You need to tune

Like an orchestra, your team should align before big performances

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
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

(00:25):
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.

(00:47):
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

(01:08):
about any specials, they learn any news, and they build
community and get a line 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

(01:28):
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

(01:50):
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 ten thirty for an eleven o'clock meeting, you
will not accidentally leave your client's CEO waiting. That said,

(02:12):
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

(02:33):
a team member, you all agree how to react together,
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

(02:56):
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

(03:17):
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

(03:38):
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

(04:03):
our time. Thanks for listening to before breakfast. If you've
got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach me at
Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. Before Breakfast is a

(04:26):
production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts from iHeartMedia, please visit
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your favorite shows.