Hello Reader
What getting a shark shot out from underneath me taught me about trusting my team.
When I was in the navy, we used to do what was called a SWIMEX. This meant jumping off the ship wherever we were floating and going for a swim in the middle of the ocean.
It is brilliant, terrifying, and liberating to get off the steel hunk you have been living on for weeks.
But you never swim alone. There is always a watcher and a shooter on deck, just in case.
On this occasion, I was flopping around in the waters off the coast of Northern Western Australia. I was blissed out: sunny sky, clear water, fluffy clouds. Then I heard the shout: "Alarm shark, alarm shark!"
Weirdly, they were pointing at me.
I did not have much time to think anything other than "I am not a shark!" before the water around me exploded with bullets.
The deal that saved me.
Luckily, I had made a pact with the shooter. A few weeks earlier at our rifle training session, he and I had tied for the best shot on the patrol boat. We made a joking agreement right then and there: "He swims, I shoot. I swim, he shoots."
I'm pretty sure the only reason I made it to the ladder and hurtled out of the water like a rocket was because of that agreement. The guy could shoot, and I knew it.
WHO IS ON YOUR WATCH?
In leadership, we talk about trust as a "soft skill," but in high-pressure moments, trust is the only thing that keeps the ship upright. You cannot swim freely if you are constantly looking over your shoulder to see if your team has their eyes on the horizon.
- Capability matters: I trusted him because I had seen him perform at the range. Do you actually know the top strengths of your team members?
- Clear agreements: We had a "contract" before the crisis hit. Are your expectations clear before the "shark" appears?
- Psychological safety: I could jump into that water because I knew someone had my back. Does your team feel safe enough to take risks, or are they too busy watching for fins?
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WORK TOWARD TRUSTING YOUR TEAM
If you can jump into the deep water knowing your "shooter" is focused and capable, you have built a high-performance culture. Trust is not just a feeling; it is a calculated decision based on shared history and proven skill.
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MAKE THE DEAL
Who is one person on your team that you need to "make a deal" with this week to ensure you both feel supported?
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I would love to hear about a time when you had to put your absolute trust in a team member during a high-stakes moment. How did it change your relationship afterward?
Hit reply and let me know. I read every single email, and I cannot wait to hear how you are putting these ideas into practice.
Let's get to work,
Rebecca