A Google search of the term “songs about teamwork” yields some familiar and time-honored anthems. “We are the Champions” and “We Will Rock You” by Queen top the list. When I remember hearing these songs at a high school soccer game or track meet, I feel that sense of being alive, that energetic crackle that helps us all perform well under pressure.
So I’ve been wondering. How can we harness the energy of the anthemic, motivational song and apply that energy to encourage teamwork on the job?
Most of the songs I found in search referenced the idea of winning or persevering in the face of challenges, but did not overtly fit the bill as songs for team building. It occurred to me that perhaps motivational team songs are less about the literal, nitty-gritty aspects of collaboration and more about a mutual experience of inspiration and motivation.
Finding a song, or a group of songs, to fuel team spirit can help you approach a new challenge and increase engagement. Every group can benefit from a designated pump-up team anthem to get the motivational juices flowing.
How Could a Motivational Anthem Help My Team?
If you’ve never incorporated music into your culture before, you might be unsure of how a team anthem could work. Let’s review some current science around the benefits of music to help you see the importance of song.
There is a large body of research detailing the benefits of music in easing stress, boosting productivity, and helping the nervous system recover from the effects of burnout. Additionally, behavioral research suggests that pairing auditory cues with certain behaviors can create a positive association between the cue and the behavior. In this case, that positive association could be between a song and feelings of motivation or belonging.
Here are some of what science has to say about the benefits of finding some theme songs for your group:
- Motivation: Various studies have shown that listening to music positively affects the brain. This increases a neurotransmitter associated with reward and motivation, dopamine.
- Brain Function: Interacting with music, whether as a listener or performer, has been shown to increase neurogenesis (the regeneration and repair of nerve cells).
- Mental Health: Studies have shown that music has a special power to soothe the Amygdala (the head honcho of the stress response system), calming the fight-or-flight response. This can result in lower levels of stress chemicals such as cortisol.
- Productivity: A study by sports psychologists showed that music enhances performance in two distinct ways: delaying the fatigue response and increasing work capacity.
- Behavioral Patterning: Research shows that in the brain, what fires together wires together. If your group gets pumped up when you play a team song, over time, the brain will associate the song with positive feelings. The sound of the anthemic song could cue the brain to drop into “teamwork mode”!
Creating the Best Team Building Soundtrack
If the idea of boosting motivation, supporting wellness, and increasing camaraderie seems like a great idea for you and your team, then coming up with the best team building soundtrack can really help.
Whether you are planning a meeting or just want to change the vibe in the office, the perfect background music can set the tone and energize participants.
Let’s talk about some ways to harness the power of music to benefit your team:
1. Match the Mood
When selecting background music for corporate events or team activities, you have to match the music to the desired outcome.
- For Energy: If you want to get people moving and foster a sense of fun, try upbeat pop or Latin rhythms like salsa.
- For Brainstorming: If you are doing creative, collaborative work, look for uplifting ambient music or instrumental movie scores to inspire focus.
2. Get Everyone’s Input
You most likely have different age groups, musical tastes, and backgrounds represented within your team. A great DIY activity is to ask your team members to share their favorite song and talk a little bit about it. This gives you new insights into your colleagues. You can compile these favorites to create a diverse and inclusive playlist that truly represents your group.
3. Volume Control is Key
Nothing kills a networking event faster than too-loud music. Keep the volume low enough so that people can still hear each other talking comfortably. Background music should complement the activity, not overpower it.
4. Make The Songs Part Of Your Routine
Play your team songs at the beginning of important meetings or at the end of the day. Be intentional about when and where you play the songs to create positive experiences with your playlist.
Getting Creative With Team Songs
With a mix of songs people relate to, your team will build camaraderie over time. You’ll create shared memories, just like you have with favorite songs in your personal life.
And… if you want to take the power of song a step further, you might consider giving your team the opportunity to write their own anthem.
Imagine if you weren’t just belting out “We Are The Champions”, but instead you were singing original lyrics reflecting pride in what your group does. Through facilitated songwriting, you can create your own work songs that communicate your company’s narrative and draw everyone into your organization’s story.
The music team building programs at our company, Kidbilly Music, bring together elements of collaboration, creativity, and songwriting to allow your group to write their very own anthem in a high-energy, interactive session. You’ll create powerful takeaways as you write your own team chart toppers.
Music Your Way into Success
Songs for team building can help bring people together in a way that’s backed by science, with a wide variety of evidence-based research. The anthem embodies the resilient, powerful spirit of striving for something more. Everyone on your team deserves to feel that optimism.
If you are ready to move beyond just listening to music and want to start creating it, contact us today to learn how we can help you weave great team building activities using music into your organization.