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Journals by EmailYesterday, all of the teams in our group of projects had a meeting where we learned what is going on across the projects and about what is coming up. In the middle of the meetings, we had a dodgeball tournament in a gymnasium.
It was a friendly game, but I think competing in group sports shows me a few things about myself and how I work in a team.
First, I’m reluctant to take risks—or at least to be the first to take them. When each game started, the balls were set on the line dividing the two teams’ territories. On “go,” the team members raced to be the first to pick up the balls and throw them at the opposite team to get them out. I rarely was one of the first people to run for one of the balls. I figured others were faster and more able, and I’d let them take the risk.
Second, I like to coach others where I can in order to help the team reach its objective. When someone was tagged out by being hit by a ball, they would go behind or to the side of the team’s territory; some retrieved balls to hand to their team, while others stood by and just watched. If I was tagged out, I would both retrieve balls and give some coaching to our remaining players. For example, I grabbed two balls and handed them to two team members and said, “Throw them both at the same person!”
Third, I like to make sure team members have what they need if I’m in a position to give it to them. In one game, it was down to just one or two of our guys, and they were outnumbered. The other team threw balls at them, and I said to some of our other teammates who were out, “Get them some ammo!” We ran to get the thrown balls and give them back to our teammates.
I figure these things aren’t good or bad, they just are. In addition, when participating in fast-paced group sports, I get hyped up and really into the game. Certain aspects of my personality that I usually minimize come out in full view. I wonder if anyone thinks I’m different when in those situations. I don’t remember thinking anyone else seemed different. But it was a sign of good work relationships that the dodgeball games remained in the realm of friendly competition.
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