I participated in a team building activity involving drumming and singing. The activity was kept a secret till it started. Had it been made known, I would have turned it down because of my phobia for singing, dancing and playing of musical instruments except listening.

On arrival at the venue, we were greeted with a very wide variety of musical instruments. Each participant including me was assigned a drum and encouraged to play free style to the rhythm of the lead drummer, the instructor. Instantly those inclined to music jumped at the opportunity with excitement.

Noticing the reluctance of the rest of us to get involved, he responded with a smile that drumming is easy and we all have an innate talent for music, having been told virtually my entire life that I am bad with anything music, I said in my head “you are right”.

However, with encouragement, I started beating my drum slowly at specific intervals and to my surprise, the sound I made from the drum was in sync with that of everyone.

Gradually my confidence level was elevated and I increased my tempo and variations in the drumming, I was impressed with myself because I added to the richness of the music.

I am by no means an expect in drumming now but I gained some few lessons from the experience.

Lesson

1. Everything is possible if only we will muster courage, apply ourselves to it and take baby steps

• If you believe what you hear about your capability or incapability, it will define you and either unleash or restrict your potential.

• Leaders with right attitude and skills make a big difference in how far their direct reports can go. Motivational leaders unlock and release hidden potential.

• Surrounding yourselves with people with similar interest and of positive attitude and mentality encourages and inspires you to ride along. It creates peer pressure with positive results. It breaks resistance to take chances and challenges.

• Music is produced through combining sounds of numerous instruments of varying shapes and sizes, played by different people at different paces, styles and energy levels and they all add up to give the beautiful sound that we enjoy. Just like life, what matters is not sitting on the fence, but playing your part and contributing to it, with whatever you are gifted. `