The power of rhythm – especially in summer

This week, I watched an interview with Ash Soan, an amazing British drummer with an impressive CV (Adele, Robbie Williams, Rod Stewart, James Morrison, Dua Lipa, etc.). At one point in the interview, Ash plays a very slow, minimalistic rhythm. Just a few beats. Not spectacular at first listen. Until someone next to me asked, ‘Is that difficult or not?’

Good question. And not just for drummers.

Because it immediately gave me an insight into rhythm in organisations, especially now, during the holiday season. In many companies, staffing levels are lower during these weeks. Teams are incomplete, decision-makers are away, deadlines are being pushed back. And yet... does everything come to a standstill?

Not if there is rhythm.

A good rhythm in your organisation ensures that processes continue, even when people are temporarily absent. Rhythm creates stability. Everyone knows when we are discussing what, which decisions are being made at what time, and how the collaboration is going. The rhythm lives in the organisation itself. Not just in the diaries of a few people.

And that makes coming back after the holidays a lot easier. No start-up time, no chaos, no vague status updates. You just pick up where you left off. The rhythm is still carried by the team. And you are part of the groove again.

And then there is the question of whether such a slow rhythm is difficult. Many people think that fast, busy passages are the most difficult to play. But the opposite is often true. A slow rhythm with few beats requires control, focus and attention to detail. The silences between the notes are just as important as the notes themselves. Deviations are more noticeable. It demands more of your sense of timing and your coordination with others.

And that is precisely what makes rhythm such a powerful metaphor for teamwork.

You can experience this at a Business Beat percussion workshop for companies. How do you create rhythm in a team? What happens if one player drops out? Or if everyone comes back from holiday at the same time and “has to get used to it again”? In music, there is a simple answer to that: count down and go.