Lead & Conduct: What Conducting Has in Common With Team Leadership
How do you get a team of highly qualified experts to work together perfectly? This question not only concerns managers but also conductors. It was the central theme of a special experience for 30 Hilti employees. The ‘Lead & Conduct’ workshop took place during a dress rehearsal of the Liechtenstein Symphony Orchestra (SOL) and provided valuable insights into the world of orchestral music.
This special event, alongside the popular "HOI Klassik" concert series, is another highlight of the long-standing and successful collaboration between the SOL and the Hilti Foundation.
The event gave participants the chance to recognize commonalities in the artistic and professional challenges faced by leaders. Christian Heiniger, Head of Learning & Development HQ, explained: “Workshops like this encourage participants to think beyond the usual framework, be open to new inputs and, ultimately, apply them to their professional lives.”
During the evening, the employees experienced firsthand how the interaction between the conductor and musicians forms a harmonious and effective team. This made it clear that successful leadership – both in orchestras and companies – not only requires technical expertise, but also social skills and teamwork to achieve excellent results.
The renowned conductor, Yaron Traub, explained how important trust, social competence and a clear vision for successful leadership is to inspire and guide the ensemble.
At the end of the workshop, participants reflected on the insights they gained and drew parallels to their own leadership practices.
Ana Gea, Segment Manager in the Installation Business Unit, summed up the experience: “Having the best musicians doesn’t automatically mean they will play together perfectly. Just like a conductor, a team leader must understand that talent alone is not enough – individual talent must also work together as a team to ultimately achieve a good result.”