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Students at Butler University's College of Business learn leadership principles by observing how members of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra perform together. Facing the Music MBA students learn how to define and develop their approaches to leading others when they take Jerry Toomer's "Perspectives on Leader- ship" course at Butler University's College of Business in Indianapo- lis, Indiana. During one of their classes, they spend four hours at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra exploring the artistic side of leadership through a discus- sion with the ISO's leaders. The class begins with the ISO's general manager and vice presi- dent of learning giving students a general overview of what to expect from the experience. "We want students to understand the busi- ness side of the symphony and how that fits with the artistic side of the symphony's work," says Toomer, who is an adjunct professor and Adjunct professor Jerry Toomer (in brown shirt) explains how the artistic and business sides of the symphony must work in harmony. 46 March/April 2012 BizEd executive partner in the College of Business. "The ISO leaders talk about the structure of the organi- zation and union rules, and how they've come to find leadership styles that are effective for them in this particular setting." Then students select a percus- sion instrument—from triangles to drums to large shakers—and form a circle. Several of the participants are asked to lead the circle and communicate their vision of the kind of music they want to create. The students begin playing their instruments, guided only by non- verbal cues from the leader to play louder, slower, or faster. Next, the students assemble on the stage where the symphony plays and form a semicircle around a wind ensemble, which does not have a conductor. As the musicians perform different pieces, students observe how they work together. Some students also have the opportunity to conduct the ensemble. After the perfor- mance, the French horn player leads a discussion that emphasizes the importance of teamwork. He explains how, in the leaderless wind ensemble, all the musicians are leaders in their own ways, yet they all have to work together. From this symphony visit, stu- dents learn the importance of devel- oping listening skills and under- standing nonverbal communication. "Being on stage with musicians brings that to life in a very acute way," says Toomer. "As a musician, you need to be simultaneously cre- ating great music and listening very carefully to the musicians around you. The analogy with business organizations is that employees also need to be highly tuned in to the people around them." At the symphony, students also learn a great deal about teamwork and overcoming work conflicts. "You have this family of 87 musi- cians who have played together for decades," Toomer says. "There are real situations in which you may be sitting next to your ex-spouse or dating the person four chairs over. Or you may have had enormous conflict with the person you're sit- ting next to in the string section or horn section. But when you're on stage, everyone is expected to make beautiful music together." Above all, the class gives stu- dents an opportunity to discover their own authentic leadership styles. "I ask students in the first class, 'Why do you lead the way you lead?' They have some random ideas, but they don't know," says Toomer. "By the end, I want them to be more definitive and confident in how they answer that question." Art and Business As global business grows increas- ingly complex, CEOs and other top executives will need to continually improve their leadership, communi- cation, and critical thinking skills. Fine arts programming can teach MBA students to think on their feet, respond quickly to challenges, and find creative solutions to everyday problems—in short, to develop the skills that will be required of all business leaders of the future. Susan Feinberg is a freelance writer specializing in higher education. BRENT SMITH BRENT SMITH