SMARTer Teamwork:Collaborating

Like Jazz Musicians

Bus 303 Class – Simon Fraser UniversityMarch 12, 2013

Brian FraserLead Provocateur, Jazzthink

Business Success - A Case

St. Andrew’s Hall

UBC

From $130,000 in annual revenues in 1985,

to $1.6 million in 2001,

then to $2.6 in 2012.

Wired for Community

Humans are wired for community.

Mutual support and compassion are essential to the

flourishing of the species.

www.ccare.stanford.edu

The Core Skill in Business - Teamwork

You build productive teams through

CONVERSATIONS

The Essence of Great Jazz

Jazz, at its best, is a situation in which participants willingly support each other, working together as one, each musician bringing:

• virtuosity• optimism• mutual respect• good will• the desire to make it feel

good.Monty

Alexander

What’s the Connection?

The most common form of jazz in human

experience is

conversation

Therefore …

You are all

jazz

musicians!

What if …

… you paid as much attention to the sound

and impact of your conversations as jazz musicians pay to the sound and impact of their instruments?

The Likely Results

What qualities of great teamwork do you see in the performance of the jazz group?

Frequently Noted Qualities

SMARTer Conversations

Soulful - being encouraging with yourself

Mindful being

engaging with others

Astute - being

wise and decisive

Responsible being supportive and accountable

Trusting – being meticulous about results

Soulful Conversations

Attitudes

Self–valuing, self-awareness, and

self-development

Behaviours

Self-care, self-discipline, and

self-appreciation

Consequences

Greater self-confidence

Improved personal growth in capabilities and maturity

More positive influence and impact

Being encouraging with yourself

Mindful Conversations

Attitudes

Curiosity, respect, and humility

Behaviours

Converse, listen, and appreciate

Consequences

Sustained credibility with colleagues

Increased willingness to support in adpative and innovative ways

More clearly aligned and productive collaboration

Being engagingwith others

Astute Conversations

AttitudesOpen, collegial, and analytical

BehavioursDiscover, diagnose, and decide

ConsequencesGreater capacity to make crucial decisionsBroader and deeper ownership of

strategies chosenBetter alignment of all the organizations assets to achieve its purpose

Being wiseand decisive

Responsible Conversations

AttitudesSupportive, passionate, and forgiving

BehavioursConnect, encourage, and serve

ConsequencesFaster achievement of desired resultsGreater attraction and retention of

the most talented contributorsBetter reputation within the larger

organization

Being supportiveand accountable

Trusting Conversations

Attitudes

Courage, optimism, and confidence

Behaviours

Assess, Inform, and Coach

Consequences

More deeply satisfying collaboration

More powerful benefits for larger organization

Greater contribution to the well-being of the larger community

Being meticulousabout results

Conversation as Music

More than words, conversation is

music: Its harmony, rhythm, and flow

transcend communication, flexing mind and

heart, tuning us forcompanionship.

Catherine Blyth

Jazz in the Workplace

“[Jazz] is an endless road of discovery leading to more maturity and acceptance of personal responsibility, a greater respect for cultures around the world, an invigorating playfulness, an excitement about change, and an appetite for the unpredictable.”

Wynton Marsalis

Voice, Vibe & Value

Your voicegenerates a vibe

that creates value.Use it

SMARTly.

Support for SMARTer Teamwork

There are lots more ideas and resources at

www.jazzthink.com