Why you should start with humility

A lesson leaders can learn from legendary composer John Williams

Photo by Julio Rionaldo on Unsplash

I leaned over to my right, despite my back’s protest, so I could see in between the heads in front of me. The orchestra painted whole new worlds using emotions like thick oil paint. 

Perhaps if I were more of a classical music aficionado, my thoughts would have rested on the caliber of the music or perhaps wandered to the particular playing style of a given orchestra member (see Dr. Hannibal Lector watching the Baltimore Philharmonic Orchestra, his sharp eye trained on the poor playing of a flutist).

But I’m not. What I noted beyond my own soul’s exuberance for the sound dancing on the night air was the conductor, John Williams — admittedly the man I came to see. 

With works like Star Wars, Superman, E.T., Indiana Jones, Jaws, Schindler’s List, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, John Williams defined the sound of contemporary cinema. In addition to his film work, he’s a concert composer and conductor, including conducting the Boston Pops for thirte…