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What can world-class opera and ballet teach us about cooperation? In this episode, Lynda Gratton sits down with Sir Alex Beard, Chief Executive of the Royal Ballet and Opera, to explore the teamwork, trust and shared standards behind every performance.
Alex reveals what happens behind the curtain, where hundreds of musicians, performers, designers, technicians and front-of-house staff work together to create something that appears effortless. He explains how immediate, actionable feedback helps even the most celebrated performers continue to grow, and why trust is essential when every role depends on another.
From responding to last-minute setbacks to taking creative risks, this episode explores how radical cooperation enables resilience, innovation and extraordinary work – and what leaders in any organisation can learn from the ultimate team sport.
Host:
- Lynda Gratton, Professor of Management Practice in Organisational Behaviour, London Business School
Guest:
- Sir Alex Beard CBE, Chief Executive, Royal Ballet and Opera
Mentioned in this episode:
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:47 The invisible performance: what happens behind the curtain
08:45 The power of feedback and notes
13:13 Trust, team curation and process
18:39 Innovation and taking creative risks
28:55 Four takeaways for radical cooperation
30:25 Lynda’s final thoughts
Learn more: Listen to the full episode and follow the series for more. Sign up to receive a curated selection of articles, podcasts and films direct to your inbox twice a month at https://www.london.edu/think?entry=true#subscribeScreen
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