A tour rider is something every major music act puts into their contract when booking a venue with a promoter. It usually contains items that the artist requests before performing. Some contract riders are pretty cut and dry: bottles of water, favorite foods the artist would like to snack on, or eat as a meal before performing, etc. Of course, some riders can be quite over the top: velvet drapes around the perimeter, extravagant bottles of wine, or a dressing room for their “guru”.
The iconic rock band Van Halen's rider became famous, not just for its size, which was triple the riders of most bands, but for a very bizarre request buried inside of it: The dressing room of any venue they play must contain a bowl of M&M’s with no brown ones.
For years around the music scene, Van Halen's tour rider was the stuff of legend and used as an example of the over-the-top demands rock acts desire. But the real reason for the brown M&M's clause was completely the opposite.
At the height of their career, Van Halen's elaborate and innovative stage shows broke box office records, but some venues were not prepared for the number of lights and staging that went into the production. The lack of preparation by the promoter could overwork the crew, damage the building, and hurt the band and their fans.
To counter this, Van Halen created a large tour rider to assist the promoter in preparation for their concert. When a promoter did not follow all of the band's instructions, it caused a belabored pre-production for the band to make sure everything was safe before they performed. This took time away from the band to prepare for their show and get ready to delight thousands of fans.
Lead singer, David Lee Roth, had a simple solution. He would bury in the rider a small insignificant thing that, if done correctly, the band would know that the venue was taking their precautions seriously. That solution: their dressing room must contain a bowl with no brown M&M’s. If the band arrived at the venue and saw a bowl with no brown M&M’s, they knew the promoter took their rider seriously and it was safe to perform. If the brown M&M's were there, the band would have to recheck all of the logistics before they could start putting together their production.
Van Halen realized what some people, within any relationship, take years to discover: it's the little things in life that matter. And most conflict arises, not from a giant misunderstanding, but from “death by a thousand paper-cuts”.
For a committed team member in an organization, although they may not be putting on massive rock shows, they are just as vulnerable to the organization as Van Halen was to a promoter.
The heart of Van Halen's rider was three questions every leader should ask about their team to make those trusting in them feel valued.
Do they feel supported?
Do they feel informed?
Do they feel protected?
Usually, the answer to those questions determines whether a team member leaves or stays. And it's the little things that a leader does for their team that answers those questions.
Jesus understood this and taught his disciples how important the “little” things are.
When Jesus was about to send his disciples out on their first assignment, he gave them instructions on how they were to act, but before they left, he showed them his heart.
"So, do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So, don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
Matthew 10:28-31
Before the disciples embarked on their first official task, within a few simple verses, Jesus let them know they would be informed, supported, and most importantly, valued. Jesus was telling them that if God cares for the most insignificant things in creation, he certainly cares for them.
Most committed team members become frustrated in the workplace not because of the pressure, but because of a build-up of little things. They may experience a thoughtless comment, an unsupported project, or an overloaded work schedule – things that can appear to be “little” events, but to the team member, it will begin to plant a seed of doubt that they are no longer valued (but exploited). A committed team member will still be productive despite facing this, but frustration will begin because they feel an unspoken lack of trust in their leader.
Unfortunately, the frustration will usually continue to build until the relationship is broken, resulting in the team member resigning or being let go.
The leaders in any organization must answer those three questions consistently because if they don't, even highly committed team members will ultimately leave an organization because of it.
For team members, it is essential to have their own “brown M&M’s” in the workplace. It's typical to let the little things go, but before long, conflict arises and performance declines. Work dynamics are a fragile thing. While a good leader can be lifegiving, a bad leader can wreak havoc not just on work performance, but mental performance as well. And the mental strain can lead to unhealthy habits that last long after a team member leaves an organization.
Before joining any organization, a committed team member must create their own "bowl of M&M's". If the organization doesn’t provide the bowl, it doesn't mean a team member should quit, but, as with Van Halen, it may bring awareness to some structural problems before it's too late.