oleksiy kononov
5 rules of teamwork
by Cirque Du Soleil standards.
A night call woke me up a few months ago, my bosom friend Ania Solovyova
was calling: she asked me to share my teamwork experience of one of the best items
of the programme within outstanding Cirque Du Soleil. Notwithstanding it was rather
late, I took up the invitation eagerly and attended the meeting of the company leaders
Rabota.ua next morning.
It was unique for me, but I was ready for that challenge since I had already
compared sports with business. I consider sport to be the best proven over the years
system to achieve results. Business operates according to the same rules, except for
the fact that athletes have a score on the scoreboard, and an entrepreneur deals with
accountancy. Work at height enhances all sporting principles, makes a joint unit of a
team.
A few words about High-Bar – this is the cult air cirque act of Alegria show. A team of 10 artists performs incredible stunts at a 12-meter height. You can see here.
was calling: she asked me to share my teamwork experience of one of the best items
of the programme within outstanding Cirque Du Soleil. Notwithstanding it was rather
late, I took up the invitation eagerly and attended the meeting of the company leaders
Rabota.ua next morning.
It was unique for me, but I was ready for that challenge since I had already
compared sports with business. I consider sport to be the best proven over the years
system to achieve results. Business operates according to the same rules, except for
the fact that athletes have a score on the scoreboard, and an entrepreneur deals with
accountancy. Work at height enhances all sporting principles, makes a joint unit of a
team.
A few words about High-Bar – this is the cult air cirque act of Alegria show. A team of 10 artists performs incredible stunts at a 12-meter height. You can see here.
Working at High-Bar act has taught me a lot, but I decided to pick out 5 crucial points and share them with you:
Rule 1: Trust or Die
The programme item has 2 positions: a Catcher and a Flyer. The Cather fixes himself/herself on a movable swing, having focused eyes and prepared the body, catches the Flyer, who must fly at the right time to the right place after a series of dizzying elements.
To do the awesome trick, each of the partners must know for sure where his/her part of work begins and ends. The Flayer must clamp, trust and just give his/her hands after his/her entrance in free flight at the12-meter height.
It's amazing when two people try to catch each other, there is no progress. Your partner is flying down, and you are watching him off with hope for a safe landing into the net, you are annoyed and helpless.
There is a similar frequent situation in business. Tasks are not precisely shared, partners do not trust and begin to catch each other instead of concentrating on their area of responsibility. As a result, the deadlines are not met, work is done anyhow, there are a lot of stress and energy consumption. Finally, the same feelings of irritation and helplessness.
To prevent this from happening, assess each other's strengths and weaknesses, clearly divide the areas of responsibility, tasks, and business processes. Moreover, rely on each other, stretching out hands. It will take a training period (grinding), and everything will be as regular as the Swiss clockwork.
To do the awesome trick, each of the partners must know for sure where his/her part of work begins and ends. The Flayer must clamp, trust and just give his/her hands after his/her entrance in free flight at the12-meter height.
It's amazing when two people try to catch each other, there is no progress. Your partner is flying down, and you are watching him off with hope for a safe landing into the net, you are annoyed and helpless.
There is a similar frequent situation in business. Tasks are not precisely shared, partners do not trust and begin to catch each other instead of concentrating on their area of responsibility. As a result, the deadlines are not met, work is done anyhow, there are a lot of stress and energy consumption. Finally, the same feelings of irritation and helplessness.
To prevent this from happening, assess each other's strengths and weaknesses, clearly divide the areas of responsibility, tasks, and business processes. Moreover, rely on each other, stretching out hands. It will take a training period (grinding), and everything will be as regular as the Swiss clockwork.
Rule 2: Agree upon everything on the ground.
"Imagine you practicing at the 12-meter height: as soon as you are unfocused, you will drop down"
Work done, have your fun. Business before pleasure. It is better to avoid doing them simultaneously. You are concentrated so much at a height of 12 meters that the density of air seems to be changing, the world shrinks to the size of a rabbit hole, and you get into a state of flow.
Any atypical partner's shout can lead you out of a magic state. You used to have this way, just sat down at the computer, in tune to tackle the tasks vigorously, suddenly a colleague came up with a question not related to the matter, then the messenger started clinking, the phone rang ... afterwards you looked into the social network – bounce! – the day is over. The task list has remained untouched.
Separate time for work and chat.
Imagine you working at a 12-meter height, as soon as you lose concentration, you fly down, waving your arms and swearing at the whole stuff.
Give yourself 20-30-minute spells to put on your headphones, turn off notifications and devote your 100% percent to the task. Find out all the news of the day during a 10-minute break. If there is a need for a strategic meeting, just use the periods of time for necessary procedures and precise focus on the issue under consideration.
Any atypical partner's shout can lead you out of a magic state. You used to have this way, just sat down at the computer, in tune to tackle the tasks vigorously, suddenly a colleague came up with a question not related to the matter, then the messenger started clinking, the phone rang ... afterwards you looked into the social network – bounce! – the day is over. The task list has remained untouched.
Separate time for work and chat.
Imagine you working at a 12-meter height, as soon as you lose concentration, you fly down, waving your arms and swearing at the whole stuff.
Give yourself 20-30-minute spells to put on your headphones, turn off notifications and devote your 100% percent to the task. Find out all the news of the day during a 10-minute break. If there is a need for a strategic meeting, just use the periods of time for necessary procedures and precise focus on the issue under consideration.
