A Bicycle Built for Teams!

September202024

See the picture above? That’s one of our favorite examples of teamwork.

When we start one of our team building sessions, we always take a little time to talk about teamwork. We use this picture to illustrate some of the basics:

  • Everybody is pedaling in unison. Everyone has to pull their weight to keeping the group moving.
  • There’s only one person who can steer. You can talk about where you’re going, but just the person up front leads.
  • Just like those in back have to trust the one in front to steer, the one in front has to trust that the others will help balance as they ride.
  • Every person on this bike is thinking the same thing: “I’m pedaling harder than anyone else on this thing!”

My wife and I own a tandem bike, and ride it often. Even after years, we still have to talk about what we’re doing while we ride, and we still don’t have it down to a science. Just like with the teams at your work, school or service organization, you have to keep the communication flowing, even when you’re a well-oiled chain… uh, team.

And yes, we each still think we’re pedaling harder than the other person!

Happy riding.