16 Nov The Party Wouldn’t Be the Same Without You
Nine people showed up for the free ukulele class. There were four kids and five adults – zero who knew the first thing about a ukulele. The instructor gave us each a ukulele appropriate for our size, showed us how to position the instrument in our arms and where to place our hands, then taught us four simple chords. From that knowledge, he called out the chords and we played The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” and Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds.”
It had only been 15 minutes since the nine of us picked up our ukuleles for the first time, but the collective sound of our instruments really did sound like music. Each ukulele had a slightly different sound, and even if we stumbled over some chords, we didn’t all mess up on the same one. A few people walking by even clapped. One man stopped to sing a few lines of “Here Comes the Sun” as we played.
I saw the girls smile as they realized their ukuleles were contributing to the collective and recognizable tunes.
The instructor explained that the same songs could be played in much more complex ways, but that it’s more fun when everyone gets to participate. “Music is a way to bring people together,” he said. “If you’re lucky enough to be invited to a backyard party, you get together and play a song in a way that allows everyone to join in and play. Not in a way that makes some people have to put down their instruments and feel left out.”
I couldn’t help but think he was talking about more than backyard parties. We thrive in collaborative teams, where we are able to make a unique contribution to a common mission. It’s a choice and act of leadership, a way to be intentional about attracting and supporting participation so everyone feels valued and has a voice.
Like the invitation to the backyard party, it sends the welcoming and inclusive message that your contribution makes a difference. That the party wouldn’t be the same without you.