DRUMMING TO BUILD COMMUNICATION AND SUPPORT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Using drum circles as a team building activity as we love to highlight is a unique and engaging approach to improving team cohesion, flattening the hierarchy and engaging all staff on all levels. Not only does it create a fun, informal environment, but it also encourages active listening, synchronisation and collective problem solving skills that directly translate into better collaboration between teams.

We want to take a look at the specific benefits to communication between your staff and how drumming in circle can help leaders communicate better and build stronger bonds with their teams, and foster leadership skill development in staff moving up through the ranks.

How Drum Circles Can Improve Inter team Communication & Leadership

As a manager, one of your toughest challenges is ensuring smooth communication between teams. Whether it’s coordinating between marketing and sales, or ensuring that your project management team is aligned with product development; communication silos and misunderstandings are all too common. In today’s fast paced work environment, effective inter team collaboration is key to driving success, but it’s not always easy to achieve.

While traditional strategies like meetings, emails, and status updates can help, they don’t always address the deeper issue of building trust and fostering a shared sense of purpose. So, what if there was an unconventional yet highly effective way to break down communication barriers, improve collaboration, and enhance leadership skills—all while having fun?

Enter the drum circle and Drumming Team building!!

The Power of Rhythm: Why Drum Circles Work

Drum circles may seem like a novelty, but they are actually powerful tools for improving communication and teamwork. In a drum circle, participants come together to create rhythm through group drumming, using our facilitators to learn to work together . This encourages a unique form of communication that’s rooted in listening, timing and synchronisation.

When teams drum together, they learn how to listen to each other, adjust their rhythms and respond in real time—skills that are directly applicable to inter team communication. The non verbal nature of drumming fosters a shared experience where everyone is contributing to a common goal. This sense of unity and collaboration mirrors the ideal state of cross-functional teams: everyone working together toward a shared vision, communicating effectively, and responding dynamically to the needs of the group.

So How Do Drum Circles Enhance Leadership and Collaboration?

Drumming in circle is more than just a fun activity—It's more natural way to develop key leadership and collaboration skills. Here’s how:

• Building Trust: In a drum circle, everyone’s contribution matters, no matter how big or small. This builds trust, as team members learn to rely on one another to maintain the rhythm and flow. In a corporate setting, trust is the foundation for open communication between teams, especially when there are competing priorities.

• Breaking Down Hierarchies: One of the most valuable aspects of a drum circle is that it flattens hierarchies. There’s no "leader" in the traditional sense; instead, everyone contributes equally to the collective sound. This mirrors a collaborative work environment where leadership is about empowerment rather than control—something that’s essential for effective inter-team communication.

• Encouraging Active Listening: To keep in sync with the group, everyone must listen carefully to each other’s rhythms. In business, active listening is just as critical. When teams truly listen to each other—whether it’s a developer understanding a designer’s vision or a product manager aligning with customer insights—communication improves dramatically.

• Promoting Flexibility and Adaptability: Drum circles teach participants to be flexible and adapt to changes in rhythm or direction. In the workplace, teams often need to pivot quickly in response to new challenges. A drum circle cultivates this adaptability in a low-stakes, fun environment.

All of this sounding like a HR directors dream??? IT IS

The benefits of drumming for team building, not only work top down. More junior staff learning how to steer teams and build their own workplace confidence can be supported by this collaborative environment.

Building Confidence in Aspiring Leaders.

Drum circles are also a fantastic way to help aspiring leaders build confidence in a low pressure, supportive environment. Leadership isn’t just about giving directions—it’s about stepping up, making decisions, and inspiring others to follow your lead. In a drum circle, participants often take turns leading sections of the rhythm, giving them a chance to assert themselves, experiment with leadership and receive immediate, positive feedback from the group. For aspiring leaders, this experience can be a powerful confidence booster. The act of leading a drum circle is non verbal, which removes the fear of saying the "wrong thing" or making a mistake in front of others.

Instead, it’s all about leading through action and energy. This builds a sense of self assurance that can directly translate into more effective leadership back in the workplace, whether it’s stepping up in a meeting, facilitating cross-team collaboration, or driving new initiatives forward.

Creating a Harmonious Workplace

Drumming may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of corporate development, but it can be an incredibly effective tool for enhancing inter team communication, fostering leadership and improving collaboration. By introducing this unique activity into your team building practices, you can create a more harmonious, communicative and collaborative workplace—where every voice is heard, and every team is working in sync toward shared goals.

So, why not give it a try? The rhythm of your team might just be the key to unlocking greater success.