Synchronized Diving As A Lesson In Teamwork

Who would've thought that two people hurling themselves into a body of water could teach us anything about office life and high-performing teams?

Well, buckle up, because I'm about to dive into the world of synchronized diving and pull out some serious teamwork gems.

In Synchronized Diving,...

Synchronized diving attempts to make two completely different people move in perfect unison.

Before the divers started diving together, I would doubt their dives were synchronous. One’s a human cannonball, the other a graceful gazelle.One person may be a little taller than the other. One may spin faster or slower. One may launch higher off the diving board or platform than the other. Hopefully they both entered the water without a splash. You get the picture.

On a Team

In the grand scheme of team building, it’s easy to get caught in the whirlpool of differences. On a team, one person's a shark, all about closing deals, while the other's a cuddly sea otter, focused on building relationships. One person may be a tiger, fast thinking and instinctive decision maker vs. the other who may be more like a goat, contemplative and data-driven. One person may be more thoughtful of the customer while the other is operational focused. One may be quiet and deliberate while the other is boisterous and extends every meeting by at least 15 minutes.

But guess what? Sharks need sea otters to keep their teeth clean, and sea otters need sharks to protect them from orcas. It's a symbiotic relationship, people!

How To Align and Become a High-Performing Team

And the method to become a successful Synchronized Diving team is the same as becoming a successful workplace team:

• Meet the other person where they are at. If you spin faster, start spinning slower or vice versa. If you are more customer focused, also pay attention to operational impacts.

• Recognize the strengths the other person brings to the table and how that might help the team's overall success. If you spin faster and regularly over-rotate, perhaps slowing down can help you control your dive more. If you make instinctive decisions, perhaps a little more data and contemplation can improve your outcomes.

The first step is to identify the differences. Take a moment and think about your teammates. Then think about the value they bring. Ok, I know right now you are thinking about how they frustrate you. Take a deep breath and reframe that thought. An interesting exercise might be to have everyone on the team go through this exercise, so everyone can appreciate everyone else's contribution and role on the team.

Instead of getting frustrated that your team mate isn’t like you, recognize the value that having someone with a diverse thought and approach may have on your results.

The second step is to adjust your approach in dealing with your teammate. Maybe you need to spin slower, or perhaps they need to spin faster. Or maybe both of you need to adjust. With the more contemplative thinker, if you can appreciate the value that brings, you can encourage them to spend a day or two being contemplative and be open to their suggestions. But not a month - again, everyone adjusts.

In Summary

So, the next time you're ready to cannonball off the bridge of frustration because your teammate just doesn't get it, remember: differences are the spice of life. Differences are essential to success both off the diving board and in the office. As Stephen Covey says "Strength lies in differences, not in similarities". Embrace your differences, adjust your style, and manifest outrageous outcomes.

If you find yourself on a team that is struggling to coalesce, coaching may be for you / your team. Schedule a free coaching discovery call to explore how coaching can help you transform to a high-performing team. Let's chat about how to transform your team from a group of individuals into a synchronized force to be reckoned with.