Saturday 04th February 20:17

"Playing Second Fiddle"

Hi everyone,

I've always been intrigued by the second violins in an orchestra. Nobody tends to notice them as much as the first violins and rarely does anyone in the second violins get to play a solo as they do in the first violins. But the second violins are one of the most important sections of an orchestra.

In a classical orchestra, the first violins are the feted stars. The leader of the orchestra is usually the top player in the first violins. He or she usually comes onto the stage after everyone else and they usually receive an ovation all of their own. When the conductor comes on, he or she usually shakes hands with the leader of the first violins which is repeated when the performance is over.

The second violins don't get any of this treatment even though they play exactly the same instruments as the first violins. The reason is because their role is different. They are there not to lead but to serve.

The role of the second violins is to add harmony to the tunes that the first violins play. The word "harmony" comes from the Greek word "harmonia", meaning "to join", "blend", or "unite". And that's what the second violins do. They blend the melodies of others into a pleasing whole. And they do this by holding back, controlling their own needs, and serving the needs of others.

It's very similar in the workplace. There are the stars of the show who stand out as leaders and get the accolades and thanks. And then there are the others who make sure that the work of the stars is blended into a pleasing whole. These are the cleaners, the receptionists, the PAs, the filing clerks, the drivers, and countless others who make sure that the end result all makes some kind of pleasing sense to onlookers and customers.

Louis Tice once said that we can't all be leaders. Some of us are destined to wave to the crowds from the balconies and some of us are destined to wave back from the street. But we each need one another. Being someone who plays second fiddle is not inferior or demeaning, it is just as important as playing the lead, maybe even more so. It's just a different kind of leading, one without stripes.

Happy music-making and happy training!

Eric

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