Killer Innovations: reblog

Austrian innovation blogger Hannes Treichl recently interviewed Christian Gansch, a Grammy award-winning conductor, manager, consultant, and author to find out how he translates elements of leading an orchestra into daily management practices. After all, leading an orchestra comprised of 100 or more people has a lot in common with managing a department of 100 or more people: "An orchestra is an outstanding example for bringing together 100 individuals and motivating them for a successful cooperation in order to get out one voice and to follow a common goal which results in fascinating the audience." In the case of management and business, of course, the "audience" is really the consumer.

Gansch has a unique perspective on innovation, suggesting that the process of reviewing innovation projects mid-way tends to stifle the future growth and development of these projects:

"New ideas need space and time in order to be able to develop and grow. Permanent interim judgments and reviews in the middle in the working process are... a popular game to play, but these reviews prevent fledgling ideas from growing. However, please do not misunderstand this line of thought as in favor of abolishing quality controls!"

Gansch also shares his thoughts about leadership, teams and individualism:

"The Mona Lisa carries the artistic touch of only one painter and not of 100 specialists who might have never come to any results. Also, in the orchestra, it's the conductor's vision. Musicians clearly are aware of the fact that the listener asks for one result and does not want to get confused by 100 individual visions of how to interpret Beethoven's thinking."

[image: Christian Gansch]