Prof. Danica Purg 1Innovations in Management Development

Art & Innovative Leadership

Prof. Danica Purg, President, IEDC-Bled School of Management and CEEMAN

The 10th Bled Forum on EuropeMarch 6, 2009

Prof. Danica Purg 2Innovations in Management Development

CHALLENGES FOR LEADERS AND MANAGERS

Leaders and entrepreneurs have to cope with a

continuously changing environment

They need to consciously create and influence

changes, to align business with social interests

They need to become more creative and innovative

to develop a vision that can inspire other people

Arts and science are increasingly seen as a means to develop more creative and innovative leaders

Prof. Danica Purg 3Innovations in Management Development

IMPLICATIONS FOR LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT

Classical way of educating business leaders and entrepreneurs in functional courses does not respond to the need to see business as part of society

More holistic approach and emphatic attitude is required

Accent on knowledge and skills does not satisfy the need to develop leaders with an open and receptive mind and to continuous change in cross-cultural environments

Leaders and managers need to generate outputs that are needed by customers and society at large

Prof. Danica Purg 4Innovations in Management Development

THE IMPACT OF PHILOSOPHY AND ART

Philosophy and art have traditionally had an important

place in our education. It has enriched our

understanding of language and also expressed spoken

language. We have, therefore, to our disposal a very

important tool in the process of conceptualization,

essential for every process of change.

Prof. Danica Purg 5Innovations in Management Development

WHY SHOULD LEADERS LEARN FROM ART AND ARTISTS?

Art communicates, inspires, shocks and provokes!

Art and artists stimulate us to see more, to hear more, and feel more of what is going on within us and around us.

The artist can stimulate us to broaden our skills, our behavioural repertory, and our flexibility of response.

Analysis of how the artist is trained and how he/she works can produce important insights into what is needed to perform and what it means to lead and manage.

Most important of all, the art puts us in touch with our creative self

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ART AS INSPIRATION FOR LEADERSHIP

Arts offers us concepts and tools:

• to see the symptoms of forthcoming change, to

understand them, and to respond to them

• see patterns more clearly

• understand the role of teams and leading teams

Prof. Danica Purg 7Innovations in Management Development

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM A VIOLINIST? (1)

• Violinist might not have heard for chaos theory, but

can show through the work of famous composer

Bach, that order and chaos are mirror images

• Patterns can be shown and discovered together with

the participants

• What appears to be irregular is

actually very systematic

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By “decomposing” music the violinist:

Examines leadership style from the perspective of listening

Studies patterns in the musical evolution

Draws parallels with leadership behaviour

Stimulates reflective conversation

Transfers musical experience into personal and

organizational situation

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM A VIOLINIST? (2)

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WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM ORCHESTRA CONDUCTORS?

• The orchestra is more than the sum of its parts

• The relationship with the environment (sponsors,

quality of playground, public etc.) is essential for

the final performance

• The conductor needs to optimize the system for

the good of a greater whole

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WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM A PAINTER?

Inspires business leaders to show their talents

Makes participants experience the magic of shared

creative moments and pride of unexpected results

Uncovers the hidden abilities of leaders to express

themselves by symbols

Stimulates them to find a common language

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The important impediment of the holistic approach is the change of levels: From rational thinking to intuition and realization of abstract contents.

It’s the beginning of another perception that produce other kind of attention for:

A task

A team

The ability to communicate and to experience

To sum up: ART IS IMPORTANT FOR LEADERSHIP

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CREATIVITY NEEDS A CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT

Concept of the school as

art gallery

High-tech facilities and

equipment

Innovative programs,

using art, science and

philosophy in leadership

development