If I close my eyes, I can instantly be taken back to any given night to the house I was raised in and the sounds that filled the air. At the core of my family’s persona you could find music… And there was never a moment when music couldn’t be heard.

I’m sure the influence came from my mother who as a teenager had her own radio show and self-produced and published her own album in the 60’s. However, it wasn’t just the music it was the sounds that would fill the air when a kitchen full of family would burst into perfect harmonies and the room would be filled with energy.

The emotional hook wasn’t what they were singing, but it was in the sound. Yes, the sound of an alto, a soprano, a tenor and sometimes a baritone. It was magic that you can’t really explain, you had to experience it.

The harmonies were the chemistry that held the words together.

Chemistry First

Our recent history is littered with bands and musical performers who created great music, but due to lack of chemistry canceled tours and went silent for years. As fans, we only cared about the music, but a band without the right chemistry will only last for so long.

When assembling a team, we usually look for the same things everyone looks for; We comb over resumes, we sit through interviews, we seek out references and in some cases even turn to personality indexes to gleam any useful information. However, while those things can get a person in the door, the real question is, “can we work together?” Are you a good fit for our team. Beyond what you do, I want to know if you join our team would you add another layer of harmony or would you be that one person that consistently sings off key?

Skills can be taught and learned, chemistry is something you either have or don’t have.

Is the Process All Wrong?

I wonder sometimes if the process is all wrong. We bring people into conference rooms, we ask them random questions hoping to get a nugget of information that gives us insight into who they are, but we never really get to know the individual.

They usually put up a good fight, dressed in clothes that aren’t required for the position with hopes to impress you and sell themselves all at the same time.

What would happen if all interviews took place at social gatherings after hours with the entire team. It’s purpose wouldn’t be to impress or sell, but talk and see if there are any harmonies that just naturally begin to take place. If there’s chemistry, the conversation becomes more formal. If not, our teams had a great night of fun and team bonding…This couldn’t be bad could it? I mean teams that really have figured it out work well together both on and off the clock.

Putting the Right Team Together

Great teams are not just about talent. If that’s the case, then every pro sports team that bought the best players available would be world champions every year. However, it’s usually the team that no one thought they could who figured out a way to develop great team chemistry and sprinkle in talent and hard work. It’s usually this type of team that steals the center stage and creates memories that money couldn’t buy.

What are you looking for as you assemble your team?

Do you know the pieces that are missing? Can you identify what layer of harmony needs to be added?

Can you risk adding an addition to your team that consistently is going to sing out of tune?

Success isn’t achieved alone. It takes a lot of individuals working for the same cause with hopes to make something better. Your success will determined not how great the idea is, but how tight your team sang in harmony.

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image courtesy of Brandon Giesbrecht