After an illustrious 30 year career as the head of the University of Michigan Musical Society, Ken Fischer is retiring. Last year I had the pleasure of interviewing Ken Fischer at Leaders Connect. Thanks to Roger Rayle, the entire interview is available on YouTube https://youtu.be/Zw6AESK5bcs
You can also read Ken’s article at Mlive.com.
http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2017/05/ums_ken_fischer_leaves_everybo.html
Ken, who has been leading impresario in our community for over 30 years, demonstrates excellent leadership competencies. Here are a few of his leadership lessons:
- Create memorable experiences
- Build lasting relationships: on the stage and off
- Care passionately about building a long-term relationships with everyone, including artists, students, staff, audiences and the community
- Engage with Innovation in the spirit of exploration
- Encourage artistic experimentation
- Support community in all ways possible
- Find ways to bring young people into the arts
- Encourage a wide diversity of voices
- Give immediate feedback
- Actively introduce people to one another through email and phone calls
- Advocate for excellence in performance, in administration and relationship building
- Encourage diversity by following the dictate of: “Everybody in, nobody out”
- Start big picture and work your way back
- Do whatever can be done to deliver the very best customer experience-always go the extra mile and be available at all times
- Learn people’s names and introduce people to one another
- Endlessly practice being a great listener
- Build instant community by introducing everyone around the table to one another
- Don’t be afraid to be an operator, as long as you do it respectfully and for the right values
