Esa-Pekka Salonen Quotes

It's just that, when the orchestra look at me, I want them to see a completely involved person who reflects what we rehearsed, and whose function is to make it possible for them to do it.

Leadership is not just about giving energy ... it's unleashing other people's energy.

There are very few institutions that give prizes to people who may not have got to be number one, but are possibly better at coaxing the best out of others.

It is not the genius at the top giving directions that makes people great. It is great people that make the guy at the top look like a genius.

My whole life, I've been watching conductors. I was 7 the first time I played with a conductor. Seeing the ones that do it well, it's an amazing thing.

I mean, the great secret is that an orchestra can actually play without a conductor at all. Of course, a great conductor will have a concept and will help them play together and unify them.

I think it's a very important collaboration between the conductor and the orchestra - especially when the conductor is one more member of the orchestra in the way that you are leading, but also respecting, feeling and building the same way for all the players to understand the music.

Directing, I get all kinds of inspiration. It's working with people. It's a lot more fun.

Unless and until you inspire the people, you will not get results. Imposition will never give you the results. Inspiration will always give you the results.

I don't know how it is in other industries, but as far as our industry is concerned, everybody takes their energy from the director. I myself was very exhausted, but I was acting as if I was full of energy and was pumping it into the whole team.

Conductors make too much fuss about conductors! Humility and hard work are virtues. We're nothing without our musicians.

A leader sees greatness in other people. He nor she can be much of a leader if all she sees is herself.

Yeah as the director I consider myself to be the coach, and my actors are my players. So I have to show them how committed I am, but I also want to lead by example. I think whenever you make a film, you start out alone, and then slowly start - you have to be a magnet. You have to attract people to you, to the project.

If you want to make a difference in the lives of the people you lead, you must be willing to walk alongside them, to lift and encourage them, to share moments of understanding with them, and to spend time with them, not just shout down at them from on high.

It's all about finding and hiring people smarter than you. Getting them to join your business. And giving them good work. Then getting out of their way. And trusting them. You have to get out of the way so YOU can focus on the bigger vision. That's important. And here's the main thing....you must make them see their work as a MISSION.

Today, conducting is a question of ego: a lot of people believe they are actually playing the music.

You want to work with people who see something outside of you and that you're maybe not aware of. If someone gives you advice or tells you to do something, you want to be able to follow through with what you're asked to do, and also believe that.

It remains true that great managers recognize individualities and focus on developing strengths rather than weaknesses. Great leaders, in sharp contrast, recognize what is (or could be) shared in common - a vision, a dream, a mission, whatever - and inspire others to join them in the given enterprise.

Leadership isn't about simply being in charge and treating your people like soldiers and barking orders. Leadership is sharing your knowledge and your direction so that others grow and reach their potential.

I get inspired by creativity, when people are together. You know what I mean, there's a certain synergy when people work together.

I think when you make a movie, one of your main focuses as a director is to inspire everyone else to give their best. Like manipulation.

Choose great people and shine in their shadows

The greatest leaders mobilize others by coalescing people around a shared vision.

Leaders need to remember that the point of leading is not to cross the finish line first. It's to take people across the finish line with you. For that reason, leaders must deliberately slow their pace, stay connected to their people, enlist others to help fulfill the vision, and keep people going. You can't do that if you're running too far ahead of your people.

It's easier to be creative if you've got other people to play with.