Matthew Draper
What does it mean to be a musician and a coach? How does one inform the other? The answer is a little unexpected
Writing about how being a professional musician and, more specifically, playing music, has informed my coaching, has been a surprising process.
My initial thoughts centred on creating a metaphor to link the activities of coaching and being a musician. For example, I wondered if there is a connection between exploring a composer’s meaning in music and exploring the meaning of a client’s words – the search for intention being complex in both instances.
While this kind of question inspires the corporate training events I design, it seems too abstract to relate directly to how I coach. For me, a more relevant enquiry is to examine the impact my music has had on my coaching rather than how it may influence coaching-based projects.
My next avenue was to consider some of the qualities needed to succeed in the competitive world of a professional musician.
Focus, tenacity, creativity, organisation, talent and sensitivity all came to mind. These are, in my view, specific musician skills. However, I also asked: “Don’t many coaches who are not musicians have these qualities too?”
The answer, undoubtedly, is yes, and they are essential for the creation of a strong, co-active relationship with a client. I decided therefore to reflect on the reasons clients have given for choosing me as their coach. By focusing on the client, the indispensable part of the relationship, would it be possible to establish my link between coaching and music?
Clients find me by personal recommendation; however, a more common theme emerged. People have often said they wanted to work with me as they perceive me to be ‘creative’. There appeared an assumption that my musical life would help them with their creativity.
While this is an interesting tangent and nearer to the heart of the matter, I still felt unsatisfied. This association was about the impact me being a musician may have on clients, not the impact it has on the way I work with them.
It became clear that the question is actually about how I relate music and coaching on a much more personal level. Running out of ideas to make the link, I picked up my oboe and played some music that I love. The connection was suddenly, surprisingly, rather obvious: it is not working as a musician that influences my coaching, it is playing music.
There is unlimited potential in music. It is possible to interpret every melody in countless ways. When playing, choices are made and these affect how the music is expressed and subsequently experienced.
There are always ways to convey something differently and to communicate with someone else. Diametrically opposed options are available to the imagination and small changes in interpretation and attitude can have a big impact on music. As the connection becomes clearer, I realise why I am so passionate about the two things I do. For me, playing music and coaching are about the exploration of possibilities and the creation of alternative ways to express them.
Clients come to coaching because they want to change something about their life – find a different result, perspective or even a feeling. Every time I play the oboe the belief in the possibility for something different is reinforced in my entire being, physically and emotionally. It is inevitable that this has become an intrinsic part of the way I work when coaching clients.
Matthew Draper is a coach and musician
mail@matthewdraper.co.uk
www.matthewdraper.co.uk
Coaching at Work, Volume 6, Issue 3