For years, we steered away from offering team building singing events. I suppose we saw them as a more difficult ‘mountain to climb’ with clients. Because almost every event we deliver has an instant effect and obvious positive reaction, getting participants over the years of embarrassment about the sound of their own voices once seemed too risky a corporate option.
It was actually our repeat clients asking for other musical ideas, together with the growing popularity of TV shows featuring singing, that eventually led us to introduce our One Voice as a regular team building event.
After delivering the first vocal team building activity over ten years ago, it suddenly struck us that the fear some participants initially feel is what makes the final outcome so rewarding and full of learning. By the time all the preparation work has been done for the final performance, there are always completely different expectations in the room.
It’s our core purpose to show participants what is achievable with just a little focus, effort and faith. There is little point, or team development, in playing safe all the time.
One Voice has secured its place among our most popular indoor team activities alongside drumming and Haka. While drumming is powerful and Haka is passionate, our team building singing activities deliver an unmatched sense of disbelief among participants about what can be achieved.
Last week, I witnessed the initial look of fear on the faces of 200 delegates as they were told that, in just one hour, they would be back in the room, being filmed singing in three-part harmony with a live band!
There were some very worried faces as participants departed to their breakout rooms to meet their vocal coaches and accompanist.
In keeping with our policy of only having the best facilitators for the job in hand, we had amassed an impressive group of professionals and studio musicians, including an award-winning TV composer, a West End singer, Jools Holland’s backing vocalist and Kylie Minogue’s keyboard player.
Our team slowly won the group’s trust and respect, starting the journey of getting participants to believe in themselves. Before they knew it, our once-suspicious delegates were singing at the top of their voices, standing on their chairs and itching to put their individual performances together with the other vocal breakout groups.
Back in the main plenary room, the band was all set up and in position, with tables cleared and video camera ready to roll. It was time to bring the three separate groups together for the first time!
A very different set of people walked in to the room to the one I saw leaving earlier. Participants were smiling, excited and eager to perform. The final performance began! The team sang wonderfully together, with beaming smiles, outstretched hands and swaying movements.
Once again, group singing proved to be a transformational team building experience.
I would like to say a huge thank you to our One Voice team and James Adkins – our in-house AV expert – for making it all happen on the night.
For more information about our singing activities, or our team events in general, please Contact Us now.
Pages you may find interesting:
Team Building Singing | List of Our Indoor Events | Blog Homepage | Indoor Team Building Activities