One of my goals this term, for my Leadership Development Plan, is to enhance my relationship management skills. In every team environment, having the ability to connect with others and build positive relationships is crucial to maintaining cohesion amongst the group. As women’s team captain of the University of Oregon Club Rowing team, I know it is especially important for me to stay connected with my teammates. Even though, we spend every morning together, communication can be minimal when the focus is on circuit workouts and erg pieces.

In order to act upon my goals for this component of emotional intelligence, I have spent the last week meeting up with individual teammates and holding team meetings to reconnect and catch up with my rowers. On Tuesday I coordinated a short meeting to talk about team morale, balancing rowing practice and school work, and the importance of communication. In addition, I spent a couple days meeting up with individual rowers that seem to be having a hard time adjusting to daily morning practices and intense workouts. I shared with them my tips and experiences from previous years on how to maintain a positive attitude and good time management. As a result, I was able to successfully keep some rowers who were on the brink of quitting and build a more personal relationship with my team.

By communicating and listening to the needs of my teammates, I will be able to foster better collaboration, more solutions to conflicts, and inspire a greater team vision. Creating stronger interpersonal communication with my team will be my main goal this term–with this week’s progress, I have high hopes for what’s to come.

UO Rowing dock, Lake Dexter, OR