5 lessons being in a band can teach you about teamwork

Teamwork - it makes the dream work, right? Well, it certainly made all the difference to Lead Happiness Consultant and Rockologist, Dave Keeling, as he embarked on a lifelong dream of being in a band. Luckily for us - and you - it’s taught him a lot about teamwork too.

Summer is often the best time for self-reflection. Whether it’s spent in the garden or somewhere exotic, there’s no better opportunity to spend some quality time inward-looking than when you’re slathered in factor fifty with your feet in a bucket, chomping on a rum and raisin choc ice.

We did this back in 2020, remember? When we were all going to learn French and start practising the piano? But for some reason, most of us didn’t. Instead we took up gin full time.

Yet, opportunities to develop, learn, collaborate and generally challenge our skill sets are abundant and around us all the time. It’s just sometimes we’re simply not looking.

A chance for personal growth

I bring this up because it was during lockdown that my wife spotted a post on Facebook from a local musician who was looking for like-minded people with a desire to play music. Now it’s at this point I should mention that from the age of 5, I always wanted to play the drums - inspired by Animal from the Muppets.

But I had to wait until I was 18 to get my first drum kit. I then proceeded to drum in several bands through the early 90s into the noughties. For various reasons, the bands dissipated and for the last 25 years I’ve found myself drumming in my office ‘Ginger Heights’, wishing I was still in a band, missing the creativity and absolute buzz that live music can bring… but doing absolutely nothing about it.

A classic case of procrastination - talking a good game but backing it up with zero action.

But here was my chance, my Slumdog Millionaire moment. Had all roads led to this?

Were all my years of working as a professional speaker on motivation, confidence, risk-taking and growth mindset going to pay off?

I replied instantly and the upshot of that positive action and swift response is that precisely a week ago today, I played my first live gig in 25 years, outdoors to a sea of people, including friends, family, and locals. And it’s already gone into my top ten moments of all time. I cannot remember the last time I was that happy - and I’m happy a lot!

And so, what are the lessons learned from this small but pivotal, positive, proactive decision?

Teamwork lessons

I think back to that moment when my wife asked if I’d reply. It would have been so easy to say no or tell her I’d do it tomorrow.

Instead, on reflection, I made my values centric to my decision-making process. When we remember to do that, that’s when things start to really change. It was also a leap of faith, a desire to seek out a new opportunity as I had no idea at that point if I would connect with this other musician. Would we have the same musical taste? Would we get on? Could we play in a way that worked and sounded great?

And so here are my top 5 learnings that being in a band has taught me that apply to any team.

1. Collaboration 

Working together and bringing different skills to the table, each component part is respected and given time and space to grow. You can also develop and share ideas, so when the time comes to deliver, everyone feels part of the bigger picture.

2. Communication & Listening

Communication, both verbal and non-verbal, is key to developing positive, close working relationships. Understanding the stories of those around us enables us to engage in a more full and empathetic way. Tuning into and actively listening to what is or isn’t being said allows for a more inclusive working environment - and less miscommunication and flare-ups.

3. Failing fast

Creating an environment that’s curious, experimental, full of expansive thinking and risk-taking is key to creativity and innovation. If we aren’t prepared to fail, then we’re not prepared to learn. If everyone’s starting point is they’re too scared to try or don’t want to reveal a lack of skill, then nothing will change.

4. Creativity

Turning up with ideas, as well as looking for opportunities to be playful, have fun, and muck around with the way things are done is incredibly important if we want to develop an exciting, fun, challenging environment where people feel they can bring the best version of themselves. It also allows for everyone to improvise, try things out, be flexible, adaptable, and versatile too.

5. Confidence and trust

Once the first four lessons are in place, confidence and trust will develop. Confidence comes after an experience, not before, which is why it’s imperative that we, and the people around us, are encouraged to develop that ‘can-do’ attitude in whatever environment we find ourselves in. Trust comes from actively listening, collaborating and following through on what we say we're going to do with action.

Moving your team forwards

I’ve known, talked about and explored all these five areas for years and have never seen it more defined than I have these past few weeks being a member of a band.

Now I’m not saying you have to immediately drop your choc ice, watch School of Rock and get on stage at Wembley - although that sounds like a cracking afternoon. What I am asking you to consider are these questions to help move your team - or band - forwards:

• Who’s in your band? Family, friends, work colleagues?
• What are their strengths?
• What do you bring to it?
• What could make your band more creative?
• What name would best describe your band?
• How would other people describe your band?
• If someone didn’t like your band, how would they describe it?
• What potentially is missing from your band?
• Leonardo Da Vinci once said we must look for ‘the art of science and the science of art.’

Everything is inextricably interconnected and there are lessons to be learned around us every day.

Our abilities are not in question. The only things that ever really get in the way are confidence and attitude. Have we got the confidence to say yes, do something different or just have a go? And, more importantly, can we be arsed?

And on that note, have a great summer, say yes to something new, and let a bit of your inner Animal out. You know you want to.