The day I was called a stadium rock drummer, the power of understanding purpose and how you can make a stronger positive impact on your team

I've been taking drumming classes since I was 16. I had coaches in Brazil, Canada and now in Singapore. Each coach had their own style and background. Some very academical, others the typical rock drummer stereotype - long hair, tattoos all over, black shirts and leather stuff. I learned a lot from all of them, had fun with all of them, but one coach really surprised me last week and delivered probably the best class of my life.

I had had an intense day at work and my class was set to start at 8PM. I had time go home, refresh myself a bit and walked to the studio. Still, my mind was not totally clean when I arrived to class. I knew I would meet a substitute coach, whom I never had classes with before. Would he want to pick up on the songs I was previously learning? Would he try to make the class around techniques and exercises? I started getting stressed, which is the opposite of my goal playing drums. I stopped thinking about it.

I arrived, we shake hands. A bit of silence. He breaks the silence and asks:

-So, Geana, what is your purpose when taking drumming classes?

I was definitely not expecting that question. I automatically felt reconnected with myself and a big smile showed up on my face, when saying:

-I come here just to have fun.

Coach replies:

-All right, we can work with that!

He asked me to choose a song for the evening and I picked up an old Van Halen one ( I love old school rock). We started playing together (the room has 2 drums kits). I thought things were going well, but suddenly he stops, cut the music and tells me:

-I feel you. You are a stadium rock drummer. I want to see you behave like that. Play louder and make all this audience hearing your concert go crazy with the song.

I automatically started laughing, and laughing so loud. Is this coach crazy? 

When we started playing again I was not only happier (because it was fun to imagine myself as a stadium rock drummer), but also more confident and clearly more engaged with class. Timing for class finished and I just didn’t want to leave. He made that hour the funniest time of my day.

Understanding my purpose of having fun enabled the coach to deliver an exceptional experience to me as client and created a strong positive impact on my day.

This was clearly a win for me. But so, what is it if for the coach? A new loyal customer that will recommend him for any drummer with similar purpose of having fun.

Do we understand the purpose our team members have when showing up at work? Or, what is the last time we've communicated our purpose clearly to our leaders?

Being able to create positive impact is not about what you think is good, right or best in class. It is about how an initiative or decision connects with the underlying purpose of people that will be impacted.

Do you agree with it? Try to start your next conversation around purpose! I am sure both parts will take a lot from it.