Leading teaming: Evidence from Jazz

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

In this research we conducted qualitative analysis to study the team dynamics of jazz combos in order to explore deeper the leadership behaviors in a creative environment where teaming occurs. We found evidence of a dual leader, one that shifts his/her role between ‘leader as leader’ and ‘leader as member’, embracing both leaderfulness and leaderlessness according to momentary needs, thus allowing for a delicate balance of freedom and control to enhance creativity and real time coordination. Additionally, we propose that the leader and team members have important roles in either enabling elasticity or preventing plasticity of a flexible structure that is ideal for innovation.