About this session
The Jazz Collaboration Lab: Lead, Follow & Leave Space is a 90-minute to half-day in-person team building workshop for teams who want to explore how they lead, follow and make room for each other. Professional jazz musicians guide the group, and no musical experience is needed.
Jazz works because players take turns to lead, support and stay quiet at the right moments. Playing together gives teams a shared, low-stakes way to see the same choices they make at work.
Participants leave with a clearer sense of how they contribute in a group and a few agreed habits for sharing airtime in meetings and projects.
What your people take away
- Play an accessible jazz exercise together
- Practice contributing, supporting and leading within a group
- Leave space so quieter ideas can come through
- Pass the lead clearly without stopping the work
- Reflect on the choices that changed the group
Shared with you
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- What each length covers, 90 minutes to half day
- Everything that’s covered, part by part
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What each length covers
90 minutes
Lead, follow and play togetherThe group learns a simple jazz structure and practices taking the lead and backing each other up. Participants leave having felt how small choices change what a team produces.
- Play an accessible jazz exercise together
- Practice contributing, supporting and leading
Covers 2 of 4 parts: Play an accessible jazz exercise together and Practice contributing, supporting and leading.
Half day
Leave space and bring it to workAdds listening, leaving space and recovering from surprises, followed by a facilitated reflection. Teams agree practical habits for leading, following and sharing airtime at work.
- Play an accessible jazz exercise together
- Practice contributing, supporting and leading
- Leave space so others can contribute
- Reflect on the choices that changed the group
Covers all 4 parts.
What’s covered
Play an accessible jazz exercise together
Every length- Start with a shared pulseA professional jazz musician leads a rhythm warm-up with hand percussion and voices, so everyone is playing within minutes.
- Learn a simple structureThe group learns a short, repeating pattern that gives everyone a safe place to return to.
- Play the first piece togetherThe ensemble plays the piece twice and notices how the sound changes the second time.
Practice contributing, supporting and leading
Every length- Step forward with a short soloEach person takes a brief turn in front, using a few notes or rhythms, while the group keeps the pattern going.
- Support someone else's ideaParticipants practice backing up a soloist, playing softer and simpler so the lead idea stays clear.
- Pass the lead with clear signalsGroups use eye contact and simple cues to hand over the lead without stopping the music.
Leave space so others can contribute
Half day only- Play less and listen moreThe group tries a round where each person rests more than they play, and hears what that opens up.
- Build on an unexpected ideaThe musician introduces surprises, and participants practice responding to them instead of carrying on as planned.
- Recover when something goes wrongGroups practice turning a missed beat into a new phrase, so a mistake becomes something the ensemble can use.
Reflect on the choices that changed the group
Half day only- Name the moments that made a differenceParticipants share specific choices, like a pause or a handover, that changed how the group sounded.
- Connect the music to everyday workTeams compare the exercise with meetings, projects and handoffs where leading, following or leaving space matters.
- Agree a few habits to tryThe team picks two or three practical habits, like leaving a pause after a question, to try at work.
Tools and materials
- Hand percussion and simple instruments, provided
- Song structure card
- Hand signal guide
- Reflection prompts
- Team habits sheet
Who it’s for
- Teams that want to share airtime more evenly
- New or changing teams agreeing how they work together
- Leaders who want to practice stepping back
- Groups of any musical background, including none
How booking works
- Book online. Create a free Workbliss profile, then pay with session credits, by card or by invoice.
- Pick a date. Choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or book now and set the date later.
- Choose your expert. Within 3 working days, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date.
- We deliver it. Your expert is briefed on your people and goals, then runs the session live online or at your site.
Questions about The Jazz Collaboration Lab: Lead, Follow & Leave Space
How long is The Jazz Collaboration Lab: Lead, Follow & Leave Space?
The Jazz Collaboration Lab: Lead, Follow & Leave Space runs as 90 minutes or half day. You choose the length when you book. A 90-minute session covers Play an accessible jazz exercise together and Practice contributing, supporting and leading. A half-day session adds Leave space so others can contribute and Reflect on the choices that changed the group.
Can The Jazz Collaboration Lab: Lead, Follow & Leave Space be delivered online or in person?
It is delivered in person, at your site, in any country.
How do we book The Jazz Collaboration Lab: Lead, Follow & Leave Space?
Create a free Workbliss profile with your work email, then open The Jazz Collaboration Lab: Lead, Follow & Leave Space to see the price for each length and book it. You can pay with session credits, by card or by invoice, and choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or set it later.
Who leads the session?
A vetted Workbliss expert, briefed on your people, culture and goals before the session. After you book, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date within 3 working days, so you can choose who leads it.
Can it be tailored to our company?
Yes. Every session is shaped around your goals, your people and the benefits you already offer, and delivered by experts in your people’s languages.