What Rowing Crew Taught Me About Teamwork

While working within a team, I do not need to be the one holding the trophy but I have the need to contribute to obtaining it. This, along with immeasurable other lessons transformed my outlook on what true teamwork looks like. Thank you, rowing.

Intro to Rowing:

When Nicole invited me to tag-along to one of the first practice sessions of the UNLV Rowing (Crew) Club at 5:20 AM, I thought she was joking. To wake up at four in the morning, freezing in the middle of winter, and running on high levels of stress from piling full-time academics, peer coaching, and family life added to the likelihood of this not being a serious offer. In actuality, she was serious. After illustrating the tangerine clouds of sunrise and the feel-good hormones I was sure to have pumping through my system, I agreed to give this sport a shot. Happy I did, it offered some of the best lessons on effective teamwork- which I can apply past the turbulent waters. 

Teamwork

Collaboratively striving toward a shared vision is what creates fulfillment while working within a team. In a career setting, this can be achieved by reflecting on a company vision. In sports, this goal can be achieved by “winning the match”. In team sports, like within an organization, uplifting and encouraging other members increases the chances of succeeding at a goal. Instead of focusing on sharpening the personal saw, every person on the team is a jagged edge ready for sharpening. Together, a stronger tool is formed. 

The synergy between teammates propels with greater force. Learning can be done rapidly by sharing thoughts and communicating openly. Especially when power is evenly distributed, friction is decreased to allow for quicker growth. 

When reaching a goal, the victory shared by a team is more powerful. Accomplishing, together,  feels better. With the shared energy of understanding a larger picture, even past hurdles and difficulties, the end-goal was met; focusing on a new target seems more enticing. 

This is an image of me rowing with the Unlv Rowing club. I was one of the first members and I enjoyed its development period!

Takeaways of Rowing:

In a team, leverage strengths:

The miracles created by teamwork only occur by leveraging each individual‘s strengths. This can come in the form of personality, mindset, experience, interests, and background! In a rowing team, we saw this as the side team-members practice most on (starboard or a port).

Uniquely, a coxswain has the strength of the command. None of the roles, alone, has the power of thrusting the boat 2000 m across the finish line. However, by previously communicating the end goal, the team can trust that fulfilling their pre-determined job may lead to victory. 

Show up, get results:

When I first showed up to the boathouse and rode the first 2000 m on the erg, I was absolutely horrible. It had been multiple years since my last cardio workout and my numbers reflected this.

Sweat dripped from my forehead but my time did not reflect hard work. Through consistently showing up to practice multiple times a week, my number shaved seconds at a time.

At first, I became intimidated by the other teammates. The times displayed on their dashboards were a fraction of mine. Were they going to judge me? I came to find out: absolutely not.

A team values progress. A team Values unified goals.

Each practice, when results improved, they supported me and offered encouragement. When new members joined the rowing team, it was my turn to encourage their onboarding. The cycle of incorporating novices into an organization is motivating!

I learned that by showing up, results happen. After results, comes time for cheering – both for myself and for the rest of the team (newer and older members)!

Try something new, soon it’ll become routine:

When my friend Nicole offered to meet me at the lake for practice at 5:20 in the morning, my eyes open wide in shock! Not only was it the middle of winter, but the cold weather was met with the dark of night. On top of that, crew season is intermingled with school sessions. This means that the pressures of studying, compiled with work and home life, we’re variables contributing to my exhaustion!

To my surprise, after waking up early, it became a routine. After around one month of miserable alarm sounds, I began to beat it. Waking up a few minutes before the alarm became the new normal.

I learned that working with a team means being flexible and adaptable to others’ differences. Soon, those differences can be accepted into a personal culture. Habits can be formed to optimize for the differences and we can all become better because of those differences.

Take feedback:

Before Rowing, my feedback-taking skills were needing improvement. Afterward, feedback became something I constantly seek.

Having the coxswain, boat captain, shout orders in near-freezing temperatures as you are shivering in a boat floating in the darkness increases one’s ability to take feedback. Especially when this feedback is useful when contributing to the collective, it should be heard. Phrases like “row a little slower”, “feather your oar sooner”, and “push with more force” are common for me to hear.

Similarly, technical feedback within the professional environment is beneficial. Supervisors and leaders give feedback to improve, not to demoralize.

Clear Communication is needed:

Carrying a multi-thousand-dollar boat onto the water is a daunting task. When dividing the weight upon eight members, communication becomes a priority. One misstep can lead to a cracked and dropped vessel. This may mean the end of a competition season, or worse – one less boat to roll with.

Multitasking, listening to what the leader commands while continuing in motion, optimized my listening skills. Speaking up to define possible errors is a component of clear communication I learned through rowing.

Instead of watching a boat hit a fence or wall, sharing that a few feet to the left may solve the problem is a way to guarantee safe movement.

Predict Next Moves: Be attentive, curious, focused

The prized lesson rowing taught me about teamwork is that attentiveness, curiosity, and focus are needed.

When on the water, the eight rowers move at an identical pace. What defers is the amount of force pushed off from each propel back. When sliding up to push, synchronicity needs to be top of mind.

Looking at the other rowers for non-verbalized cues of pace change prevents a jab in the back or a crab to be caught. In rowing, catching a crab means a bad row that can throw you into the water! Extra motivation to look ahead, and no rower wants to catch a crab.

Row-Away (Takeaway): 

Combining different strengths, experience levels, backgrounds, and perspectives creates the magic of teamwork.

This magic is powerful enough to create an opportunity for successful rowing in the center of the Mojave desert.

My experience was a mirage that taught me the importance of collaboration, empathetic thinking, and trust.

Commitment in helping to a greater purpose, being held accountable through multiple perspectives, and establishing relationships extending beyond the wake has inspired me to become a team player- everywhere.

Special thank you to the Lake Las Vegas rowing club for allowing me to learn the technicalities of the sport and the camaraderie associated with the effort.