Both of my sons are in their high school’s marching band (no, the apples didn’t fall far from the tree), and we’re in the middle of their competition season. So I’ve been spending a fair amount of time lately watching them and some of the other top bands from around the Midwest put on some fantastic shows.
There’s no question in my mind: marching band is an ultimate team sport. Every single person matters. Great leaders are required, as well as great teachers/coaches, role players, support systems, etc. And on any given day, anyone can win; if you perform the best that day, you’ll be rewarded accordingly.
The more I reflect, the more similarities I see between what the kids are doing on the field and what we do every day in strategic communications and business. Here are some:
There’s no shortcut for doing the work. It’s one of my favorite sayings in life, and it definitely applies here. It’s not easy to get hundreds of kids/families on board with their band program for an entire season, but the more people buy in the better and easier everything else runs. And the bands that enjoy the most success are usually the ones that are the most committed and work the hardest (and have some fun too!)
When my kids complain that they didn’t place as high as they hoped, I ask them whether they and their bandmates have done everything they could to optimize their performances. Usually, if they’re being honest, there’s something they can identify that could be improved. And then it’s a simple choice – band together and do it, or accept the consequences.
If you set the bar higher, you can achieve more. One band that my kids compete against a lot performs far harder music than any other band. When you’re there watching 20+ bands for several hours, their 10-15 minutes of instrumental gymnastics stand out. And it’s not just the arrangements – it’s impressive how well they play too. Not coincidentally, they win – a lot.
Of course, it’s a risk to challenge yourself and do more difficult and complex things than your peers. If the execution isn’t there, it could go badly. But if you put in the work and prepare yourself well, the execution should follow – and the results will too. Just like the band that plays harder music, or like the Olympic gymnast that does a harder routine (Simone Biles!), we can accomplish more if we aim higher.
Everything is a learning opportunity. At most high school marching band competitions, you hear first and foremost from organizers about their guiding mission: to provide the kids with educational opportunities. If you look hard, you can see ethos this trickle down throughout all aspects of the event – even the judges will err on the side of helping kids fix a problem or navigate an issue if something happens during a performance, even if it means they don’t observe or evaluate as much. And if you look even harder, you can see just how much the kids can learn on and off the field from the entire experience.
Life and business are the same way. There’s always something to learn, if you’re open to it. Growth mindsets for the win!
My seven years of experience in high school and college marching bands were foundational in helping me grow into who I am, and I see the same thing happening in my kids. If your child is interested in music or performing, I heartily encourage you to help them get involved!
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