You need to tune
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Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's tip is to be intentional about getting in sync with your team before any sort of high stakes event. Don't just assume you are all on the same page. Take the time to get aligned. If you've been to the symphony, you've probably heard the orchestra tune before the performance. One instrument plays a specific note, then the others join in on the same note and make adjustments until their sounds match. All the other instruments join in one by one, and by the time they're finished, everyone's version of a note is exactly the same pitch. So the performance can begin. I've heard something similar happens at fancy restaurants.
The whole staff gathers for family dinner before guests arrive. They hear about any specials, they learn any news, and they build community and get aligned before dinner service begins. Sports teams often have a huddle or a talk from their coach before games. They hear anything they need to know about their opponent or about the strategy for the game. And they get connected to each other to be ready to play as a cohesive team. I think it's wise for knowledge workers to do something similar, just like a symphony. You need to tune. If your team is hosting a big event or leading an important meeting, it can be a good idea to gather immediately beforehand to connect. This might mean that your team arrives at the event space early.
If the meeting or event is virtual, you could all join the Zoom call before you let in anyone else. The point isn't just to make sure that no one is late, though that is a benefit. If you all gather at 10.30 for an 11 o'clock meeting, you will not accidentally leave your client's CEO waiting. That said, I don't like wasting time and being early just to be early. So you should think through what you will do during this tuning time. You could review goals for the event. Remind each other of the tone you are going for and get in sync with each other. If something big happened in the world or even just for a team member, you all agree how to react together.
What is the core tip Laura introduces about team preparation?
And if any issues come up, you have time to solve them. Even at home, it can be helpful to tune before any sort of performance. If you're having friends over, maybe you and your partner or your roommate, Agree that a half hour before, you'll both be home and ready to do any last-minute prep. You have a chance to set the table and put away the dog toys, but just as important, you'll also have a chance to connect as the host team before it's time to welcome your guests. You will put on a united show. No matter how long you have worked with your colleagues and no matter how many get-togethers you've hosted with your partner or roommate, things can still come up. Even the most professional orchestra doesn't sit down and just play.
Unity can't be assumed because lots of little things shift and change and need clarification. If you want true unity, you need to reset right before the unity is required. Tuning doesn't need to take a ton of time, but just a little gathering beforehand for any situation will make the big gathering much better. In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening. And here's to making the most of our time.
Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast. If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach me at laura at lauravandercam.com. Before Breakfast is a production of iHeart Media. For more podcasts from iHeart Media, please visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
How does the orchestra tuning analogy explain team alignment?
Hey, Portlandia fans.
Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen here.
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