The REAL SMART Teamwork blog is written by Brian Fraser, the lead provocateur of Jazzthink. Brian is a professional speaker and executive coach. Using the wisdom and workings of jazz, Brian provokes productive teamwork in organizations through keynotes, seminars, and coaching. Since the founding of Jazzthink in 2002, Brian and the Jazzthink Trio have worked with teams in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors to help them tune up their teamwork.
The key connection they make between jazz and organizational life is this: The most common form of jazz in human experience is conversation and conversation is the most important tool in building productive teams. If you were to develop and manage the sound of your conversation as diligently as jazz musicians develop and manage the sound of their instruments, your team would swing with a much more engaging and effective vibe.
REAL SMART Teamwork is a concept Brian has developed from his 40 years of practice, research, and education in productive teamwork. He began his career as minister with a Presbyterian congregation in Toronto, spent 17 years as dean of the Presbyterian college at the University of British Columbia, taught organizational development at Vancouver School of Theology, and founded Jazzthink to extend the impact of his passion for productive teamwork in 2002. He still serves as part-time minister with Brentwood Presbyterian Church in Burnaby, BC. He also teaches in the ICF-accredited Core Alignment Professional Coach Training Program offered by the Demers Group.
