The Music Paradigm was created in 1995 by Roger Nierenberg.
After seating the executives inside the orchestra, Maestro Nierenberg asks the musicians to do more than simply perform. He leads them through a series of exercises that demonstrate basic and important truths about the functioning of an organization. Mr. Nierenberg meets in advance with senior executives of the sponsoring organization, to explore their issues and goals, and from this meeting a desired outcome for The Music Paradigm session is determined. Only then does Mr. Nierenberg design the appropriate exercises to be demonstrated by the musicians during the session in order to simulate the organization’s issues and goals.
The interface of the musicians with the conductor is similar in many ways to the relationship between an organization and its leaders. The conductor may be viewed, for example, as a CEO or team leader, and the instrumental families (strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion) may be business units or teams. Together, they find the best solutions for working together and producing an effective outcome. As the session progresses, executives discover new insights about their current situation and their working relationships with organizational leaders and colleagues.
In brief, The Music Paradigm animates key messages, not just relates them; involves audiences, not just informs them; and demonstrates results, not just describes them It provides a creative framework for rethinking leadership styles, philosophies, and effectiveness.