Innovative Team-Building: How Volkswagen Used Music to Enhance Employee Collaboration and Active Listening

Client Request

Volkswagen, a leader in automotive innovation, wanted to take a unique approach to fostering teamwork and active listening among its employees. The company partnered with our team-building specialists to engage their staff in a Drum Circle, a creative activity that brings employees together through music and rhythm.

Our Project

In the Drum Circle, Volkswagen employees set aside their usual tools and instead picked up percussion instruments. Seated in a circle, they leart to express themselves musically while attuning to their colleagues' rhythms. This simple yet effective concept promotes active listening and collaboration, skills that are essential both on the factory floor and in the boardroom. The activity has two main components. First, employees use music to practice mutual listening and create a harmonious group dynamic. Second, they work in teams to recreate and reimagine music from Volkswagen advertisements, adding elements from their daily work lives. This creative process strengthens teamwork and reinforces their connection to the Volkswagen brand.

Outcome

The Drum Circle event was a resounding success, with employees creating musical pieces that reflected their collective creativity and shared experiences. Volkswagen has noted that the activity effectively emphasised the importance of active listening, a skill that will undoubtedly enhance teamwork across the company.