I’m lucky this week to attend two exciting live events. The first, a gig of one of my favourite recording artists. The second, watching the football team I’ve supported all my life at our home stadium.
Nowadays you can stream any music you fancy in seconds and watch most football matches in the warmth and comfort of your own home.
Yet, neither of these fills you with the same energy or makes you feel as invested in what is going on as actually being there and being part of the action.
Live events like concerts – particularly at small intimate venues where you can interact with the musicians on stage – and football matches where the crowd can become the classic “twelfth man” are fully immersive experiences.
This despite the fact that you may actually have less information about what is going on than someone watching the game or concert on the TV at home.
For example, how you react to a particular song or a fantastic bit of play on the pitch matters.
It can help influence what will happen. A musician might change what they play next. A footballer might be inspired to lift their performance levels.
And at the same time, you feel part of it alongside those around you.
How can you try and learn from this to improve your team and broader workplace culture?
Find as many ways as possible to make everyone feel a part of what is going on.
Build a culture so that all your team feel they are part of the action - and can influence that action - instead of merely being observers.
Here are 7 ideas for how you could do this:
Stop all ‘update’ meetings and replace them with action meetings (answer the question “what are we going to do today, this week, this month…”)
Make asking for help from colleagues a sign of strength not of weakness
Embed saying ‘thank you’ to your teammates in public as a habit for all – no matter your seniority
Find as many different ways to communicate what is going on (meetings, newsletters, e-mails, messaging apps, noticeboards…) and do it constantly
Aim for 100 per cent transparency. If the team or company is working towards a goal or target does everyone know what is this and how you are progressing towards that goal?
Include everyone in decision making. Transparency about why decisions are made is great but what about asking for people’s opinions before a decision is made?
Celebrate success and share failures. Do this openly as a group together so that everyone feels invested in what is happening.
If you are a leader then think what else can you do to make your workplace culture a truly immersive experience.