The Diversity of Harmony
“You don't get harmony when everybody sings the same note.” | Doug Floyd
This thought has been wrecking my brain for the last week. I absolutely love music. As I think back to some of my favorite groups and songs, they all seem to involve the ability to make incredible harmonies. Groups like The Gaither Vocal Band, Pentatonix, Dailey and Vincent, Little Big Town, Home Free and others have been groups that I’ve loved listening to that have made a living on sweet harmony.
The reason this quote keeps pinging my brain is that I don’t believe we think about harmony the way it’s meant to be when it comes to culture and teamwork. Most of the time, we view harmony as: everyone gets along, no conflict, and we’re probably all holding hands singing “Kumbaya”.
I believe what makes harmony so powerful in music is also what can lead to the type of dynamic culture and team experience that we all want at work too. Let me show you a few ways how a new understanding of harmony can lead to a healthier, more productive experience at Simmons.
What is Harmony?
I sing with a group of guys in a gospel/bluegrass group called, The Butler Creek Boys (check us out on the Facebook). These guys are some of my best friends and we’re having a blast. We started out farming cattle together and we found out a few years ago that we all love music. I grew up with music as a staple in my life with my family’s show in Branson. I have always loved gospel quartet music and just about anything with a good four-part harmony.
The interesting thing about singing in a quartet is that each of the guys are singing completely different notes, and in a bluegrass group, also playing different instruments at the same time. You have the lead singer who is responsible for singing the melody and keeping the tempo. Above him is the high tenor part (that’s my part, or as our bass singer likes to remind the audience during our concerts, “singing the lady’s part,” haha! So true.). You also have baritone which sings just above or below the melody, and finally the bass, who carries the low end and is much less interesting than the tenor. :) All four sing a unique part that, when done right, creates some amazing music.
Our bass singer, Dillon and I give each other a hard time, but there is a genuine mutual respect at the end of the day because neither of us can do what the other does. If I, as a high tenor, tried to sing bass, I guarantee you it would not be pleasant to the ears. Same result if he tried to sing high tenor with his naturally deep bass voice. What’s fascinating is when we each fill our part with the gift we’ve been given, we can create some incredible music.
Listen to how diversity (all are singing a different note) can lead to harmony. And chills up your body!
The amazing thing about music is that when those different parts, who are singing four completely different notes, are in sync with the tone and tempo of the lead - they become one. They are in harmony.
We often think in business or on teams that if everyone would just think and act the same, things would go much better. That’s actually not the case. You have people on your team that think differently from you, they sing a different part than you do. Your ability to make some incredible things happen together is right at your fingertips.
What is shared is a common purpose and vision for our desired future. What is unique are the roles, talents, and personalities that we each bring that help us get there.
Romans 12:16-18 (NLT)
“Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”
Think about the people that you work with on a daily basis, both on your own team and within the One Simmons team. We have incredible diversity of leaders and of team members. Each of you bring something unique to our team and to our culture. I want to challenge you to appreciate your contribution and the unique gifts and talents of this Team we have at Simmons as we are driving towards a vision of building a sustainable, growing company for generations to come.
Unity in Conflict
In a quartet, if we started singing different parts while singing different words, or in different keys, it would certainly be conflict that leads to dissonance and, well, not too pleasant to have to listen to! Conflict within teams can be the same. When we have conflict without alignment on vision and goals, it can create a mess where no one wins and creativity/curiousity is zapped. When we have clarity, we are striving to win together, suddenly conflict actually breeds unity.
Healthy conflict is only possible with a high level of trust. Try getting out on a stage in front of people without trusting that the others in the group are confident in what we are about to sing and what key we are in…yikes! Same goes with teamwork.
Build trust first by being trustworthy.
As conflict arises, often due to lack of clarity, lean into it. Act with integrity while being curious. Say it in the room and stop having the “after-meeting meeting” or text others in the room without actually stepping up and dealing with the real issue. Until we have higher trust and healthier conflict, we will not experience all that we can become as a culture and as a company. It starts with you and with me.
If you are in a leadership role, you set the tone and the tempo. Step boldly, courageously into that role and let’s live in harmony in the most powerful sense of the word. You need to be driving clarity on these key areas for your team and business partners. For the rest of us, we need to seek clarity from those in leadership in these three areas:
What are we doing? (Vision)
Why are we doing it? (Purpose)
What do I need to be focused on/what is my role? (Goals)
I want to challenge you to think about harmony in a different way. Appreciate the different roles, personalities, and talents of each other and let’s seek unity as we drive towards the same vision.
Whatever you want to be true about our culture - do more of that! We are writing a great story at Simmons and I am thrilled that you are part of this chapter!