December 1, 2004
Gary Muszynski
One World Music
671 Fairview Street
Oakland, CA 94609
To whom it may concern:
I’m pleased to report on two experiences that demonstrate One
World Music’s ability to facilitate greater collaboration within
a small work team or throughout a large organization by linking musical
concepts with the principles of business.
I had the opportunity to work with OWM on two occasions in 2004. The
first was for the IT Global Shared Services team I lead, which consists
of 12 people. We brought OWM in to help initiate our work as a team;
to heighten awareness of our individual personalities, leadership styles,
skills, and talents; and to create a common focus, alignment, and momentum. Through
OWM’s Team Jazz program, in which we learned to play
as a musical ensemble, we explored four phases of team development that
corresponded with four different leadership styles.
Since this experience, we have developed into one of the most cohesive
and effective teams that I have had the pleasure to lead. The Team
Jazz session was instrumental in helping us set the right tone
for our work together and map out the territory ahead – the challenges
we might encounter as well as the leadership abilities we could all
bring into play to create the best overall effect. Linkages between
what we did musically and how we can best work together were made skillfully,
and have proven to be invaluable over the past nine months. As
the group’s leader, it was helpful for me to watch team dynamics
play out in a non-threatening, though challenging learning domain and
apply these insights into how to get the best work performance out of
our work ensemble.
I also had the opportunity to work with OWM on the Global IT leadership
conference, which brought together about 300 people from all over the
world. The program chosen was Synergy Through Samba — a
marvelous demonstration of what the larger organization could achieve
on a grand scale. The OWM experience resonated perfectly with
the conference’s theme of Destination Transformation. The
bright, ambitious IT leaders in attendance were surprised by how tight
an ensemble they could achieve given a common vision, clear leadership,
and effective coaching. The experience demonstrated that large-scale
change within systems is indeed possible — and that it requires
many of the skills needed to play music together well, foremost among
them being listening as well as a willingness to both solo when the
situation calls for it and support the organization’s larger strategy
the organization is pursuing.
I wholeheartedly recommend One World Music for any intervention where
reorganization is needed or on a team where there is some level of dysfunction
and it important to demonstrate more productive ways of listening and
communicating. They are very capable strategic partners in any change
initiative, large or small.
Rod Jackson
Vice President, IT Global Shared Services
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