James Sills, musician and author, discusses how singing creates team connection. They explore the transformative power of singing, debunk myths around it, and emphasize its importance in fostering a sense of belonging. Activities like singing, cooking, and stand-up comedy are recommended to strengthen team relationships.
Singing can foster connection and a sense of being part of something bigger in teams, benefiting introverts by allowing them to be part of a bigger whole without the pressure of taking the lead.
Synchronous activities like singing can have significant benefits for teams, creating connections, fostering communication, and breaking down barriers.
Deep dives
The Power of Singing in Team Development
Singing has been scientifically proved to be a powerful tool for team development. It fosters connection, belonging, and a sense of being part of something bigger. Group singing allows individuals to let go of their individuality and work together towards a common goal. It can be particularly beneficial for introverts, as it provides an opportunity for them to be part of a bigger whole without the pressure of taking the lead. Singing workshops and activities can create instant impact and lead to long-lasting ripple effects, enhancing connections and breaking down barriers in teams.
Practical Examples of Singing Benefits at Work
Synchronous activities, such as singing, can have significant benefits for teams. For example, a simple breathing exercise at a conference helped the CEO calm his nerves and establish a connection with the audience. Singing workshops conducted in workplaces have provided individuals with a sense of connection, pride, and a breakthrough in ice-breaking conversations. Singing activities have also been effective in adventurous and active teams, helping to create a sense of togetherness and fostering communication. Overall, singing can lead to positive outcomes at individual and team levels.
Getting Started with Singing in Teams
If you want to introduce singing activities in your team but can't have a professional like James Sills, there are ways to get started independently. The book 'The Social Brain' by Robin Dunbar, Tracy Kamaleri, and Samantha Rockey is recommended to understand the importance of synchronous activities for social connection. Start with simple synchronous activities like going for a walk, cooking together, or even writing haikus. The objective should be to meet on a human level, away from hierarchies and to-do lists, fostering connection, belonging, and playfulness. Singing is just one avenue to achieve these outcomes and can be explored in different contexts.
This week, Helen talks to musician and author James Sills about how singing can be used to create connection in teams. Together they explore the insights in James' book 'Do Sing' and his experiences of working with teams all over the world.
As part of Amazing If's 'teach a team to sing' campaign, at the end of the episode you'll also hear a squiggly sing-a-long with the Sales team at Cochlear.
More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:
1.Sign up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/scskills-sprint