After Reading Chapters 2 And 3 Of Brewer And Westerma 294412

After reading chapters 2 and 3 of Brewer and Westerman (2018), watch the TedTalk, Lead like the Great Conductors, by Itay Talgam

After reading chapters 2 and 3 of Brewer and Westerman (2018), watch the TedTalk, Lead like the Great Conductors, by Itay Talgam. Based on your understanding of classical and humanistic approaches to organizational communication, choose one conductor reviewed in Talgam's talk and critically analyze their approach to conducting an orchestra. Relate your analysis to one theory/approach discussed in the chapters in order to demonstrate your understanding of the content and your ability to apply it to practical situations. As you watch the TedTalk, keep the following question in mind: How does a conductor and orchestra correlate to an organization? By doing so, you will be able to identify specific approaches and theory to organizational communication. Your original response should be words. You should also respond to, at least, two classmates original posts ( words each).

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The analogy of an orchestra as a metaphor for organizational communication provides valuable insights into leadership dynamics and communication strategies within organizations. When analyzing the conductors from Itay Talgam's TED Talk through the lens of organizational communication theories, it becomes clear how different conducting styles exemplify various leadership approaches. This paper focuses on a specific conductor reviewed in Talgam's talk and examines their approach by relating it to a classical or humanistic organizational communication theory, thereby illustrating the application of theoretical concepts to practical organizational leadership contexts.

Selected Conductor and Approach

In Talgam's TED Talk, one conductor who stands out is the Italian conductor Riccardo Muti. Muti’s approach to conducting is characterized by a strict yet attentive style, emphasizing discipline, precision, and emotional expressiveness. His engagement with the orchestra is authoritative but also responsive, maintaining clarity of tempo and dynamics while allowing musicians to express themselves within the conductor’s framework. Muti's style epitomizes a classical approach to leadership—structured, hierarchical, and goal-oriented, yet sensitive to the emotional nuances of musical expression.

Theoretical Framework: The Classical Approach

The classical approach to organizational communication, rooted in formal hierarchy, clear authority lines, and emphasis on efficiency and predictability, aligns closely with Muti’s conducting style. According to Schramm (1954), classical communication models emphasize control, formal authority, and a top-down flow of information. Muti’s conductorship mirrors these principles through his commanding presence and directive-driven leadership, which seeks to coordinate the orchestra’s performance to achieve harmony, much like an organization strives for efficiency and goal alignment under centralized command.

Analysis of Muti’s Conducting Style in Organizational Context

Muti's style exemplifies the classical management approach, where directives flow from leader to followers, and the leader meticulously orchestrates various parts to achieve a unified outcome. In organizational settings, this style can be effective in situations demanding tight control, such as in manufacturing or military operations. For example, the conductor's role is similar to a manager who sets clear expectations and monitors compliance to achieve the desired results (Taylor, 1911). However, this approach may hinder creativity and innovation, which are increasingly valued in contemporary organizations (Kets de Vries, 2007).

Muti’s attentiveness to emotional nuances demonstrates that classical models are not purely rigid but can incorporate a humanistic element—balancing discipline with emotional connection. Similarly, organizations that integrate emotional intelligence with authoritative leadership tend to perform better by motivating employees and fostering commitment (Goleman, 1998). Thus, Muti’s conducting style reflects a hybrid model aligning classical control with humanistic sensitivity, providing insights into effective leadership.

Comparison to Humanistic Approaches

Contrasting Muti’s style with more humanistic conductors, such as Daniel Barenboim, reveals the importance of participative and transformational leadership styles. Humanistic approaches promote open communication, shared vision, and emotional connection, emphasizing the well-being and development of constituents (McGregor, 1960). Barenboim’s relaxed, collaborative approach fosters innovation and emotional bonding, traits associated with transformational leadership, which inspires followers to transcend self-interest for collective goals (Bass, 1985).

Conclusion

The analogy of conducting an orchestra as an organizational leadership practice illuminates the relevance of classical and humanistic communication theories. Riccardo Muti’s conducting approach exemplifies the classical, hierarchical style that emphasizes control, discipline, and precision, but can be complemented by emotional sensitivity. Understanding these styles enables organizational leaders to adapt their communication and leadership strategies to suit different contexts, balancing authority with emotional engagement. The orchestra, much like an organization, functions best when leadership aligns with situational demands, and communication fosters both clarity and emotional resonance.

References

Bass, B. M. (1985). Leadership and performance beyond expectations. Free Press.

Goleman, D. (1998). Working with emotional intelligence. Bantam Books.

Kets de Vries, M. F. R. (2007). The leadership mystique: Leading behavior in the human enterprise. The Academy of Management Perspectives, 21(4), 44–49.

McGregor, D. (1960). The human side of enterprise. McGraw-Hill.

Schramm, W. (1954). How communication works. The Public Opinion Quarterly, 18(3), 305–319.

Talgam, I. (2010). Lead like the great conductors [Video]. TEDxHeidelberg. https://www.ted.com/talks/itay_talgam_lead_like_the_great_conductors