4 guidelines for asking musicians for their opinions
We all know it is important to ask our musicians for their opinions. We may do it out of obligation, but mostly, we do it because we care. We are interested and we want to be better. At the same time, good intentions may not always be enough to maximize the impact of those intentions.
We can always strive to be better at how we ask our musicians for their opinions. Here are four guidelines to help us be more intentional.
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1. Solicit stories
Empathy is crucial to truly hearing what others have to say. And empathy is associated with stories. Stories make people human. They make us multidimensional and messy - like we are in real-life.
While numbers and quantitative data can be useful in a direct and clear manner, they provide mostly a limited picture. A 7 out of 10 rating on a question like "do you feel supported?" leaves too much room for the unknown. This in turn limits our understanding of where they're coming from, their needs, and their circumstances - and of course prevents us from identifying the most appropriate responses.
When we listen to our people's stories, we allow people to be seen. We can think more deeply about what they have to say in constructive ways using more relevant qualitative information. It sends the message that our focus is on them as people and not distilling people down to numbers.
2. Promote psychological safety
Lead by admitting to our own mistakes as leaders. It sends the message that nobody is perfect and we are all trying to be better. We want our people to reveal challenges and bumps in the road in what they tell us. Modeling this desired behavior normalizes it and defuses reservations our people may have about being fully open. We are just like them, and that helps them feel safe.
Make a point to set aside blame. In challenging conversations, it's easy to point fingers, shift responsibility, and become defensive. We can combat those tendencies by creating conditions to perform what Jim Collins calls "autopsies without blame." When we are thinking about how we can be better, ask future-oriented questions that focus on the solutions rather than getting stuck in the problems and faults of the past. Remind our people that nobody's status, standing, or worth are in jeopardy.
Take serious measures to honor confidentiality each time we ask for opinions. This sounds obvious, but we all need to be reminded that this is a priority. This consistency leads to building mutual trust and respect that will enable the most fruitful conversations.
3. Design accountability
Plan when, where, and how often we ask musicians for their opinions. Gather opinions in a variety of settings: before a cycle begins, right after a concert, during an outreach activity, at the end of the season, at a gala event, etc. Are we catching people under varying circumstances? Consider the frequency: Are we asking too often? Not often enough? Do the type of questions fit the frequency and intention? How could we make these a habit?
Disclose why we are asking. We want to ask meaningful questions that will solicit meaningful responses. Transparency leaves few questions unanswered and will encourage buy-in from the musicians. When we don't know how our contribution is going to have an impact, we are less motivated to give our full effort. We want to know how what we give is going to be used. In addition, transparency minimizes the potential for manipulation.
Once we have a plan, follow through with it and be consistent. This is easier said than done. Just consider anytime we want to start a new habit or practice. We start off eager and our motivation wanes quickly and dramatically over time. Consistency always wins in the long run, and trust builds when we do what we say we would again and again.
4. Make it easy
Even the most eager people are sometimes afraid or hesitant to offer their opinions. And few people actually take up the offer when leaders say "my door is always open."
So leaders can take the initiative to go to our people. Reach out to individual musicians for 1:1 informal chats. It may sound like a lot, but if given 100 musicians, that's about 3 chats per week over 35 weeks. Assuming 15-minute chats, it's only 45 minutes. And we can learn a lot in a 15-minute conversation if we really listen.
Create diverse ways musicians can share their opinions. It may include synchronous (meetings and discussions) and asynchronous (online surveys) methods. We can also allow for a variety of mediums. Some people prefer to write, while others prefer to speak into their phones. Face-to-face may be empowering for some while terrifying for others. 1:1 feels very different from a group setting.
In group settings, we can also be mindful of how we facilitate. We can reflect if leaders speak more than listen, if we are in telling-mode or asking-mode. We can ask if we are making it convenient for people to attend. An appropriate frequency will allow for easy access and encourage participation. Once-in-a-while sessions are also good, but don't always make it easy for the musicians to feel like they can have a voice.
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Consider one or more of these guidelines the next time you ask musicians for their opinions. Make an effort to ask for stories in a psychologically safe environment where accountability is integrated. And make it easy!
New habits will form with practice. It will begin to feel less awkward, less uncomfortable. Soon enough, it will become just "the way we do things around here" and part of your culture.
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