Teamwork Isn’t Enough: How Tension, Flexibility, and Being Alone Together Drive Success

Most people think of rowing as pure teamwork—everyone moving together, perfectly in sync, to achieve a common goal. It’s the classic “teamwork makes the dream work” picture, right? But that’s not the full story. In reality, rowing is about much more: generative tension, attunement, and being alone together. These are the real forces that drive success, both in rowing and in business.

1. Generative Tension

Let’s talk about generative tension—it’s a lot more than just “working hard together” or “pulling in the same direction,” like those cheesy motivational posters you see with rowers in sync (you know the ones). The truth is, rowing and business leadership are about so much more than just being in harmony. It’s about embracing tension. Without tension, without a bit of discomfort, nothing moves forward.

Take my rowing experience with Kyle leading up to the 2008 Olympics. He was the best rower on the team—dude was a beast. When I first hopped in the boat with him, I couldn’t keep up with his power, and the boat went all over the place. But here’s the thing: it was that generative tension that forced me to rise to a new level. That tension, that push, made us better, faster, stronger. Sure, after our first time trial, I thought I was going to die (I was bent over the boat like I was auditioning for a horror film), but we needed that to generate results.

Now, let’s tie this to business. The same applies in organizations. Generative tension comes from expectations, from pushing each other in just the right way. Stanford Business School has a case study that nails this idea. They talk about placing leaders in high-stakes situations where expectations are sky-high, and guess what? Those leaders perform better. They rise to the challenge, just like I did in the boat with Kyle. It’s about creating the right kind of pressure—enough to push you, but not so much that you capsize.

Erik Brynjolfsson from Stanford echoes this idea too. He talks about how applying pressure in the right conditions can boost productivity without stressing people out. It’s like rowing—you need that balance of tension and support to make real progress. In business, when you set high expectations and have the right resources, people go further than they thought possible. Just like in a boat, you pull harder when you know the team depends on you—and that’s what gets you to the finish line, or in business terms, your goals

So when you think about generative tension in your organization, ask yourself: Are we coasting along, or are we pushing each other to rise to the next level?

2. Attunement

Let’s dive into attunement—which is about way more than just syncing up and rowing in the same direction. It’s about adapting to subtle shifts and changes within your team, constantly adjusting to find that perfect rhythm. Think about the Chilean miners’ rescue in 2010. Teams from all over the world, each with different skills and backgrounds, came together in a crisis. They didn’t just collaborate—they attuned to each other, adjusting their approaches based on real-time feedback from the ground. Without that flexibility, those 33 miners would still be underground.

Attunement is more than just syncing up. It’s about sensing and adjusting to subtle shifts within the team to maintain harmony and momentum. In an eight-person boat, if one rower feels the boat tipping, they shift their body, even if it’s not ideal for their stroke, to keep the whole boat balanced. This applies to business: when you attune to your team, you adjust not for personal comfort but for collective success. It’s a delicate balance between individual performance and team cohesion, and it requires flexibility and awareness of the team's rhythm.

Attunement doesn't just come from experience—Amy Edmondson of Harvard Business School talks a lot about this kind of dynamic teamwork. She emphasizes how successful teams aren’t just technically good; they create environments where members feel safe to adapt, contribute, and anticipate each other’s needs. This kind of attunement makes a team resilient, agile, and ready for whatever comes at them.

In rowing, we call it swing—where the boat moves as one, but only because each rower is constantly adjusting to the others. In business, this is what drives success. It’s not just about doing your job; it’s about being aware of how your actions affect the whole, and adjusting to bring out the best in the team(

So when you think about attunement in your organization, ask yourself: Are we just rowing, or are we truly swinging together?

3. Alone Together

Rowing is paradoxical—each rower is alone in their seat, focusing on their individual stroke, but also part of the collective. You are alone together, managing the tension between your personal role and the team’s goals. In business, it’s the same: leaders and team members alike must find that sweet spot between individual contribution and teamwork. You must be independently excellent but also willing to adjust and align with the group’s goals to move forward effectively.

When we talk about being alone together in a hybrid world, it mirrors the experience of rowing—where each person is focused on their individual role while being part of the collective team effort. In today’s hybrid work environments, the challenge is similar: team members must balance independent contribution with the need to stay aligned with the group’s goals.

Harvard Business School recently conducted a study on hybrid work, which found that a balance between remote and in-office work can create the “sweet spot” for teams. Employees who split their time between home and office felt less isolated, had higher job satisfaction, and were more productive. This balance allowed them to maintain their individual autonomy while staying connected to their teams, much like rowing requires individuals to focus on their own strokes while staying in sync with the crew. The study highlighted that hybrid workers were more engaged and creative, contributing better quality work compared to those who worked exclusively from home or the office.

To further this point, Tsedal Neeley, a renowned expert on remote work, emphasizes the importance of leaders fostering an environment where both individual excellence and collective teamwork thrive. She points out that leaders must design hybrid work strategies that maintain inclusion, ensure clear communication, and foster trust across the team, even when people are physically apart. Just like in rowing, it’s not about everyone doing the same thing at the same time—it’s about creating a rhythm where individual strengths contribute to the team’s success(

In business, as in rowing, you need to ask yourself: Are we finding that balance between independent excellence and collective alignment, or are we drifting apart?

Conclusion

As we wrap this up, remember: true success, whether in rowing or in business, doesn’t come from just being in sync or coasting along. It comes from embracing the push and pull of generative tension, attuning yourself to the team’s subtle shifts, and finding that sweet spot of working alone together. Like rowing, the journey to excellence is filled with moments of discomfort and challenge—but that’s exactly what drives progress. So, ask yourself, are you simply moving, or are you truly swinging together with your team?

And hey, if you’re still just sitting in the boat waiting for the current to do all the work, it’s time to grab the oar. Let’s get moving.

As you think about the dynamics in your organization—whether it’s generative tension pushing you to rise, attunement keeping your team in perfect rhythm, or finding that balance of being alone together in a hybrid world—ask yourself: Are you driving your team forward? Are you coasting along, or pushing each other to the next level? Now is the time to embrace the power of generative tension, attunement, and finding excellence alone, together. How will you move from just rowing to truly swinging together?

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Adam Kreek is an Olympic gold medalist, leadership expert, and one of North America’s top executive business coaches. With a rich background in elite sport and leadership, Adam blends high-performance principles with actionable business strategies. He has captivated audiences around the world with his dynamic keynotes on leadership, teamwork, values-driven success, and mental resilience.

Known for his unique ability to tie together real-life stories from his Olympic career, ocean adventures and entrepreneurial journey, Adam delivers talks that inspire, educate, and motivate teams to achieve their highest potential. His keynotes are not just inspirational—they are packed with practical insights that help leaders and teams move from ideas to action.

Adam’s powerful storytelling, combined with his humor and deep understanding of human psychology, makes him the perfect speaker for events focused on leadership development, organizational performance, and personal growth. Having worked with global brands like Microsoft, General Electric, and Amazon, Adam’s message resonates across industries, leaving a lasting impact on all who hear him.

Looking for a keynote speaker who can truly connect, inspire, and drive meaningful change? Adam Kreek is your guy.