Believing in the Art of Possibilities

By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, FAAN

“In the measurement world, you set a goal and strive for it. In the universe of possibility, you set the context and let life unfold.” Benjamin Zander

Benjamin Zander is the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and a professor at the New England Conservatory of Music. He was also a keynote plenary speaker at this year’s American Organization of Nurse Executive’s (AONE) annual meeting. Ben Zander is an extremely engaging presenter and presented ideas that one might not necessarily expect to hear from a conductor of one of the most highly regarded orchestras in the world. Yet when you consider it, being a conductor is very similar to being a nurse leader in many respects. He oversees a large number of professional musicians with different values, beliefs and ideas. His goal is to get all of them to work together as a team to make wonderful music. It is very challenging, he noted. He shared what he has learned from more than 40 years of being a conductor.

Here are some of his key tips:

1. Recognize that “It’s all invented anyway”. Zander believes that we might as well invent a story or framework of meaning that enhances our quality of life and the life of those around us. The framework our minds create define and confine what we perceive to be possible. Every problem, every dilemma, every dead end we find ourselves facing in life, only appears unsolvable inside a particular frame or point of view. Enlarge the box, or create another frame around the data, and problems vanish, while new opportunities appear. Too often, leaders tend to see problems as a downward spiral. He urges to always ask What assumption am I making, that I’m not aware I’m making, that gives me what I see? What might I now invent, that I haven’t yet invented, that would give me other choices?

2. Give people an “A” – Zander believes that people will rise to our expectations so why not give everyone an A as a beginning point. This practice transports your relationships from the world of measurement to the world of possibilities. You speak to people from a place of respect that gives them room to realize themselves. This A is not an expectation to live up to, but a possibility to live in to. The freely granted A expresses a vision of partnership, teamwork, and relationship. The practice of giving an A both invents and recognizes a universal desire in people to contribute to others, no matter how many barriers there are to its expression.

3. Be a contribution – Zander observes that unlike success and failure, contribution has no other side. How will I be a contribution today? In the game of contribution you wake up each day and bask in the notion that you are a gift to others. Declare yourself to be a contribution. Throw yourself into life as someone who makes a difference, accepting that you may not understand how or why. Rewards in the contribution game are of a deep and rewarding kind.

4. Lead from any chair – Like a conductor, a leader does not need a podium. He or she can be sitting quietly on the edge of any chair, listening passionately and with commitment, fully prepared to take the baton.

5. Accept the way things are in the present moment – Zander believes that leaders should be present to the way things are, including our feelings about the way things are. This practice can help us clarify the next step that will take us in the direction we want to go. Being present to the way things are is not the same as accepting things as they are for the long term. The capacity to be present to everything that is happening, without resistance, creates possibility. The practice of being with the way things are calls upon us to distinguish between our assumptions, our feelings, and the facts – that is , what has happened or what is happening.

6. Light a spark – This leadership practice is about enrollment which is the art and practice of generating a spark of possibility for others to share. You give yourself as a possibility to others and being ready, in turn, to catch their spark. It is about playing together as partners in a field of light. Zander believes that the life force for humankind is, perhaps, nothing more or less than the passionate energy to connect, express, and communicate. Enrollment is that life force at work, lighting sparks from person to person, scattering light in all directions.

7. Tell the WE story – Leaders should see their world as “we ” and not “I”. Listen and look for the emerging reality and then ask: “what do WE want to have happen here?” What’s best for US? What’s OUR next step?

Zander confesses that he was not always the leader that he is today. He made many mistakes on his journey and these tips are some of his best lessons learned.

Read to Lead

Zander, R. & Zander, B. (2000). The Art of Possibility. Harvard Business School Press.