PRODN - Philadelphia Region Organization Development Network

The evening of June 20,2002 PRODN debuted the final program of the 2001-2002 year "Developing Your Own Leadership Aria: Bridging Two Unrelated Issues Of The Heart". Using the main character of Bizet's masterpiece Carmen to illustrate her thesis, Beryl B. Byles, Principal of Bridge Consulting helped participants explore how we could identify our authentic leadership aria.

Beryl provided a wonderful video of Carmen's two most famous and seductive arias. Our first introduction to Carmen, Habañera: "Love Is A Wild Bird", sung by a believable Julia Migenes and to a young Placido Domingo as Don José provides a glimpse into Carmen's character, and motivators. She likes to use her physical power to attract men, particularly men in uniform.

Having learned a bit about Carmen, we shifted the focus to back into the room and complete an activity where we identify our heroes and the characteristics they have in common.

Listening to the second aria, Séguedille: "Outside the walls of Séville", we see Carmen's self-destructive nature and ego-centered drive. Carmen wants what is best for Carmen, and once her conquest is achieved, she dismisses Don José. She cares nothing for his hurt or the impact of his obsession on Micaëla, his heart-broken sweetheart. Carmen illustrates how unexamined behavior can set in motion destructive consequences to others, and finally to herself.

At this point the group ventured onto the bridge between this powerful music and the passion we connect with when we are authentic leaders (embrace our leadership aria). A tool called the Leadership Aria Matrix links our heroes' characteristics to our own energizers. Using this discovery, we considered a choice in our lives and used the matrix to understand which choice could best engage our energizers.

Where Carmen lived an unexamined life, we can choose to consider choices that allow us to honor the things that support our energy, and bypass choices that remove passion from our lives. Making a conscious choice to "sing" creates the stage for our own leadership aria.

It is just possible that making examined choices can lessen the outcome that haunts the story of Carmen where her fatal flaw harms others and ultimately herself. The opera ends at the moment of Carmen's great triumph. As she enters the town magnificently dressed on the arm of Escamillo, a famous bullfighter, Carmen is killed by the humiliated Don José. Her ego-driven choices influenced the circumstances leading to her death.

Beryl B. Byles, Principal of Bridge Consulting Associates, specializes in leadership and management development of senior executives in large corporations, CEO’s of small to mid-sized companies and leaders of non-profit enterprises. She applies her 30 years experience to facilitate individual change and growth toward greater effectiveness within management teams. Multi-national clients have included ARCO Chemical, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Boeing Corporation, CIGNA, General Electric and the like. Additional clients have included CoreStates Bank, Crozer/Keystone Medical Center, PECO Energy, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and Opera Company of Philadelphia. .She enjoys singing and has served in several vocal groups. She is an active patron of, volunteer with and "spear-carrier" or super in opera which is often a highlight of her domestic and international travel. Beryl holds a BA from Southeastern LA University and an MBA from the University of Dallas.

Program Announcement

Music is a key influencer in our day to day lives, but rarely do we consider it to provide a lens into our own leadership style. This evening's program will provide entertainment as well as a thought provoking, self discovery process in which you will discover your own unique, authentic leadership style and the opportunities to apply it effectively.

Using a video of the opera "Carmen" and linking your struggle to the definition of "drama" from Aristotle, Beryl Byles will lead us in considering the choices in the drama of our lives. The program will accent a guided self-discovery process to determine how to influence growth and change as a leader. Because leadership is not so much "what we do" but rather "who we are", we need to explore the dramas of our lives to understand how our individual expressions of our own leadership can be powerful.

You will leave the session with a self-awareness tool that you can use to guide choices that authentically reflect your unique leadership style, your "aria" of leadership.