Roger Nierenberg is a veteran conductor and the creator of The Music Paradigm, a unique program that invites people to sit INSIDE a professional symphony orchestra as the musicians and conductor solve problems together.

He captures that experience in MAESTRO: A Surprising Story about Leading by Listening , a parable about a rising executive facing tough challenges. The narrator befriends an orchestra conductor and is inspired to think about leadership and communication in an entirely new way.

For instance:

* A maestro doesn't micromanage, but encourages others to develop their own solutions. There's a big difference between conducting and trying to play all the instruments.

* A maestro helps people feel ownership of the whole piece, not just their individual parts.

* A maestro leads by listening. When people sense genuine open-mindedness, they offer more of their talent. If not, they get defensive and hold back their best ideas.

Readers will be inspired to bring out the full potential in their people, no matter how diverse their roles or backgrounds.