Make the Shift From Teamwork to Ensemble Flow
“A group of individuals dedicated to collaborative creation committed to working together consistently over years to develop a distinctive body of work and practices.” – Network of Ensemble Theaters
For the last few months, we’ve shared stories of teams who practice leading relationally, before positionally, and leaders who are first and foremost committed to the success and growth of every contributor. We are inspired to share stories of people -- like our client partners at Reconciliation Canada, The Masiello Group, & Provoc -- who understand that the higher calling of group work is to cultivate the ground of our relationships, connection, respect, and trust. They know that teams come together not only to produce something, or make customers happy -- or even to deliver on a particular mission-driven outcome. We also witness pop culture teams who seem to carry tangible magic, like the Chicago Bulls, the US Olympic Gymnast Team & musical icons like The Beatles and The Marley Brothers.
They know they’ve been given the opportunity to practice radical responsibility for themselves and the group. Traditionally, we might call this team development or great “teamwork.” However, here at Global Round Table Leadership, we describe this higher calling as the practice of becoming an “ensemble.”
What are the distinctions between a team and an ensemble?
Teams are often brought together to get things done - produce a project, a product, a deliverable; the focus is the outcome or the production. Of course, ensembles focus on results too. But the priority of an ensemble is the awareness of the group's health and needs. Individual contributors within an ensemble stay present with each other and actively encourage each other. They want to make one another look and feel their best.
So how does a group move from team to ensemble? First, it requires a commitment to care for colleagues, respect for the organization's health, and a shift in consciousness. What happens when an ensemble is in flow? Sharing leadership, power, responsibility, and meaning.
As Tristan Toleno, our CFO/COO describes the difference between teams and ensembles: “Ensembles intentionally create a space that enables everyone to shine.”
The Chicago Bulls became a great ensemble, for example, when Michael Jordan shifted his attention from being the only star on the team. Ensembles also invite learning and growth opportunities for each contributor and can serve as a place to practice sharing roles, leadership, and power.
This past June, in collaboration with the Vermont Jazz Center and a trio of seasoned jazz performers -- Eugene Uman, Malik McLaurine & Claire Arenius -- we experienced the power of an ensemble in total flow. For a full day, we gathered together to explore the synergies of a committed musical ensemble and The Shared Leadership Framework. We will be sharing more soon about our fantastic experience through the lens of jazz!
In the meantime, learn more about how Provoc, Reconciliation Canada, YES! & The Masiello Group are moving from teams to ensembles. Read about The Shared Leadership Framework™️. If your team is ready to become an ensemble, we’d love to support you with our group coaching and Shared Leadership Learning Journey. Get in contact about The Shared Leadership Journey and our leadership development work.