BOCA RATON, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 2, 2021 / Powerboat racing, a thrilling and dangerous sport, requires perfect collaboration between the driver and the throttleman. Any miscommunication or mistake made out on the water can be fatal, as racers often take on speeds close to 200 mph. Therefore, the importance of being a good teammate cannot be underestimated.
Having competed in the racing circuit for more than two decades, champion powerboat racer Hugh D. Fuller has been a part of countless successful teams. Continue below for his top tips on how to be a good teammate and push your team to victory.
Building Real Relationships
Teams and partnerships in the workplace can feel superficial and random at times. In order to maximize the outcomes of these relationships, it is important to prioritize creating real connections with people beyond the scope of your teamwork. Knowing more about the people you work with can allow you to communicate with them better, and can even lead to success. When Hugh Fuller transitioned his career from racecar driver to powerboat racer, the shift from driving solo to working with a teammate was a huge shift. Fuller, however, embraced the change and took the initiative to really get to know his throttlemen over the years.
"The bond I have with those guys is unreal," explains Hugh Fuller. "I knew right away that in order for us to race well together, we were going to have to spend time together outside of racing. Of course, you can't force a friendship, but I really got to know those guys like family, and that kind of relationship translates incredibly well when you're racing."
Understanding Yourself
Understanding your strengths and weaknesses is vital when one is a part of a team. Knowing when to step back is just as important as knowing when to volunteer yourself for a job. Great teamwork is all about balance, and an exceptional teammate is someone who understands exactly what their role is on the team. For Hugh D. Fuller, going from being a one-man racecar driver to being a part of a two-man powerboat team, this meant giving half of his responsibility to someone else.
Fuller reflects on this shift saying, "I knew it would take some adjustment, but once I accepted the change, I adapted quickly. It was nice to be able to trust someone else to help lead us both to victory. From the start, I've always felt like I could really count on my partner while racing."
Practicing Accountability
No one likes a freeloader, especially not while working with a team. Therefore, good teammates are those who hold themselves accountable for their responsibilities. Whether this requires additional work or self-improvement, it is the job of a good teammate to keep themselves on track. Powerboat racing requires much more than just participating in the race itself. The sport requires racers to keep themselves in top physical shape off the water in case of accidents while racing. For Hugh D. Fuller, working out was just one of the many things he did to keep himself and his partners in peak form.
"We had to work out five days a week with a personal trainer to keep in top shape. Aside from that, my partner and I would spend hours each week discussing strategy and doing research on our routes and methods," says Hugh Fuller. "When I was racing, it was my whole life, and almost everything I was doing was done in order to make me a better racer and teammate."
There is no single formula to being a good teammate, but as evidenced by Hugh D. Fuller, there are certain steps one can take to become a better teammate. Creating real relationships with your team, understanding your own strengths and weaknesses, and holding yourself accountable to your team are just three of the many ways you can become a better teammate.
Contact: Andrew Mitchell, media@cambridgeglobal.com
SOURCE: Hugh Fuller
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