This is an optional lesson! Feel free to skip it and move to the next one.
The Laws of the Navy
You should do exercises specifically about culture as a team! They create a shared vocabulary and shorthand that team members can use to reference more in-depth topics without needing to spend the time explaining them to each other.
If you're looking for an activity to do with your team to help them understand the importance of team culture, an old-school English class "document analysis" for about 5-10 minutes could help!
This poem was written in 1898 by a retired admiral of the Royal Navy, R. A. Hopwood. It gained popularity after the United States Naval Academy required memorization of at least one of the stanzas for all incoming midshipmen:
On the strength of one link in the cable
Dependeth the might of the chain.
Who knows when thou mayest be tested?
So live that thou bearest the strain!
What does it mean?
The strength of a team comes from the strength of every individual on the team. You never know when your team will need to rely on you, so you have to give your best at all times.
Every single stanza of this poem has a different lesson that applies to most teams (not just in the military!), and they're worth studying and internalizing as a leader/team member.
If you're looking for an activity to do with your team to help them understand the importance of team culture, an old-school English class "document analysis" for about 5-10 minutes could help!
This poem was written in 1898 by a retired admiral of the Royal Navy, R. A. Hopwood. It gained popularity after the United States Naval Academy required memorization of at least one of the stanzas for all incoming midshipmen:
On the strength of one link in the cable
Dependeth the might of the chain.
Who knows when thou mayest be tested?
So live that thou bearest the strain!
What does it mean?
The strength of a team comes from the strength of every individual on the team. You never know when your team will need to rely on you, so you have to give your best at all times.
Every single stanza of this poem has a different lesson that applies to most teams (not just in the military!), and they're worth studying and internalizing as a leader/team member.
| The Laws of the Navy.pdf |
Tl;dr Top Tips:
- Team-building exercises (specifically about culture) as a team create a shared vocabulary and can help get everyone on board.