Sometimes we can take for granted what it means to be a part of a team. With all the responsibilities on our individual project lists, it is easy to get caught up in our own agendas and lose sight of the bigger picture of what we can accomplish together.
A client team shared this link with us as we were preparing to facilitate a strategic visioning session. They shared that they begin each company meeting by viewing this video! And every time they watch it, they seem to see something a little bit new and different. We loved it too! Yes, it is a video of a “barbershop quartet.” No, it is not the 1950’s and it is most certainly not your grandfather’s barbershop quartet. It is the 2009 International Barbershop Chorus Champions, and The Ambassadors of Harmony’s winning performance. Take a look… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmDGntpZC3I
As you watch it, we are curious what you find most compelling. Please share…we would love to hear your thoughts. In watching it ourselves, here are a few valuable insights we drew from their inspiration.
- Everyone Contributes: Each person’s unique voice added value to the collective performance.
- Small Things Matter: A small gesture when combined with others can have a big impact.
- WE is bigger than me: What can be achieved together far surpasses what any one person can do and we need to leverage this potential.
- Unmatched Energy and Excitement: E=MC2: Energy = Mass Collaboration2
There is something amazingly powerful and energizing when people create together.
With these principles in mind, here are a few practical ways to engage the power of your own teams…
- When embarking on a new initiative take time upfront to create a shared vision. Define and align to your desired outcomes so everyone is on board and takes ownership. (See previous blog – Igniting a Spark)
- Get clear on your everyone’s roles and the unique “gifts” they can bring to the experience and honor them.
- Make sure that everyone has a chance to contribute. (If you have a large team, this might mean breaking up into smaller teams during meetings!)
- Leverage the diversity of the team bringing in a wide range of perspectives to challenge and stretch each other.
- Have fun – the spirit of play ignites creativity.
Remember the power of your team. If in the midst of everyday challenges, it gets fuzzy and you forget, just look to the Ambassadors of Harmony to remind you.
You don’t get harmony when everybody sings the same note.
~Doug Floyd
