Text Box: Team Rhythm

 Moving Towards Synergy

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Text Box: Reaching the High Performance Zone What does it look, sound and feel like to be operating “in the zone” of high performance? What moves organizations to create extraordinary results? What special alchemy allows some teams to achieve success beyond their wildest dreams, while others fade like seasonal trends? In his 1990 best seller The Fifth Discipline, management guru Peter Senge suggested that: When a team becomes more aligned, a commonality of direction emerges and individual energies harmonize. There is less wasted energy. In fact, a resonance or synergy develops, like a ‘coherent’ light of a laser rather than the incoherent and scattered light of a light bulb. There is commonality of purpose, a shared vision, and an understanding of how to complement one another’s efforts. Individuals do not sacrifice their personal interests to the larger team vision; rather the shared vision becomes the extension of their personal vision. Alignment is the necessary condition before empowering the individual will empower the whole team. Jazz musicians know about alignment. There is a phrase in jazz, “being in the groove” that suggests the state when an ensemble “plays as one”. These experiences are very difficult to put into words – jazz musicians talk about them in almost mystical terms: the music flows through you rather than from you. Rhythm as Metaphor Part math, part magic. Rhythm is a naturally powerful medium for people to explore these elements of high performance. The team’s leadership dynamics, interpersonal connections, cross-cultural differences and creative problem-solving capabilities become quickly apparent once people have rhythm instruments in their hands. In rhythm as in life: Filling space makes a statement. How do you show up? Leaving space expresses trust. The space that one leaves open is often as important as the notes one chooses to play. Interactive Simulations Team Rhythm draws its theoretical structure from contemporary organizational development, and its spirit from centuries-old native traditions, centered around four interconnected elements or phases (hence, the Celtic Knot logo). All Team Rhythm programs balance creative “right brain” interactivity with thought-provoking “left brain” analysis and business application. This mix enables team members to gain fresh perspectives on their common challenges and potential solutions. Team Rhythm participants play simple percussion instruments together, but do not need any prior musical experience. Music is the vehicle, not the destination. Many teams do, however, experience a remarkable degree of satisfaction playing music together, even with people who have never played before. How do you know when you’re in the groove? When you are challenged to stretch your limits, but not overwhelmed When you reach for clear goals and get incremental feedback along the way When you can exercise self-control and influence When your total awareness is absorbed in an activity When you can lose your self-consciousness, as if “joined at the hip” with your team mates* Does your team want to find its groove? *(Adapted from Flow, the Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi) Text Box: Has Your Team Found Its Groove?