Improvisation and Your Design Sprint: 8 Lessons from a Jam Session

My business cards tells me that I’m a design thinker and channel manager, but my heart tells me I’m David Sanborn, Hank Crawford, Lou Donaldson, Kenny Garrett. Deep down I’m a musician… a performer… a saxophone player.

I’ve been playing since I was in middle school and have been lucky enough to participate in many jam sessions through the years. It's great fun to jump on stage with other musical souls and improvise your way through Herbie’s “Chameleon”, JB’s “I Feel Good” or basically any soul song from the 1960s. 

Some of the lessons I’ve learned at these jams have shaped my approach to leading design sprints. Maybe they can help you too:

1. Keep it simple, take it slow – Nothing is sadder than a bunch of guys who have never played together trying to bang out “Giant Steps” right out of the gate. Keeping it simple puts everyone in a position to win. Start with a little “Mustang Sally” or the ever-popular “Blues shuffle in G”. Ease into the more advanced stuff.
   
   A great design sprint gives everyone a chance to sound great.
   

2. Everyone gets a turn – There’s a pretty simple formula for jam bands. If you have guest musicians, give them all a solo. That’s just good manners. Sometimes, you’ll get ringers who knock their solo out of the park. Other times, someone who’s just learning will honk and squeal through theirs. That’s cool – it’s how people learn.
   
   Design sprints are best when every participant has a hand in shaping the output.
   

3. Respect different styles - In my list of musical inspirations, you'll notice a distinct lack of Kenny G. He just isn't my cup of tea. But the fact is that some people really dig Kenny G. Don't let personal biases prevent you from being inclusive to ideas from every person on your stage, even if they think quite differently from you. Including their perspectives will make your work even stronger.
   
   Just because someone isn’t Miles Davis, don’t shut them down. Make sure everyone has some space for their unique voice to be heard.
   

4. Offer encouragement – I was terrible the first time I played in front of people. I was so embarrassed! I would have probably never done it again, but the sax player with the band called me up after the set and told me “just keep trying man – don’t give up! I can tell you’ve got some chops.” I came back for the next 10 weeks in a row – just because that guy made it clear that I was welcomed.
   
   A kind word to an uncomfortable participant can make a world of difference.
   

5. Mess up BOLDLY! – That same sax player gave me another wonderful bit of advice: As you’re learning, you will make mistakes. Don’t let that make you tentative. When you’re playing scared, nothing sounds good. Play strongly! Confidently! Mistakes will happen, but don’t dwell on them. And remember: If you mess up once, it’s a mistake. But if you mess up twice the same way, it’s jazz. ;)
   
   Take chances! Be fearless! Don’t be afraid to wipe out sometimes.
   

6. Listen creatively – The key to being a good improviser is to listen to the other musicians. Take cues from them. Build on what they’re doing. Don’t step on them. There’s nothing more satisfying than finding that groove and falling in – riding the wave and pushing it forward simultaneously.
   
   Music is as much about the space between the notes as the notes themselves. Always have a thoughtful ear.
   

7. Be ready to pivot – You should always have a plan before you begin. But sometimes things change. Maybe the beat isn’t what you expected. Maybe the guitar player started it in a different key. Maybe the bass player wants to do an original you've never heard of. Don’t just hit the brakes! Let it flow. Say “yes…and”. Give the reigns a little slack. Sometimes the greatest ideas are found in the process of adapting
   
   Don’t be so rigid that you miss a great idea that wasn't on your agenda.
   

8. Be unique – When I started playing, I tried hard to imitate David Sanborn or Maceo Parker. Through the years, though, I found my voice. You may start by following a methodology to the letter of the law or picking fun activities out of this book or that. But as you continue leading sprints, experiment with different ways to work. Customize your approach. And when your time to solo comes, don’t just copy the one off the record.
   
   “It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” – Henry Melville

The next time you run a design sprint, keep these lessons in mind. Invite some cool cats to jam, lay down a solid beat and improvise away!