Integrated Not Isolated: How The Best “Bands” Sing…

This past week there was a great New York Times editorial piece by Higo Lindgren on the value of starting a band. While maybe it’s not a “musical” band, which the piece was focused on, but the value of banding together like minded people to break silos, share ideas and interact to stimulate creativity and curiosity and positive learning in a time of too much screen time is invaluable for people of all ages, not unlike what we love about teambuilding in sports.  

We have used the analogy before, and have written about how being a studio musician in life is such a treasured way to grow. It’s about the band and the contribution, not about the me as much. Credit shared is credit earned, even if the world looks elsewhere for praise.  

Studio musicians have played and helped create music with literally thousands of artists during their long careers as individuals, in a jam session here, providing a line for a song there, helping orchestrate the sound and the melody for the biggest stars for decades, all away from the main stage. And they did it with passion, perfection, and devotion.

I was reminded of that role this week when a colleague mentioned that the right approach to collective storytelling and building partnerships should be like a band…

Integrated, not isolated. Not worrying about holding the ideas close to the vest, but sharing them, and letting the karma of the world bring the credit back to the collective for work well  executed.

Having watched so many friends literally help pull off epic moments, provide inspiring words, solve problems, all from behind the scenes, being that “Studio musician” in sports, media and entertainment may not provide the ego boost of the bright lights, but it does become fulfilling in the crafting and execution of the big picture, whether you played one note or even helped the conductor find his/her/or their voice. It takes a village or an ensemble to do all those things right not matter what the business, and being part of that studio can out one on quite a ride, and a career, without ever having the Grammy all to oneself.

I have gotten to be part of quite a number of “bands” over the years, and each one brings a smile to ones face. Again it’s the people and the places not the things, and as we cross into the spring of 2026, its another good reminder of the sense of team, and getting stuff done, that makes things work.

Yet even in a complex team environment in pro sports, we hear about the divides between the business side and the “sports side.” Protecting turf, not communicating or listening vs being inclusive and integrated. Some say its because things move too fast, others say there is a difference in direction.

I say it’s not that hard to do when everyone is open and looking to collaborate, be it on the ice, the court, the pitch or the boardroom.

The failure to want to communicate, and the absence of being able to check and ego and learn from others just creates problems and wastes time, it doesn’t save it. And time is the most valuable asset we have.

Integrated, not isolated. The best bands have it, the audiences love it, and we should try and do it well. No one does it alone, no matter how high the talent level.