Rule 3: The stronger, the easier
Another discovery of mine: the stronger the partner is able to clamp his body after the flight, the easier he/she becomes in work. Although, people doubt in every stressful situation, and want to spin like a grass-snake on a frying pan. Even if such a partner seems to be rather small, he will be very heavy when you catch him.
Doubts after taking a decision are the widespread reason of falls and flops. Even moving at height along the structure, in training, as soon as you dare to think what can happen if I stumble? Why should I stay here...? And who on the earth needs it ...? Immediately does the paralysis occur, and you are standing against the cable, breathing in the air with difficulty, with the only thought to quit, leave the "ship".
Therefore, do not let any doubts enter your head after making decisions. Just act. When you complete the basic movements, you will do the first analysis, but do not mix these two components.
Doubts after taking a decision are the widespread reason of falls and flops. Even moving at height along the structure, in training, as soon as you dare to think what can happen if I stumble? Why should I stay here...? And who on the earth needs it ...? Immediately does the paralysis occur, and you are standing against the cable, breathing in the air with difficulty, with the only thought to quit, leave the "ship".
Therefore, do not let any doubts enter your head after making decisions. Just act. When you complete the basic movements, you will do the first analysis, but do not mix these two components.
Rule 4: Swing the Boat
"A good partner feels inside if there is any variation, and he/she can always succumb in motion where necessary."
Work in a swing has taught me to be always moving. The height of the pendulum falls, and with it the opportunity to do a trick lessens, and you can break your nose against a flying opportunity under larger rocking.
A good partner feels hesitation in his/her whole being and can always succumb in motion where it's necessary.
80% of people will try to cease your 'swing', they will criticize, say you will not succeed, pull into frustration and eternal unsolved problems. If you get on a train in a good mood and do not use headphones, you can feel that you were nailed down with an oar. Talk about problems is one of the most popular among the masses, and complaining about life is a convenient position that allows you to find an excuse for fear, uncertainty, and lack of initiative. Complaining also justifies your comfort zone, even if it has already resembled a smelly green swamp.
There is no denying, there are days when you fall asleep or stop. Relaxing events knock you out of the rut, hamper your progress. We can't swing for a long time. If you are surrounded by people who can experience drive, they will wake you up. This is one of the best gifts that life can give you. The active environment is 50% of your success, search for it, create, expand.
A good partner feels hesitation in his/her whole being and can always succumb in motion where it's necessary.
80% of people will try to cease your 'swing', they will criticize, say you will not succeed, pull into frustration and eternal unsolved problems. If you get on a train in a good mood and do not use headphones, you can feel that you were nailed down with an oar. Talk about problems is one of the most popular among the masses, and complaining about life is a convenient position that allows you to find an excuse for fear, uncertainty, and lack of initiative. Complaining also justifies your comfort zone, even if it has already resembled a smelly green swamp.
There is no denying, there are days when you fall asleep or stop. Relaxing events knock you out of the rut, hamper your progress. We can't swing for a long time. If you are surrounded by people who can experience drive, they will wake you up. This is one of the best gifts that life can give you. The active environment is 50% of your success, search for it, create, expand.
Rule 5: Show must go on
Whatever happens, the show must go on. There are neither utterly "good" situations, nor "bad" ones, your attitude to them is crucial, as well as readiness to act. Whatever happens, continue your tale. In Cirque Du Soleil, in every show, there are necessarily so-called Back Up performances, which are always within Plan B, ready to replace any unexpected situation.
Back Up for Fuck Up. Non-standard situations took place during my 4 years of experience. The high-tech scene can bring a piston, a lighting system lamp burns out, the height of the arena can't allow to suspend the necessary props, there are also artists' injuries ... But what surprised me the most was the fact that there was a ready-made answer in every, to my mind, "unforeseen" situation, a solution that was triggered in a second. So, the show always went on.
Cirque du Soleil has celebrated over 35 years and created more than 30 cult shows which, in turn, caused a million of smiles and exclamations "Wow!". It has become the number one company in the world entertainment. All this is possible only if you continuously act, believe in your dream and the team, improve each subsequent step.
In conclusion, I would like to mention that we are all smart, endowed with talent, special charisma and perfect skills. But it is the teamwork that gives rise to the same millions of smiles and cherished Wow, Bravo!!!
Which Cirque Du Soleil shows did you watch live or on video?
Back Up for Fuck Up. Non-standard situations took place during my 4 years of experience. The high-tech scene can bring a piston, a lighting system lamp burns out, the height of the arena can't allow to suspend the necessary props, there are also artists' injuries ... But what surprised me the most was the fact that there was a ready-made answer in every, to my mind, "unforeseen" situation, a solution that was triggered in a second. So, the show always went on.
Cirque du Soleil has celebrated over 35 years and created more than 30 cult shows which, in turn, caused a million of smiles and exclamations "Wow!". It has become the number one company in the world entertainment. All this is possible only if you continuously act, believe in your dream and the team, improve each subsequent step.
In conclusion, I would like to mention that we are all smart, endowed with talent, special charisma and perfect skills. But it is the teamwork that gives rise to the same millions of smiles and cherished Wow, Bravo!!!
Which Cirque Du Soleil shows did you watch live or on video?