The Power of Two

2012-10-25

In my tennis tournament this past season, my team and I played for a spot for the National Tournament for mixed doubles. As it was a team tournament, we relied on each other for support. After the tournament was all over I realized that the way I worked with my doubles partner was similar to how I worked with my role-play partner in DECA! Any partnership, whether for a school project, DECA event, or sport, requires teamwork. Following are the lessons I learned about teamwork from my involvement in the National Tournament.

A strong partnership requires respect. You need to appreciate the other person and what they bring to the table. Our team was successful because we truly respected each person’s abilities. We knew each person would work as hard as they could to get a win for our team, and we also knew that if the result was not what we wished for in the end, we had all tried our best.

You need to evaluate your strengths and how they compare to your partner’s. It is great when you both are good at things, but it is even better when your partner can shine in places you cannot. Great partners complete each other. As a tennis player, I have a strong serve and good volleys with power and intensity. My partner mimics my strong volleys, but has a more consistent game. Our strengths and weaknesses balance each other out and reduce flaws in our overall game.

Communication is a key factor that affects the strength of a partnership. You must be able to communicate a consistent message and stay on the same page, which is not always easy. It is easy to get caught up on a bad shot or a good point. My partner did a great job of keeping me upbeat, pointing out opportunities to capitalize on our opponent’s weaknesses, and keeping our energy up with high fives.

Keep the final goal in mind. In any situation you are in there will be distractions. It is essential to maintain focus and work to achieve the final results you mutually desire. With six courts of tennis matches occurring simultaneously, people in the crowd yelling and cheering and your own mind going 100 miles an hour, working with your partner and maintaining focus on the match can be difficult. However, that is what partners are for – to help you keep your eye on the final goal.

Win or lose as a team. It is unusual that one person holds complete responsibility for success or failure. Remember that you got where you did together, and it is a team effort in what you achieved. At the end of the tournament, my team made it to the finals! We lost our final match to qualify for the National Tournament, which was disappointing but we recognized that everything we accomplished was as a team and we had to be very proud of our efforts.

Next time you are in a DECA event with a partner, keep these things in mind to make the most out of your partnership!