Harmony & Rhythm in Organizational Development
Parallels between shared music-making and OD
In the dynamic world of organizational development (OD), business leaders often find themselves on a continuous quest to find innovative and effective strategies for fostering teamwork
Every marching season, a new organization begins with a series of teams (instrumental sections, including brass, woodwinds, guard, and — my favorite — percussion). Each team needs to form, storm, and norm before they perform for an exhibition or competition. Then, each of these teams needs to work together as a cohesive workgroup, literally in harmony and in step with each other, to attain a shared goal — an excellent performance, which hopefully yields a trophy.
Then, after marching season, dramatic changes occur with the development of concert bands, jazz band, and other indoor ensembles. Musicians must exercise a great deal of resilience, section leaders must overcome resistance to new ways of doing things, and many members feel a sense of loss from what they built in marching band as they transition to the new way of doing things. Every season becomes a classic representation of the Bridges Transformational Model (1988):
This cyclical process mirrored the organizational change management
Team-Based Music Making and OD
In the early 2000s, while working for a music publisher as the associate director of marketing, I had the good fortune of learning how to facilitate drumming circles in my spare time before attending graduate school. I learned from the late great Paulo Mattioi, a highly skilled master drummer and inventor of the Remo djembe — a goblet-shaped drum with origins in West Africa. Paulo taught me how not to conduct but to facilitate rhythmic conversations and help ad hoc groups overcome the obstacles of inexperience, self-doubt, and a perceived lack of ability to develop skills, gain self-efficacy, and leverage listening and learning to cocreate music that made the body and soul move using drums and percussion instruments.
Historically, groups attempting to use shared music-making in OD interventions have based their effectiveness on aspiration rather than empirical evidence (Ippolito & Adler, 2018). However, some research has indicated that team-based music-making, such as drumming circles, can lower stress and help teams develop stronger working relationships through the expression of creative music (Bittman et al., 2003).
Performing music together requires individuals within groups to listen, adapt, and contribute to a collective output, reflecting the essence of effective teamwork and collaboration
Movers and shakers in the drumming circle community, including author and facilitator Arthur Hull and Christine Stevens from Remo HealthRhythms, have brought drum circles to Fortune 500 companies to foster better team building, communication, and resilience through change (Stevens, 2003; Hull, 2015). As Stubbers (2014) explored, drum circles may enhance team cohesion and communication, offering a practical team-building intervention that mirrors my personal experiences with facilitating drum circles. These findings highlight the potential of music-based activities to bolster employee well-being and team dynamics.
Organizations looking to harness the power of music for OD can start by integrating regular music sessions or employing drum circles as team-building exercises
领英推荐
Improvisation and OD
No one reads music within drumming circles, and no formal structure exists. The entire experience develops in the present with a strong sense of mindfulness using a shared rhythmic pulse, such as a “heartbeat rhythm” played by a bass drum, as a framework. Training in organizational improvisation may benefit OD interventions as “it requires the participants to accommodate to each other’s work without preconceived notions, thus enhancing their flexibility and adaptability to work in any situational context” (Pruetipibultham & McLean, 2010). For instance, having teams work together to improvise solutions for a business problem within a workshop can create pathways toward better team cohesion, building confidence in individual abilities
In conclusion, the similarities between group-based music-making and organizational development offer a new compositional arrangement of insights for enhancing team dynamics, navigating change, and fostering a positive organizational culture. Just as every member of a musical ensemble plays a vital role in creating harmony and rhythmic nuance, every individual within an organization contributes to its overall success. By drawing from lessons from the world of music, organizations can embark on a transformative journey toward resilience, adaptability, and creativity.
As we reflect on the power of music as both a metaphor and a mechanism for organizational development, we might consider how these principles can be applied to foster unity, drive change, and enhance the well-being of individuals and teams alike. Harmonious workplaces await, ready to be facilitated by those willing to explore the harmonious potential of music within their own contexts. When considering leading change, remember that some musicians have tremendous potential for delivering superior performance and collaboration outcomes from their experiences in their art.
Original article published: https://harmoniousworkplaces.com/harmony-rhythm-in-organizational-development/
References
Bittman, B., Bruhn, K. T., Stevens, C., Westengard, J., & Umbach, P. O. (2003). Recreational music-making: a cost-effective group interdisciplinary strategy for reducing burnout and improving mood states in long-term care workers. Advances in Mind Body Medicine, 19(3/4), 4–15.
Bridges, W. (1988). Bridges Transition Model. https://wmbridges.com/about/what-is-transition/
Hull, A. (2015). Drum Circle Spirit: Facilitating Human Potential Through Rhythm. White Cliffs Media Co.
Ippolito, L.M. & Adler, N.J. (2018). Shifting metaphors, shifting mindsets: Using music to change the key of conflict. Journal of Business Research, Volume 85(358–364). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2017.10.013.
Pruetipibultham, O., & McLean, G. (2010). The Role of the Arts in Organizational Settings. Human Resource Development Review, 9, 25–3. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534484309342852.
Stevens, C. (2003). The Art and Heart of Drum Circles. Hal Leonard.
Stubbers, J. J. (2014) Drum circles as a team-building intervention. Theses and Dissertations, 475. Pepperdine Digital Commons. https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/etd/475
Talent and Organizational Development | Learner | Connector | Military Spouse
11 个月As a former choir kid long ago, I really like connecting music with business. I'm curious how this could look in the virtual environment. You mentioned in the article about speaking to music theory. Any other tips or resources you could share?
Innovation Elegance | Change Leadership | Transcending Agile & Waterfall
11 个月I see a rhythm!
Innovation Elegance | Change Leadership | Transcending Agile & Waterfall
11 个月Innovation Elegance | Change Leadership | Transcending Agile & Waterfall
11 个月Realistic Business Strategy Design and Change Management
11 个月Rich Cruz - nice metaphor. Seems like you and Robert Snyder are singing from the same songbook!