The popularity of crew as an intercollegiate sport and the novelty of his being captain caused the (New York) Times to keep an eye on Krulak. In April of his senior year, the paper again singled him out by saying that he was “full of aggressive energy,” that he was “the most important man in the boat,” and that “his iron voice has echoed over nearly every waterway Navy rows on.'“
— Robert Coram, Brute: The Life of Victor Krulak, U.S. Marine
The many personal and physical trials and tribulations of sports make it a rich source of leadership lessons. As a maritime force, rowing elicits the greatest parallels to naval leadership. Originally a means of training ancient mariners for battle, the sport has remained rooted to the core aspects of selflessness, small unit tactics, physical challenges, and motivation. However, it is not the rower’s role that provides the critical leadership insights but the coxswain’s. It can be presumed Victor “Brute” Krulak, one of the Marine Corps’ most revered generals, developed many of his foundational leadership skills while coxing for the Naval Academy. Although one of the less prestigious roles in athletics, the coxswain remains as integral to a crew’s success as a quarterback to a football team. Coxing provides one of the purest applications of leadership, and it can be conveyed into three principles: steering, cheering, and correcting.
Steering
The first skill for the coxswain to master is steering. While it sounds simple, there are several variables a coxswain must consider. First, the coxswain must have a good aiming point. Secondly, the current—an external, natural force for which the coxswain has no influence or authority—must be accounted for. Finally, the strengths and weaknesses of the crew must be acknowledged and carefully balanced to minimize undesirable effects on the course pursued.
Keys to navigating a small unit’s success are identifying proper goals, setting the proper course to achieve them, and avoiding distractions. As a leader, it is imperative to establish the aims for the unit. The crew yields this responsibility and lays trust in their coxswain to establish this aiming point. The coxswain is the only crew member who can clearly identify this aim and assess his or her team’s progress toward its goal. A reliable coxswain provides his or her crew the confidence that their efforts are not in vain and are contributing to success.
A crew may often find itself competing with external forces—such as currents—to achieve its aim. A strong or uncontested current can knock a crew off course and necessitate greater effort while striving for these goals. In a small unit, the current may be exhibited in the form of higher headquarters guidance, politics, or even institutional policies. These external elements are natural and create friction to which the small unit must adapt to maintain a steady course. The coxswain must acknowledge, accept, and compensate for these currents to keep his or her boat within its assigned lane.
The strengths and weaknesses of the unit also affect how it maneuvers toward its goal. An imbalance within the crew must be mitigated, or the boat will veer off center. A significant force disparity creates an inefficient application of power. This may cause the crew to row in circles, constantly trying to determine where the goal is and how to get there. A competent coxswain will recognize the strengths of his or her crew and compensate appropriately to reach its goal. Often, this may materialize as a reorganization—shifting a rower’s position to optimize performance.
Cheering
One of the most prevalent perceptions of the coxswain is as a cheerleader. Someone who simply shouts, “Row! Row!” While it is common for a coxswain to shout phrases of encouragement, it actually serves two purposes. First, they are delivered as commands. By vocally directing the team’s efforts, the coxswain can establish the standard, synchronize the team to the standard, and achieve greater unity of effort. Second, the coxswain is legitimately attempting to motivate his team. His “cheers” help to remind the team what the goal is, provide updates to their progress, and inspire the team to achieve their full potential. When encouraging his or her unit, a leader should consider both the context and volume of the cheer.
In a small unit, the value of cheering subordinates is often overlooked. Other times, it is conducted ineffectively or in a patronizing manner. Two considerations for cheering one’s team are tone and volume. Sometimes the tone applied can be discouraging. A coxswain announcing, “We’re losing by 5 meters!” is negative and may be demoralizing. On the other hand, it could be the necessary inspiration to try harder. The coxswain must recognize both negative and positive cheering and seek the desired or appropriate psychological effect. A true leader knows and understands the psyche of his crew and tailors the message appropriately.
Volume is the second aspect of cheering to appreciate. Sometimes, cheering loudly is a primal instinct. A leader feels the urge to vociferously and publicly applaud his or her troops. Some small units respond favorably to boisterous motivation. If the cheers sound trite or insincere though, they only embarrass and undermine the leader’s credibility. In times of stress, a loud volume can also signal anxiety, fear, panic, or even triviality. It can be overwhelming and distracting for the team. Possibly a softer tone can instill a calm focus on the mission. An unemotional assessment of the situation may demonstrate a confidence in the team’s ability to overcome a setback.
Corrections
Correcting is the final principle leaders must apply appropriately and effectively. Correcting involves the recognition of internal problems, providing the appropriate guidance at the appropriate time, and aligning the strengths of the team to remedy shortcomings.
Within a crew, the coxswain has the responsibility to synchronize everyone's efforts. Possessing the greatest visibility of the environment, the coxswain recognizes and identifies individual rowers’ errors. He or she provides the necessary corrections to ensure the rowers maintain synchrony. If one rower catches early or late, the coxswain must identify this error and provide guidance. Similarly, the small-unit leader must be cognizant of the individual actions of his unit and correct members whose actions are inconsistent with the unit’s vision.
Timing of corrections is also a consideration for the coxswain and small unit leader. Some corrections cannot be tolerated another moment and demand instant, on-the-spot addressal. These are typically individual focused, contrary to good order and discipline, contradict the unit’s ethos, or are something that may be quickly remedied. Other times, these corrections may require discourse to cull the greatest learning value and imprinting on the whole unit. Some deficiencies cannot be simply corrected during a race. Preserve those corrections for after the race, during the hotwash, or prior to liberty call. A skilled coxswain understands which corrections can be applied, or heeded, at critical moments without jeopardizing the crew’s rhythm, and which ones may be tolerated a little longer to derive greater learning value.
Arguably the most significant corrections a coxswain can make is to the crew’s lineup. Experienced coxswains rapidly recognize when their crew is not meeting its potential. They identify or sense the individual rower’s strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes, a rower may perform better in a different position or maybe a particular pair possesses a harmony that may better set the rhythm of the boat. Organization within a small unit demands a similarly attentive and attuned leader who can align members for maximum potential of success.
Looking Ahead
Although undervalued as athletic specimens, coxswains demonstrate excellent small-unit leadership qualities. Whether steering, cheering, or correcting, the coxswain carries the responsibility of establishing proper goals, stimulating the greatest potential from his or her team in achieving those goals, and providing candid guidance at the appropriate time. Just as General “Brute” Krulak likely learned from his days as a midshipman on the Severn River, faithful, reliable, and sincere leadership will garner the greatest excellence from one’s crew.
