A lesson from the jungle: rhythm and synchronisation make your team more effective

A recent study of the BaYaka, a hunter-gatherer tribe in Congo, shows how, while gathering food, they make music to strengthen cooperation. Not because it is ‘entertaining’, but because it works:

- a willingness to work together develops

- they become attuned to each other

- mutual trust grows

- better flow develops

The BaYaka's study* shows that music is not just a cultural expression. There is Coalition Signaling: an evolutionary mechanism that helps people work better together.

The lessons from the study are surprisingly applicable to modern organisations:

- Collaboration does not come naturally; it requires shared rhythms, common goals and alignment.

- Rhythm and synchronisation within teams increase productivity, motivation and trust.

- Social cues such as shared rituals or rhythmic team activities are crucial for effective team dynamics.

In short: rhythm, synchronisation and shared emotional experiences are the key to stronger, more effective teams.

Music and rhythm are not only a metaphor for collaboration... they are collaboration in action.

* "Music production and its role in coalition signaling during foraging contexts in a hunter-gatherer society" (Frontiers in Psychology, 2023)