Can you hear the music of your team?

When we hear music with soul, we are so touched that it makes us weep. That is what happened to me when we were at a recent zitar recital of Niladri Kumar who was accompanied by Satyajit Talwalkar on the tabla, Shikhar Naad Qureshi on the drums and Agnelo Fernandes on the keys. The music they produced moved me- it was timeless, exquisite and out of this world.

We were lucky enough to be on the front seat; and it is such a treat to watch them from up close. And one thing they embodied was wonderful team work; and there were many lessons for the corporate team to take away from here.

They made frequent eye contact and were very closely tuned to each other. They nodded and smiled amongst themselves other often, sometimes their eyes lighting up in appreciation when an intricate piece was played. They were so closely aligned with each other that they could can sense, read and feel where the other was, which helped them not just keep to the rhythm and tempo, but to be alive to the soul of the music they were creating.

Ian Holm, one of the world’s greatest actors has said : ‘ The most important thing in the face is the eyes, and if you can make the eyes talk, you’re halfway there’. If we can learn to listen to the eyes of the people we are with, we will be able to understand beyond words.

When the Maestro introduced his team members, he was lavish in his praise of them. I noticed that his appreciation of the youngest member Shikhar Naad who is in his twenties was generous, and the youngster received it with both grace and humility. He touched his left hand with his left ear 2-3 times, as if a secret reminder that it doesn’t go to his head. I think we all should have a reminder ritual like this – to be careful of success – it can lead to hubris, ie the feeling that we are the tops which can very much get in the way of progress.

When the Ustad wasn’t happy with the light work on stage, he called out during a natural break : ‘Can the light maestro keep the lights steady, we don’t want the disco moving lights please’. I loved the terminology ‘light-maestro’, which conveyed respect for another member not from his team.

And the best of all was that the team played for the sheer joy of reveling in their music. Because the recital was part of the corporate launch of a new product, people were scattered, busy with the drinks and conversation, the hall half-full. But that is the way of life- and the artists were not slighted or worried- why are we not being listened to. They were immersed in the rapture and bliss of their music, and played in the designated time with the full surrender and devotion for it. They didn’t look for any external validation. Their endorsement came from within- their self-belief and love for their craft.

When you are with your team members, or friends whom you hang out with, or family you live with- are you so connected with them that you can listen to their eyes? Read with your ears? Sense with your heart? Then we are creating the right chords of harmony, and the meeting will have a soul of its own.

Rashmi Datt is an EQ facilitator and coach who helps being individuals and   teams into alignment with their inner compass, helping them access their highest potential.