By Dr Stuart Webb, Podcaster & Organizer of The Sustainability World Cup
I am a proud member of the Grand Central Chorus, a barbershop chorus of around 50 men based in the East Midlands. I’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible power of collaborative singing. Beyond the joy of creating resonant harmonies, the discipline and teamwork inherent in barbershop offer a surprising and surprisingly effective blueprint for mitigating various company risks.
At first glance, the connection between a barbershop quartet and a boardroom might seem tenuous but bear with me. If you delve deeper, you’ll discover many transferable skills that can significantly enhance a company’s resilience and overall success.
Singing offers profound insights into crisis management. If you have read any of Chris Washburne’s work, you will know music can provide valuable lessons in improvisation and adaptability. In a business context, these aren’t just desirable traits essential for navigating the unexpected.
Consider the legendary jazz musicians Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. Their live performances were often a masterclass in turning potential missteps into moments of creative brilliance. A true jazz leader like Davis didn’t halt the performance if a note was missed or a chord played incorrectly. Instead, they would adapt instantly, often signalling to the rest of the band to improvise around the “mistake,” transforming it into a new, unplanned opportunity for creativity and collaboration. This ability to pivot, to recover and innovate in real-time, is a powerful lesson for any leader facing a company crisis.
Another striking example of real-time crisis management comes from the incomparable Ella Fitzgerald. There is a famous recording where the “First Lady of Song” famously forgot the lyrics to a song mid-performance. Rather than faltering, Fitzgerald, with her immense talent and experience, began to improvise. She scatted, weaving new melodies and rhythms on the spot, turning a potential disaster into a triumphant display of spontaneity within a structured framework.
This incident illustrates how preparation and practice – the countless hours Ella spent honing her vocal skills and understanding musical structures – can empower individuals to respond effectively to unforeseen circumstances. It’s not about memorising every possible scenario, but about building a deep foundation of skills and understanding that allows for agile, creative responses when the unexpected inevitably happens.
This article was first conceived due to my experience of something similar. At the beginning of each song, the only reference point that we have in any barbershop chorus to start singing is a single note from which we work out the starting note for each part. In a recent competition, our person responsible for producing the start note, blew the wrong note from the ‘pitch pipe’, a device we use to provide a single note for us all. This is easy to do as the holes are small and it’s easy to slip into the wrong area of the pipe. This was done in front of several thousand people in the audience and a panel of twelve judges.
We could have stopped and restarted. Some might argue that this would have been a more appropriate way to deal with what was a mistake. Indeed, sometimes it is, but the mistake was not ‘obvious’ to those on the stage. Although we knew something was off, the whole chorus started the song we were to sing. We adjusted and sang (albeit with a bit of initial difficulty). It’s only because we knew our own part well that we could do this, and we had practised listening to each other, learning how to become more adaptable within the limits of our skill.
The result? We scored at about the same level as the we did for the other pieces we performed without that mistake, indicating that we adjusted and maintained our standard, despite the initial setback.
As the story above illustrates, in barbershop and other musical ventures, listening is paramount. Each singer must be acutely aware of their part and intensely listen to the other three voices to ensure perfect “lock-and-ring” (a Barbershop term that when voices align perfectly, overtones are produced). This isn’t passive hearing; it’s active, empathetic listening, constantly adjusting and blending. The story I told above is an excellent example of the ability of a good singer to adjust by listening to those around them.
Company Application: Poor communication is a leading cause of errors, project delays, and strained internal relationships. Companies that foster a culture of active listening among employees — from frontline staff to senior management — can significantly reduce misinterpretations, ensure a clear understanding of objectives, and identify potential issues before they escalate. Think of it as ensuring everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet.
A great barbershop chord isn’t about one voice dominating; each voice contributes equally, blending seamlessly to create a richer, fuller sound. The chord suffers if one voice is too loud or out of tune.
Company Application: As individual voices blend, different departments or teams within a company must work harmoniously. Siloed operations, internal competition, and a lack of inter-departmental understanding can cripple efficiency and innovation. By promoting cross-functional collaboration and valuing diverse perspectives (different “voices”), companies can achieve a more balanced and effective operational “sound.”
We don’t just show up on performance night and expect magic. Our harmonies are honed through consistent weekly rehearsals, critical self-assessments and constructive feedback from our musical director and peers. Every time we learn a new song, before we are allowed to sing with the rest of the Chorus. we need to submit a recording of our own version of the song and we must hit every note with our breath in the right place (necessary so the entire Chorus remains synchronised). Only after we pass that assessment do we move on. We identify weaknesses, practice challenging sections and continuously strive for improvement.
Company Application: In a rapidly evolving business landscape, stagnation is a significant risk. Companies that don’t regularly review their processes, seek feedback, and invest in continuous employee learning and development risk falling behind. Regular “rehearsals” in training, performance reviews, and strategic planning sessions are crucial for identifying and addressing performance gaps and ensuring the company remains agile and competitive.
Barbershop arrangements are meticulously crafted, with each note and rhythm serving a purpose. Our Musical Director often reminds us that the reason we need to hit notes accurately is that the “arranger had a purpose for that note, let’s not disappoint them”. Deviation from this structure leads to dissonance. The underlying framework provides essential guidance while there’s room for artistic interpretation.
Company Application: Clear processes, well-defined roles and robust organisational structures are the backbone of any successful company. Without them, chaos and inefficiency can quickly take hold. By establishing clear guidelines and frameworks, companies can mitigate the risks associated with disorganisation, ensure smooth operations, and maintain a consistent output quality.
In our chorus, we’re more than just singers; we’re a brotherhood. We support each other, celebrate successes, and help each other through challenges. This strong sense of community fosters morale and resilience.
Company Application: Employee morale and well-being are critical to a company’s long-term health. High stress, burnout, and a lack of support can lead to decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, and high staff turnover – all significant risks. Companies that cultivate a supportive, team-oriented culture, where employees feel valued and connected, will find their workforce more engaged, resilient, and better equipped to navigate challenges.
I was not expecting to learn so much about business resilience and adaptability through my singing hobby. I have learned to perfect hitting the right note, breathing in the right place and ensuring the audience understands the words I am singing. But there are other skills I have learned: active listening, committing to continuous improvement, and developing the capacity for improvisation and adaptability in the face of the unexpected. I did not expect such lessons to be appropriate for business.
An unforeseen event in a competition taught me how vital improvisation and adaptability skills were and how much they had been developed by consistent practice. I have recognised that there are parallels with the business world. Businesses that want to become experts in resilience and adaptability need to practice the same skills which I have learned singing barbershop: preparation and practice, listening to each other, consistent practice and clarity of role within the organisation. It may be time for more boardrooms to take a leaf from the barbershop songbook. Join us at www.grandcentralchorus.com to learn more!