchestra members through the lens of aesthetics is a useful way of understanding leadership phenomena.

Design/methodology/approach

The different approaches used are interviews, participant observation, analysis of video, photo materials and journalist review.

Findings

The managerial evidence says that without a head leader nothing is possible in organizations with a high level of complexity is not proved in a conductorless orchestra. The orchestra without a conductor shows that leadership is an aesthetic phenomenon. The conductorless orchestra is enhancing the sensitivity of organizational practices in a situation where beauty is a common goal to achieve. Studying leadership through the aesthetic lens is very relevant to understand this phenomenon, and shows that leadership is a co-construction between leaders and followers (and therefore negotiated).

Research limitations/implications

It has to be compared to a non “amateur” orchestra where power struggles are maybe more visible.

Originality/value

No study has been done on aesthetics and the no-conductor orchestra.

Citation

Beau, G. (2016), "Beyond the leader-centric approach: Leadership phenomena and aesthetics in a conductorless orchestra", Society and Business Review, Vol. 11 No. 1, pp. 62-79. https://doi.org/10.1108/SBR-10-2015-0060