What Can An Indie Rock Group Teach Us About Teamwork and Leadership?
What do “5-people-playing-a-one-guitar interpretation” of Gotye’s Somebody That I Used To Know illustrate about teamwork and leadership? A lot.
Playing any musical composition is difficult but the complexity of what you’re about to witness requires serious coordination, collaboration and practice. That didn’t happen by accident. Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRx1Tqcv2uU&feature=player_detailpage#t=5s
Thanks to indie rock group-members Marshall, Sarah, Gianni, Taylor and Joel of Walk Off The Earth (WOTE) for demonstrating what solid teamwork is all about. And, a hat tip to your band-leader. Your music video captures team chemistry in motion not to mention over 35 million YouTube views in less than two weeks. Nice job harnessing the power of social media from Burlington, Ontario.
Teamwork takes a leader who understands how to arrange the team for melody, harmony and rhythm–just like songs crafted for the music-buying masses.
The best leaders have a way of inspiring and gradually exiting–as the momentum that ensures the team’s success–takes hold. A strong leader pays homage to the Gods of organizational development. These are the four questions on the leader’s mind every day:
- Where are we going? (strategic planning, direction)
- How do we get there? (organization structure, systems, processes)
- How do we improve individual performance? (leadership/management development)
- How do we improve team performance? (team interactions)
Living in and leading around those four questions creates a resilient team able to face and adapt to constant change. Be sensitive to what motivates or demotivates your people. That’s key. And, if you say you won’t change then remember that anything not moving is cooked or about to be cooked.
How are you creating teamwork? Who is your “best leader?” Why?
I’m changing gears to share a quick story about one of my favorite people, Kara McKenna. A few months ago, I thought she would enjoy Gotye’s song so she stood in my office for a listen. Not even halfway into the song Kara bemoans,
“That song is crap!”
She’s not a word-mincer.
“Really?” I say, “Kara, this song will be a hit. I have no doubt.”
And, now? (I can’t see the future but I do trust my gut):
Somebody That I Used to Know has sold more than seven million copies worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling digital singles of all time.
So, without further ado, I bring you Gotye’s original song that Kara pronounced crap:http://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=FLJVeWOmRlf6fahfhpY6s71g
P.S. Gotye’s inspired WOTE who inspired me to write this post. The seed was planted by Lisa Dawson–she introduced me to Gotye a while back. Then, just last Friday, Lyda Hawes shot me a link to the WOTE remake. Thanks Lisa, Lyda and Kara. You are great teammates even if Kara has not the ear for music. BTW, Kara now likes the tune.
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