Over the weekend I saw a fantastic dance performance which was a collaboration between the Columbus Jazz Orchestra and Ballet Met.
The ballet danced to the live jazz music. The choreography and execution were amazing. The way the two groups moved in unison was exemplary. It reminded me of how a well-orchestrated team conducts itself.
Three ingredients went into this partnership that we can apply to our teams.
- Preparation Both the musicians and dancers had practiced and were well rehearsed. They put the time in to create a flawless performance. While we often have to improvise, there is no substitution for preparation. It leads to consistency and excellence.
- Alignment The dancers were aligned in their moves. They were also in sync with the musicians. A coordinated effort created flow and harmony.
- Collaboration The entire program was a large collaboration. Musicians collaborated with each other to play different song segments. Dancers collaborated to lift each other up in the air and move in step with one another. Both the musicians and dancers worked together to ensure they were coordinated. Similarly, teams need to be able to work both on intradepartmental and interdepartmental basis.
Preparation leads to alignment. When combined with collaboration, amazing movement and performance can result.