A Drum Circle as a Training for an Innovative Workplace: A Case Study of Leadership Development in a Japanese Company
Keywords:
A Drum Circle, Innovative Workplace, Leadership Development, CommunicationAbstract
Leadership style reflected cultural differences, especially between the east and west. The role models available for business leadership in the different regions of the world are significant. For example, the role model is corporate CEO in America, the head of the family in China and Chinese-related businesses, military general in France, consensus builder in Japan, and coalition builder in Germany. (Quinn Mills, 2005). In Asia, the different styles most markedly reflect the stage of development of the economies and companies of Asia. The regression of economic development over the past three decades in Japan forced business leaders to develop a different style of management from the past consensus building to a more innovative and revolutionary spirit of leadership.
The purpose of this study is to build and implement a workshop for managers who want to improve their skills in developing an innovative environment. What is unique about this workshop is that it aims to introduce management concepts based on a session using percussion instruments for developing skills and utilizing them as tools for developing an innovative workplace. This session is called a drum circle and is defined as a rhythm ensemble that participants improvise using various percussion instruments.
The workshop was held between July 7 to July 28 in 2018 (four Saturday afternoons) and in total 83 people in and outside the school participated. Each week consisted of drum circle sessions and mini-lectures regarding management theories such as leadership and communication. Participants were asked to identify some commonality between the essence of a drum circle and that of management theories. Survey results from each week indicated that participants were generally satisfied with the contents and the skills introduced in the workshop. However, there is room for improvement especially in terms of filling a gap between theory and application in a workshop.
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