Coach rowing teams

Introduction

Coach P is in unusual situation as his junior rowing team JV is outperforming the main rowing team Varsity just days before the National Championship. Coach P has selected the two rowing teams after a rigorous selection process considering parameters ranging from rowing technique, psychological dimensions to physical endurance and muscle strength. Coach carefully planned the combination of all players who performed best individually while working as a team. Varsity team consists of top 8 players so ideally Varsity team is supposed to win all the races between Varsity and Junior Varsity team. But Junior Varsity team is winning continuously during practice sessions which is a matter of great concern for Coach P considering the short timeline for National Championship race. Varsity team morale is down with all team members feeling dejected and each feel that they are individually carrying the boast’s weight. Varsity team members gave harsh individual critiques in emails to Coach P. There are many internal team within varsity which might be responsible for their low performance.

• There are several team disrupters within the team but not a single leader
• Lack of trust which was clearly evident during a team meeting where team members constantly pin-pointing fingers at each other
• Low confidence as they were continuously losing to Junior varsity after the Atlantic retreat

Although Junior varsity team has Bottom 8 performers but because of their strong motivation and nothing to lose attitude, they were winning continuously. Coach has three options to tackle with this situation. A) Swap the team members between Junior Varsity and Varsity team. B) Intervene critically to improve varsity team’s performance C) Exchange the individual team members between the team boats

Suggestions

In my opinion the best strategy for the Coach P should be to intervene strategically with Varsity team considering there is no doubt that the team has good performers, it’s just that they are not able to perform well together due to poor team dynamics.

• Firstly Coach P has to make sure that team members change the feeling of blaming one another to taking responsibility as overall team.
• Clearly defining Group norms and developing an open healthy environment within the team where members can speak to each other freely and build healthy relationships
• After the 1st margin loss in Atlanta Coach P should have motivated the team towards specific objectives instead of dividing team in different structures which led to worsen results.
• Outings, dinners and off boat activities should be planned often to build team camaraderie and help building a team’s common purpose.
• Coach should held individual one-on-one session communicating individual accountability and building mutual respect for each other.

References Readings:

• Leadership is a Conversation (2009, HBR, R1206D)

• Managing Teams for High Performance, (2007, HBP Product No 2304; pages 9-15)

• http://impactbusinesscoaches.com/03/team-development/

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