The Beatles Principles: Teamwork Lessons #4-7 From The Fab Four

Note From RainToday: As part two of a three-part series on The Beatles Principles, this piece continues just why it makes sense to draw leadership and creativity lessons from the greatest band in history. Learn principles four through seven here.

By Andrew Sobel

The Fab Four sold over 1 billion records, tapes, and CDs, and 36 years after their breakup they remain, in many ways, the world's most popular band. Most importantly for us, they managed to create a whole that was far greater than the sum of the parts--no doubt the goal of any services firm. This article is the second in a three-part series on lessons from the most successful pop group in history.

Last month, Part I of this article presented the first three Beatles Principles:

Beatles Principle Number 1: Invest in and build face time between team members well before they are asked to pitch to a client.

Beatles Principle Number 2: Evolve your "songs" and bring the same level of ideas, new perspectives, excitement, and enthusiasm to your hundredth meeting with a client that you brought to the first.

Beatles Principle Number 3: Cultivate humility and self-effacement in your dealings with others, especially when you're on the heels of great success.

Now let's look at principles 4, 5, 6, and 7:

4. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da: Using Humor to Connect

Journalist: "What excites people so much about your music?"
John Lennon: "If we knew that, we'd start another group and become managers."
Journalist: "When are you going to get a haircut?"
George Harrison: "I had one yesterday"
Journalist: "What do you think of the campaign in Detroit to stamp out the Beatles?"
Paul McCartney: "We've got a campaign of our own to stamp out Detroit"

The Beatles charmed the press, their fans, and each other with an endless flow of spontaneous and often self-deprecating humor. This playfulness at once disarmed their few critics and helped defuse the inevitable tensions that periodically and inevitably surfaced between the foursome. No one was immune, and this irreverent humor shined through even when they were down-and-out. When they had just finished auditioning for George Martin at the Parlaphone recording studio--it was their last hope for a record deal, as they had been turned down by ever other record label in the UK--Martin asked the group if they had any final questions or comments. "Yes," piped up George Harrison, "I don't like your tie." Even the normally reserved Martin burst out laughing at the absurdity of the comment, and he shortly afterwards offered them a contract.

You may not think you are humorous, but you can be. There are funny things all around us. Make fun of yourself and your shortcomings. Make light of the absurdity of life. Just say the opposite of what people expect, and they'll laugh--it's almost guaranteed.

Beatles Principle Number 4: Use humor, especially self-deprecating humor, to ease tensions, show you are human, and create an emotional connection with colleagues and clients.

5. With a Little Help from My Friends: A Role for Everyone

The Beatles' early success was driven mostly by the John Lennon–Paul McCartney songwriting prowess, but they quickly had to accommodate what turned out to be four star personalities in their own right. The band used a number of strategies to manage these tensions. For example, drummers always feel underappreciated in rock groups, and Ringo Starr was no exception. So Lennon and McCartney would write a song for him to sing on almost every album (e.g., "With a Little Help from My Friends" on Sgt. Pepper), giving him a special platform with the public. As George Harrison's compositional talents developed, the other members of the group began ceding song tracks to him in deference to his contribution. Famous Harrison songs include "Here Comes the Sun" and "Something" on the Abbey Road album.

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