[du- dum! -um -um ... du- dum! -um -um ... du- dum! -um -um ... du- dum! -um -um]
[du- dum! -um ... du- dum! -um ... du- dum! -um ... du- dum! -um]
[dum! -um ... dum! -um ... dum! -um ... dum! -um ... dum! -um]
[dum! ... dum! ... dum! ... dum!]
In surprisingly quick fashion, we were drumming in rhythm. In my left hand was a drumstick, in front of me was a table, and all around me were people in the same manner. All of us drumming.
Initially, our drumsticks all came down at different times. But that changed quickly. Just like the metronomes.
[dum! ... dum! ... dum! ... dum!]
I am guessing that most of us have never drummed in any real capacity. Nevertheless, within a matter of minutes we were all drumming to the same beat. We were in rhythm. We transformed from a bunch of individuals drumming on the tables in front of us to a team that could play to a beat.
And not just quarter notes either.
[dum!dum! ...dum!dum! ...dum!dum! ...dum!dum!]
Just like that we switched to eighths. Then we switched to half of us playing quarter notes and the other half playing eighths. We were making music.
[dum!dum! ...dum!dum! ...dum!dum! ...dum!dum!]
What was the point of all this? There was more to this than learning how to drum as a team. It was about how your organization gets in rhythm.
With about 20 other members of Lynnwood Kiwanis and a few fellow members from Snohomish Kiwanis, I had the opportunity this morning of listening to a presentation by Conductor Frank DeMiero of Sno-King Community Chorale and DeMiero Jazz Fest. While making music was fun, the activity was meant to serve as an example. After collecting our drumsticks, he asked, "How did you get to be on the same beat?"
Some said they listened. Some said they followed Frank's direction. Some said they just tapped their sticks.
All of these were necessary. We would not have become a team without any of them.
There are some simple lessons from this exercise that we can learn or be reminded of. To get in rhythm -- to be a team -- organizations need:
- A common mission, goals, and a clear plan
- People to lead, organize, and do
- A chance to make adjustments based on feedback
When all pieces are in rhythm, a synergy happens that cannot otherwise be achieved.
[dum! ... dum! ... dum! ... dum!]
What a beautiful thing to experience.
