Good Leaders Produce Good Leaders: Miles Davis

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Tha Artstorian Lays The Bassline Down...Artivation 101 Style...

I love the music of Miles Davis…He may not have been the greatest technician of his instrument like a Louis Armstrong or Dizzy Gillespie but he was still a virtuoso in his own right…He was always effective with his trademark warm, dark beautiful tone which sounded like the voice and pleas of a woman who needed attention and wanted to give the world her affections…And one thing Miles possessed above everyone else was an amazing charisma to attract some of the greatest musicians of his generation as well as other generations...Whether it was alto saxophonists Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker or Julian ‘Cannonball’ Adderly; pianists Bill Evans or Herbie Hancock; drummers Max Roach or Tony Williams; arrangers Gil Evans or Quincy Jones and even rocker Prince or rapper Big Daddy Kane, Miles always found a way to get what he musically wanted…

Miles Davis Interview With Bryant Gumbel


To paraphrase Miles he used to say that he personally learned more from his band than they could ever learn from him…Modesty aside Miles did have something to teach and his band learned it well…

One reason why Miles was such a successful leader was that he gave people space to musically and individually be themselves ...Whether it was letting them play their instruments to their heart’s desire like John Coltrane or letting them have conceptual input into a creation of a timeless song or mood like Gil Evans or letting them write award winning liner notes for a legendary album like Bill Evans, Miles always found a way to incorporate and accommodate everyone’s passions and talents into his musical world or as Bro. Ray Charles would say letting do what it do…

He knew his OWN strengths and weaknesses well which allowed him to further exploit everyone’s else’s strengths and weaknesses...For example, if Miles thought of something musically that his limitations on trumpet would not allow him to play he always had a plethora of virtuoso musicians in his band to call upon to do so…Miles was an expansive not restrictive thinker and doer...He always found ways to add ideas into his ever evolving musical world…In other words Miles embraced the unknown and ideas that were bigger than himself…Big things popping little things stopping as rapper T.I. would say…

Miles demonstrated that being a good leader is always about having the best personnel around you or inspiring those around you to participate in the creative process to their highest levels possible…Good leaders recognize their is more than one way to solve a problem or get to the solution of a matter…Good leaders put all of their resources, no matter how limited or expansive, to good use...Good leaders are not worried or intimidated if their people are or are perceived to be better than them, all they care about is getting the job done at the highest quality possible…

The Visual Art Of Miles Davis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaX_ujXTwVo

Miles had the faith that no matter what he will be a willing and free participant in wherever the winds of change may take or lead him…By doing so not only did Miles find his musical voice or style, but also his disciples who spread and will continue to spread his artistic message for many generations to come…Like Miles all good leaders must be able to adapt in order to be successful and to have longevity in their field of choice…

And for the record everybody who played with Miles ended up being good leaders of their own bands which proves my point that good leaders produce good leaders…

Miles Davis And John Coltrane Plays So What


In conclusion, all good leaders are like Johnny Appleseeds, planting seeds that will manifest in the right season and reap a bountiful harvest…Good leaders are prophets who will deliver the message by any means necessary…They also know that disadvantages are just opportunities waiting to be exploited and that success is only a matter of “when” and not “if”…


So Ask Yourself Are You A Good Leader???