Two-person Canoeing takes Teamwork

or "How Ears Trump Oars"

Last weekend I went canoeing with several friends.  Alejandra and I teamed up in one canoe.  We took it as an opportunity to work on our own teamwork.  I am proud to say that we did well, but it was a challenge!

When you put two people in one canoe with one destination, you have created an effective illustration of Interdependence.  (I am using the term as Covey does in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which I reference often.)

The two people have to work as a team to reach their goal.  But, what does it mean to work as a team?

Each Independent
Often people think of teamwork as breaking a big task into several non-overlapping (independent) tasks.  This is the simplest functioning form of cooperation. It is what we learn to do on school projects.  "I'll write the report and you find the pictures and build the poster board."

In a canoe it is almost impossible to create non-overlapping roles.  As soon as you put an oar in the water you are affecting the direction of the boat.  That's a good thing.

Most professionals have achieved some basic independence.  And most professionals are comfortable dividing work this way: where there is as little coordination as possible.  Sometimes it goes to the point of silly imbalance... "I'll watch for sharks while you paddle."

This independence can render the team totally ineffective.  Try paddling upstream.  If you are taking turns paddling, for example, you are going to move slowly (if at all) and both be exhausted.

Finally, in the worst case, both people work against each other.  "I'm just going to paddle my hardest to get this thing moving regardless of what the other guy is doing."  Believe it or not, it takes some effort to flip a canoe.  But two inconsiderate teammates can certainly make it happen.

Compromise
With some basic instructions most people will divide the work this way: the person in back steers the boat, and the person in front makes it go forward.  This is an effective system for two people to navigate a canoe downstream.  But, it is not optimal.

Here's why: You can't paddle on one side of the boat without affecting it's direction.

So, if the person in front is only trying to provide power without concern for direction, the person in back is going to have to compensate.  With every stroke that the front person makes, the person in back is going to have to apply a counter-stroke to keep the boat on course.

The person in back is using their energy to undo part of what the person in front did.  Not optimal.

The boat zigs and zags...  The person in back is frustrated because someone else is making their job harder.  The person in front is frustrated seeing that they are paddling towards the shore and not downstream.  Energy is wasted and frustration builds.

Coordination and Synergy
When people become frustrated with each other the first thing to go is communication.  But communication is absolutely necessary to coordinate.  And coordination is necessary for synergy (and to paddle a canoe efficiently).

When the two shipmates are communicating, they can issue requests to each other.
"I need you to switch sides so we can make this turn."
"Shallow water 10 yards ahead!"
"Should we go to the left or right of this branch?"
"Give me two good strokes!  All your might!  We can get over this log!"
"Great job!  Let's take a break."

It's good to be comfortable to issue requests to each other.  But it is more important to be listening and responding to the requests.

Now both people can be paddling.  The rear person may be more responsible for steering and the front person more responsible for power, but they recognize the overlap.  They embrace the overlap.  They are working together.

Now they can make sharp turns.  Now they can go upstream.  And now they can overcome obstacles.

Advice

1. Use your oar

Remember that you have no one to blame but yourself.  As Dan pointed out, "You each have an oar."

2. Use your ears

When we started our trip, some of our friends were making their way downstream leaving us behind.  This gave us a sense of urgency!  "We better get moving.  They are getting far ahead."  But this sense of urgency is dangerous.  It gives the illusion that starting to paddle is more important than working out the skills that will be necessary for the trip.  Don't give in to imagined crises.

Before you start trying to make progress down river, take the time to discuss roles and goals.  Throughout the trip make special effort to listen to your teammate.