As defined by Professor Leigh Thompson of the Kellogg School of Management, a team is a group of people who are interdependent with respect to information, resources, knowledge and skills and who seek to combine their efforts to achieve a common goal".
I think that an archery team’s common goal is to achieve better performance from each individual on the course every time. We all want to do our best - to achieve our fullest potential. While one person's motivation to accomplish new and greater feats may be really good, it always helps if that one person has a team to reinforce that motivation.
If we all have the same goals - then why not work together?
In my experience it seems like it is easy to forget about teamwork all together, and in archery specifically. Archery is a unique sport because while we strive to be better as a group, it comes down to the individuals performance at tournaments. In sports like baseball, football, or soccer you simply can not forget how to work as a team because in those sports, performance is highly dependent on the group's ability to function - not a single players ability to perform. What we are missing in archery is the fact that although a team is not necessary to do well, it is a huge resource that can enable us to be great. A team is a resource; however, that requires adequate involvement and support to be useful. We want our whole team to work together to accomplish each individual's goals. To work together as a team; however, we all need to individually work on our own approach to being a member and fellow teammate. Ask yourself - am I doing everything I can to be a good teammate? To help my fellow archers?
All Team Members Should Strive To Be Above P.A.R.
Positive
Adaptable
Responsible
Be Positive: off and on the course, be positive! Positivity helps encourage your teammates to be positive with you. A positive attitude is key to success. The right attitude can mean the difference between success and failure. If you go into a major tournament with a positive mindset you are much more likely to achieve your goals.
Be Adaptable: adaptability is huge - it shows character. An athletes ability to adapt and overcome obstacles is very important.
I don’t just mean obstacles like the tree that magically jumped in front of your arrow at last week's tournament. Personal obstacles as well, for example: You really don’t get along with one of your teammates, but you know that you have to work with them every practice. What do you do? Ask yourself this: How could I change to improve the situation? Is the other person really that annoying or am I just that stubborn? Adapt, find common ground. Maybe you can get along if you try. You could also be struggling with your form or say you have trigger panic - be adaptable and open minded to find new ways to fix your problems.
Be Responsible: Accountability is critical for a good team. If you take responsibility for your actions and the actions of your teammates you will keep a healthy team dynamic. Responsibility is closely connected to integrity. A good team has a solid and reputable amount of integrity. If your teammates are doing something wrong or that is not safe - take responsibility for your team. You can do this by following these steps:
Tell them that they are being irresponsible and that they should stop.
Inform a team captain and/or coach of the situation.
I think that if we all strive to be above par in our approach to being a team then we will, as a team, achieve greatness.
Shoot Point-On,
Malachi