Benefits of a harmonious team

Harmony feels like a soft option. Yet, only the most talented leaders can maximise the effectiveness of a team with harmony.

Harmony is used in music to ensure the single voices of each singer merge to be a single instrument of a choir. Each person singing is beautiful, yet together something more powerful is created. There is greater depth and texture, and the emotional resonance is much more evocative.

The benefits of harmony are felt beyond a song being sung, and a choir is a perfect metaphor to represent what harmony means to a team.

Every individual in your team is a star. They shine individually with talents that surprise and delight you. You know that your team can only function with their contribution.

Yet, when you bring your team together, there is a synchronicity in how they work: the whole team is greater than the sum of its parts. The contribution of one is supported and enhanced by engagement with another, and the interlocking pieces make the team stronger still. 

While moments of discord will happen, the team's strength is quickly finding the rhythm again and falling into harmony.

Harmony might fill your mind with images of butterflies and open meadows, the sun creating a glowing haze over the scene. Yet, harmonious is the Character Quality of the brave and the pioneering leader. It means bringing the tempestuous nature of your most talented team member and taming them just enough to work well with others. It is about nurturing that quiet voice that rarely gets heard, so it can find the confidence to speak above the noise of the crowd.

Choosing an action to bring a team together in harmony is a challenging and rewarding undertaking. There will be wrong turns, and you must reflect on why an intervention didn’t work. There will be moments to celebrate that can be repeated in the future. Ultimately, your reward for this endeavour is a group of people who work together and make everyone else better because of it.

How do you get started in your journey towards a harmonious team? Get to know the individual voices and what they contribute. Only when you understand what individuals bring can you hope to orchestrate a team that delivers more than the individuals.