Jazz can teach us a lot about communication and teamwork. McCoy Tyner, Grammy award winning jazz pianist, said in a recent interview that he attributed his success to the support of other musicians.
When asked, “How do you look at each other when you’re on stage? What are you saying and how do you play when you can’t speak?”
He replied, “We look at each other and communicate. You listen to what you’re playing. You must be keyed in to the person you’re playing with. You hope there is enough love and respect.”
We often hear that respect is a vital element for communicating effectively and for developing a strong team. How frequently do we think of love as a component? Can you imagine tuning in to team members with love?
You can see it in someone’s eyes, you can hear it in their tone of voice and feel it in the way in which you are heard. You can sense the energy. How else might you tune in to your colleagues?
Tyner often performs with band members with whom he has never played. By tuning in with respect and love, they are able to support each other, connect and create beautiful music.
This is a concept worth noting!