Can't Whistle A Symphony
Artist: Scott Gustafson
“No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it.”
I remember the first team-wide meeting I ever led.
As a new manager, it was my job to host a kick-off meeting each year so that the entire team could get inspired and aligned. And two days before the meeting, my boss asked to see the agenda.
The agenda?! I hadn’t even considered making one. I had simply assumed that getting a bunch of competent, hard-working, engaged people in the same room would lead to a productive outcome. And I was quickly realizing my assumption was wrong.
Here’s what I know now…
Socializing is not the same thing as organizing. And when it comes to building strong culture, collaboration, and teamwork, it’s essential to discern between the two.
Too many companies believe that building a strong culture is as simple as holding social hours for their employees. To many teams believe that collaboration means enduring endless hours of aimless, agenda-less group discussions. And too many leaders believe that teamwork is simply a natural byproduct of placing competent, well-meaning people in the same room.
But even the most talented musicians need to know what piece they’re playing in order to play it together. And oftentimes, they also require a conductor to help lead the way.
If you want all of your fish to swim in the same direction, don’t just dump them in the ocean. And if you want your company, team, or community to work together towards a common goal, don’t just dump them in the same room, email chain, or group chat.
Lead them - with clear communication, strong direction, open listening, and honest feedback.
And watch as a symphony unfolds.
Learn It
5-minute read
In this article, Mark McCarvill breaks down the difference between team socializing and team building by highlighting the misleading and often incorrect advice we’ve received from major business publications over the past few decades.
Know It
13-minute video
Author, scholar, and Harvard School of Business Professor of Leadership Amy Edmondson speaks about the skills and attributes that immediately turn a group of strangers into a highly productive team in her aptly named Ted Talk.
Live It
5 in-depth exercises
Want to strengthen your team in real time? This workbook contains five exercises focused on helping you hone your team building skills. Built for a variety of levels and settings, diving into even one of these exercises will help you apply a higher level of teamwork to your situation immediately.
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