Teams Work!

“Whatever you do, don’t go down Hell’s Canyon.” My Outward Bound instructor was helping my group plot our course for the last few days of a backpacking section that was to lead us out of the mountains and to a state park with showers and fried chicken. “Your group does not have the equipment necessary to descend the canyon safely and there is no good way to evacuate someone with an injury.” That was plain enough for our group and we decided on a 3-day course that stayed well clear of the canyon. Our instructors approved our plan, put on their packs, “see you in three days at the park.” they said as they walked off on their own route to the park.

Our group was a collection of 16 to 20 year-olds. We were a mix of Americans, Hungarians, and Soviets (before the wall came down). We spent a week learning backpacking and navigation skills and had just started our final exam – three days on our own!

What had been a relatively smooth week with our instructors turned into an inefficient and frustrated group in about three hours.  Some people wanted to walk slowly and take just a few breaks, others wanted to walk quickly, and take many breaks. Three different languages made every navigation meeting hugely challenging, ending often with only more confusion and leaving the leader to “just make a decision!” By the middle of day 2, we lowered ourselves down a rock ledge, pulled the rope down to us and took out the map for a navigation stop. After careful study, there was no disagreement this time – we were in Hell’s Canyon, the one place we weren’t supposed to be, and with no way to get back up the ledge! Now the only way to get out of the canyon was to go down the canyon.

We had been pretty convinced by our instructors that we would die if we went in this canyon so our group got real focused, real quick. When faced with a challenge this serious we noticed a shift…we began to operate as a team.

Of course, you know the ending of the story… We spent the next 24 hours descending the canyon looking for a way out. Not once from that point forward did a meeting end without everyone understanding what was being said, and being in agreement with the decision.   After a very intense, all night, slow and careful descent we all made it out of the bottom of Hell’s Canyon. We never felt more alive and practically ran the rest of the way to the state park and to the reward of showers and fried chicken!

Teamwork State Champions

Teamwork State Champions

We have all, at least metaphorically, experienced the story of scrambling our way out of a Hell’s Canyon! I was reminded about this powerful story as I contemplated a recent victory at Cherokee Creek Boys School.  Our middle school boys participated in the State LEGO League robotics competition.  Our students range in ages from 11-15…they come from all over the world and when they arrive at CCBS, teamwork is not the most important thing on their minds. Under the heightened stakes of competition the boys faced the mental challenges of “finding a way out of the bottom of the canyon” and emerging as champions!

This year they did well enough locally to advance to the State Level competition. At the State Level they finished the highest place ever, including taking the State Championship for Teamwork!  They were very proud of course, but I had witnessed their teamwork at the local competition first hand and I knew there must have been a huge lesson they learned in between…

And when I talked with the team here’s what they said:

“After the experience of regional, we knew what we did well already, and what we needed to work on.”

“In practice we may have been arguing, but competition brings out the best!”

“I found after regionals, it was much easier to be nice. We got a lot more accomplished!”

“When I saw that this was our chance, I put aside my arguing and just focused on the competition.”

My Outward Bound group and the Cherokee Creek Boys School First LEGO League Team both came out of their experiences feeling that, together– as a team– they could do anything! The beauty of a lesson learned by experiencing it in such a powerful way is that it is impossible to take away the reality of the success … I know that I can be a part of a wildly diverse group and accomplish amazing feats…The Cherokee Creek Students know that they can work together with their peers and actually be a part of the best team in the state!

Here are three “real and true” teamwork lessons that I–and our CCBS boys–discovered from our experiences:  

  1.  COMMON GOAL: Preparing a team for their challenge is required for their success.  The team must have a clear goal….standards that are understood by all. 
  2. UNIFIED COMMITMENT: Each team member feels a sense of ownership towards his role in the group…
  3. COLLABORATION: In an arena of risk or competition – where it is all on the line – the team must have a climate of collaboration and trust. Trust is produced by honest, open, consistent and respectful behavior and listens to every person’s point of view.  

We are offered the lessons in teamwork many times during our life.  The challenge is to bring our best to every team. No matter how many different opinions there are, or how different we all are. A group united in purpose is capable of anything!  

“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision.  The ability to direct individual accomplishment toward organizational objectives.  It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.”  ~Andrew Carnegie

David LePere is the executive director of Cherokee Creek Boys School, a therapeutic boarding school for middle-school boys, ages 11-15 in Westminster, SC

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posted by jleslie in Discovering What is Real and True and have Comment (1)
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One Response to “Teams Work!”

  1. Janine says:

    Love this blog! I am so proud of Cherokee Creek winning the leadership award. The “real and true” teamwork lessons were just used yesterday at my house in trying to get 3 little boys together and agree to help cleaning the house! Although it sounded much easier in the blog written out in steps, in the end it did end up to be good teamwork and the kids actually were able to see how much easier it was to work together rather than argue with each other and me! Thanks for another great moment of reality checks!