The client was a global pharmaceutical organisation launching a growth strategy. Senior managers had been brought together in a first global leadership event- driven by restructuring across geographies and business units.

In a content heavy agenda, the challenge was to create opportunities for genuine collaboration and shared experiences which would model ways of working, support creation of connectivity and reinforce business culture.

There was additional complexity in the cultural and functional diversity the group represented- as well as the scale, with 250 colleagues participating in a 2-hour live workshop.

Music provides a universal experience which participants can experience and participate in at multiple levels. It represents a universal language and equality of experience regardless of cultural, gender or age. It offers methodology that reaches large numbers of participants simultaneously and creates an opportunity for a shared, immersive experience that goes beyond the presentational format prevalent in corporate offsites.

In bringing this group together, we provided a vocal workshop working across multiple teams in tandem. Creating psychological safety through both set up and facilitation format, the design entailed engaging exercises and rhythm-oriented games. A motivational pop song was then taught in 3-part harmony using call and response methods building to an informal group performance at the end.

This involved setting up a learning loop and peer support in encouraging and facilitating each other. Performing together creates bonds and the fun element becomes a shared experience that helps break down barriers and establish positive working relationships.

Finally, follow on sessions led by the off-site faculty were aligned and designed to draw on the experience in reinforcing the importance of collaboration, open mindsets and measured risk taking in a learning organisation.

Arriving in the room as a group of individuals, there was a need to establish familiarity and trust with each other in order to start to operate as a collective. Through the initial call and response exercises, participants began to communicate directly with each other and worked together in building to the group performance. There were obvious signs of enjoyment and a collective build in confidence- with colleagues who had not known each other before arriving at the off site, supporting and encouraging each other. It was a high energy- high participation session which became the focal point of the offsite.

Our client reported an acceleration in the group forming relationships and the shared experience became a benchmark and reference point for who we are and how we work together .

“I walked into the session and really thought, what was I doing here, singing? We started playing a game that totally made me forget about being self conscious and I unwittingly began to join in. By the end, I felt I more at home with my new colleagues - plus, we sounded absolutely amazing as a group, I couldn’t believe it!”