One of our Directors volunteers to help with music at a local primary school by playing the piano. Along with a couple of others, they introduced recorder lessons, singing during assemblies and musical shows in the summer and at Christmas. That was seven years ago.

At first they worked mostly with the older children, then gradually involved the younger classes step-by-step. It wasn’t always easy to get time with the kids to practice and a lot were shy or embarrased to take part.

This week she noticed that when playing a song as everyone left assembly, one of the children started singing along and then the rest all joined in spontaneously.

It takes a long time to change the culture of a place but it can be done.

What behaviours would you like to change in your business or team? More knowledge sharing and less ‘silo working’? More innovation and less “that will never work here”? A better balance between work and the rest of life?

Whatever it is, you should start making the change now.  Getting them to sing takes time.

Tags: behaviour, culture, organisation