Benno van Aerssen and Daniel M. Ziegler have further developed Sounds Like Innovation from the Team In Takt method – here, using musical instruments, they work even more concretely on topics such as curiosity, courage, risk and fighting for ideas.
Sounds like Innovation works with two trainers and a group of eight to twelve participants. What makes this innovation coaching so special starts with the equipment. One of the two required trainers is a music lecturer and provides a large number of musical instruments: Electric piano, keyboards, electric guitars and bass with amplifiers, drum and percussion sets.
This trainer introduces participants to sound design using simple tools. Team members learn how to use various musical instruments and experience how improvising musicians communicate with each other – surprises and misunderstandings included.
Between the phases of musical interaction, the second trainer reflects with the participants on parallels between the elements experienced in improvised music and in companies.
With Sounds Like Innovation, a functioning culture of innovation can be launched and cultivated in a company. Sustainability is particularly taken into account when this innovation coaching is used as an accompanying coaching.
Tempo! Working with music immediately puts participants in a different mood. Thus, without wasting time, it is possible to work better with methods for idea generation. This includes a detailed elaboration of concepts of creative processes such as risk, curiosity, courage, feelings, inventing, transferring, simplifying and others. The team practices rituals of a culture of innovation in a very practical way.
Simple exercises with the musical instruments are immediately transferable to everyday business life. In this way, individual and team performance are promoted simultaneously within a culture of innovation. Individuals practice fighting for their ideas and can also better channel stage fright, for example.
Music can push curiosity – participants find new, goal-oriented problems more easily.
Through musical improvisation, participants also practice inspiring each other.
