COACH YOU BLOG

Life and Death … in Business? How to overcome critical, time sensitive challenges.
05/2/2015

Paddling along, the ladies Eight were rowing up river towards The Lark, training for the Winter League next Sunday. It was a beautiful morning, bright but cold. There was a biting North-Westerly wind which was pushing us into the bank and lifting the spray from the blades onto us. Nevertheless we were working hard; hot and sweating 3,000 meters into the session we had already removed layers. We were planning a rigorous training session.

Suddenly the cox called for us to “hold her up” (stop immediately) there was a single sculler in the water. A novice rower in his sixties was waist deep at the bank holding on to his boat full of water after capsizing. Time was critical to avoid hypothermia. We pulled alongside and held his boat whilst he pulled himself up the steep bank of the Great Ouse.

Quickly a plan came together. The crew held the Eight firm, bow side rowers constantly fending us off from being blown into the bank, but muscles were already getting cold from being still. The cox is the best sculler, so she and I tipped the water out of the single scull and I held it firm from the Stroke seat whilst she stepped across. Not easy as it sounds when the river is at full flow and one of the blades was trapped under our Eight. The next best cox was in seat five, so climbed over our heads to reach the cox’s seat.

In the meantime we had thrown all our spare clothing on the bank for the soaking sculler to put layers on. Rather than call the club and wait for the launch to pick him up, which would take ten minutes at least, we encouraged him to climb into the Eight.
We spun the boat and headed back. Rowing warmed him up. The urgency of getting him back as soon as possible focused the rest of the crew’s minds and we rowed at firm pressure most of the way back. It wasn’t perfect but it was fast.

Back at the club he changed, was wrapped in a silver thermal wrap and fed hot coffee and biscuits but teeth were chattering for an hour at least. I’m happy to say he’s made a full recovery.

And what’s the learning here? We worked together as a crew. The cox is the leader, is obeyed in an Eight at all times and yet this collaboration worked brilliantly. As a crew we were called on to focus, play our individual roles, overcome fear and step into what we were best at, literally! There was a sense of urgency but also calm, humour and determination.

So the next time you face a critical moment in your life or business step into your best possible self. Remain calm, keep your sense of humour, voice a clear objective and ask for volunteers. Each crew member focused and worked at their best to bring about the objective and everyone felt part of the success. Sometimes, pushing back the leadership engages your team in a powerfully fulfilling way.

If you’d like to work on your Leadership skills do contact me jill@coachyou.co.uk. I’d also love to hear your comments on the blog.