Team Concepts: The Power of Synergy in Rowing and Other Team Contexts

The Concept of Synergy in Teams

One of the most intriguing concepts of teams is that of synergy. Stated simply, synergy is achieved when “the whole is different than (or unique from) the sum of its parts.” In team contexts, this means that a team of less talented individuals will often out- perform one of higher-talented members. Examples of such synergy abound, and most of us know of teams composed of superstars who “do not play well together” and, conversely, teams made up of unimpressive individual talents who somehow come together as a team and do amazing things. Dan Lyons, President of Team Concepts, and a former world champion rower, believes that rowing is one context where the concept of team synergy is powerfully illustrated. He explains that modern technology (for example, ERG machines, stress monitors, and so on) allows for a very precise determination of strength and rowing potential. Moreover, there is a wealth of data from sources such as a recent U.S. Olympic Committee research report in which dozens of crew coaches indicated the dimensions they thought were most important for achieving top performance. It is, therefore, possible today for rowing coaches to put their rowers through very objective measurement exercises and determine which of them have the highest potential for success as crew members.

Despite the wonders of this technology, however, Lyons cites his own experience and other examples that show how often a boat with far less objectively capable rowers will defeat a more talented team. One particularly compelling example of that phenomenon occurred with the Army Crew Team of 2001–2002 coached at West Point Academy by Stan Preczewski. As he did every year, Coach Preczewski began the season by conducting a series of exercises to determine assignments to the Varsity and Junior Varsity boats. The Varsity team had the top eight scores for individual strength and technique. By the end of the crew season in May 2002, however, Coach Preczewski was experiencing immense frustration. The crew he had so carefully chosen for the Varsity boat in the beginning of the season had frequently been beaten by the Junior Varsity (JV) crew boat during both practices and races throughout the crew season. This was not supposed to happen.

Coach Preczewski had selected the members of the Varsity boat after a long series of objective tests measuring their speed, strength, and coordination— all of which demonstrated that they were the top eight rowers on his team. But Dan Lyons of Team Concepts says this happens frequently in rowing—and in many other team contexts as well. Indeed, his firm is devoted to helping teams of all kinds find synergy (what he calls flow).

1. What team characteristics (or lack of) do you think could “sink” a boat of very talented individuals?

2. Being as specific as possible, what factors might account for how the 2001–2002 Army Crew Team JV boat—consisting of the bottom eight rowers on the team—frequently beat the Varsity boat?

3. Would you allocate rowers to the boats in the same way that Coach Preczewski did? What other options exist?

4. Can you think of other examples where the best group of individuals has lower performance as a team than do less talented ?

5. Herb Brooks, head coach of the famous American Olympic hockey team that defied extraordinary odds and won the Olympic Gold Medal against a far superior team from the Soviet Union, once commented that the reason that his team won was because he “did not have the 20 best guys, but the 20 right guys.” Explain.

6. What variables are the most important to team success? Be as specific as possible.