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1. Finding Us In Music™

Barbara helps groups build a collaborative spirit and cultivate trust through her proven music-centric methodology.

In a time of increasing social and ideological fragmentation, Finding Us in Music offers a crucial tool for bridging divides. Hyperpolarization, fuelled by social media echo chambers and political extremism, has made meaningful dialogue difficult. This approach counters division by creating safe spaces where individuals engage deeply with others through music and storytelling. Music, as a universal language, enables people to hear each other’s truths, fostering empathy, reducing bias, and strengthening human connection. Its application in workplaces, education, and communities can help rebuild trust, mutual understanding, and a shared sense of purpose in an increasingly divided world.

Background

In progressive organisations there is a desire to create flourishing practices and to amplify the shift from “me” to “we”. Three key elements activate this shift:

  1. positive appreciative presence;
  2. a generous approach to others, building on principles of Ubuntu; and
  3. the positioning and inclusion of music to amplify the appreciative ear, expand the potential to open hearts and liberate more of the whole person to feel, see and discern the deeper layers of self and other.

All three elements together open new doors to creativity and result in high quality of engagement. These workshops are effective for all types of teams and settings, and all levels. Board level, ExCo, senior management, middle management and junior management. It works well with different levels of team roles, ranks and responsibilities.

What is the Purpose of Finding Us in Music?

  • Facilitating Personal and Group Transformation – Music serves as a lens for self-awareness and mutual discovery, helping individuals and groups find deeper connections with themselves and each other.
  • Building Social Cohesion Through Ubuntu – The methodology emphasizes the African philosophy of Ubuntu, reinforcing the idea that people become fully human through relationships with others.
  • Encouraging Appreciative Inquiry and Positive Engagement – By focusing on strengths, personal narratives, and shared experiences, the approach shifts group interactions away from problem-focused thinking toward co-creation and mutual affirmation.
  • Unlocking Emotional and Spiritual Intelligence – Music amplifies emotions and personal stories, creating a space for deeper empathy, self-discovery, and group reflection.
  • Transforming Organisational Culture – Applied in universities and workplaces, this approach challenges structural and social divides, fostering more inclusive and compassionate communities.
  • Enhancing Creativity and Innovation – By integrating music with reflective group engagement, Finding Us in Music stimulates creativity, adaptability, and collective intelligence within organisations.
  • Providing a Holistic Alternative to Traditional Organisational Development – The method goes beyond rational, linear approaches by leveraging music’s emotive power and integrating spirituality, emotional intelligence, and group consciousness.

What?

A 3 hour transformative experience that uses the universal language of music to:

  • Build trust and deepen relationships
  • Unlock empathy and understanding
  • Ignite collaboration and shared purpose
  • Foster Belonging and cultural transformation

In a world of division and disconnection, Finding us in Music offers a sanctuary for unity. Its creates space where vulnerability becomes strength, listening becomes healing, and harmony becomes possible. Imagine a world where teams don’t just work together - they thrive together. Where every voice is heard, every heart is honoured, , and every connection is a step towards collective greatness.

Why does this work?

Music reflects a person’s soul. Through music, team members see, accept, and enjoy what is important and unique about the diversity within their team. Through music, we awaken deeper levels of our listening and our humanity.

Who are Barbara's clients and what do they say?

“Barbara's special blend of insight, empathy and ability to 'connect' is the perfect skill set to ensure that her innovative process works.”

David StoreyPartner: People Advisory Services
Ernst & Young UK

“As someone also in the coaching and facilitation field, Barbara’s work is among the most powerful I have experienced. [...] The Finding Us in Music process allows us to move past the intellect and access our deepest problem-solving abilities.”

Lee-Ann ShepherdCoach, facilitator
Hatch Institute, South Africa

“Our management team gained profound insights into each other and into dynamics in the team.”

Judy ParfittErnst & Young UK

“Music evokes an unforced, natural vulnerability, like nothing else can in me. In four hours, I learned so much about my team.”

Stellenbosch student

“The use of music and the meaning it offers reveals more of that human being’s contribution than words alone. Because it speaks to the profound life-giving driver in their lives. The music enables a deepening of the appreciation.”

Howard Goodman Director
Gatehouse Community, Cape Town

2. Individual coaching: Finding Me in Music

Barbara helps you discover your leadership genius through music.

Background

Barbara pioneered Finding Me in Music, before creating Finding Us In Music. This is an immersive experience designed to discover and touch the sanctuary of your soul. Learn a powerful practice that helps you rediscover the essence of who you are and who you can become through music.

  • Deepen connections within yourself
  • Expand Personal Resilience
  • Embody greater presence

Why does this work?

Finding Me in Music provides a fresh new language through which you can reflect and explore your deepest feelings. Finding Me in Music creates a wholeness of understanding and a self-accepting view of oneself. Your musical choices mirror your own unique gifts, helping you to see, accept and appreciate what is important about your purpose and vision. Music is a tool that gives you access to all aspects of who you are, reflecting what is true and powerful within you.

Who is this for?

Anyone who loves music, enjoys reflection and wants to embrace and additional self-mastery process.

What?

A 2-hour session that uses the music you resonate with to help you recognize and articulate your unique strengths and leadership style. You will learn how to:

  • identify your leadership qualities, as seen through music,
  • understand your deep inner strength and core purpose,
  • create your own intentional personal playlist to embody your best self.

The creation of a playlist with narrative, becomes a reminder and a tool that helps you remember and access your best and most inspired self.

Clients learn to listen to music and themselves differently – with more self- awareness, compassion and creativity. Barbara has a unique way to help others to listen with nuance, with consciousness and to take her clients to new levels of listening.

3. Training in Finding Us in Music™

Facilitation and Coaching

Facilitation

The ideal candidate is an experienced facilitator who wishes to broaden his/her repertoire of processes which build belonging in mature groups. This course will provide opportunities to cultivate and deepen the facilitator’s inner qualities, deep listening skills and understanding of music . It equips the facilitator with a fresh set of skills and competencies perfect for online teams. The Finding Us in Music™ methodology at its core, is a social flourishing practice, that ignites creativity and stewards trust and belonging within natural teams.

Coaching

  • Do you love music and want to learn from experts in the field about how to use it to build connection and deepen awareness during your coaching sessions?
  • Would you like to experience how music can open the spaces for even greater creativity within the coach and the client?
  • Does finding new and innovative ways for releasing wonder and possibility in your clients, appeal to you?

As ever-greater stressors are placed on individuals everywhere, the need for coaches to build connection, re-source clients and help them identify new sources of authenticity and resilience has never been so urgent.

Learn the FUIM methodology for using music to:
  • Deepen presence, authenticity, compassion, and creativity.
  • Refine your ability to listen to others in a holistic and layered way, through the frame of music and reflective storytelling.
  • Enable your clients to amplify their intuitive voice and activate the unheard frequencies within and around them.
  • Dance in the inter-subjective space between coach and client and access emergent wisdom.
  • Learn to use music intentionally as an empowering force, personally and professionally.

Coaches who wish to add an extra developmental process to their toolbox can now train as a Finding Us in Music coach.

4. Partnerships

Barbara works with selected individuals and organisations as a coach, mentor and thinking partner. She has a particular gift in coaching innovators and visionaries and her ideal client is a progressive organisation.

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