How Fluid Movement’s Synchronized Swimming Team Creates a Thriving Organizational Culture Through Connection, Humor, Feedback, and Enthusiasm

This summer, on a bit of a whim, I freestyled my way into synchronized swimming with Fluid Movement – Baltimore City’s Water Ballet. I’d watched this magical group from a distance and decided it was finally time to dive into all the wonder they generated in my mind. I was equal parts nervous and excited while feeling quite stretched from my comfort zone on land. All reservations aside, it was my “year of yes” and joining the water ballet was at the top of my list.

As professional in the organizational culture space, I am keenly critical of my experiences with new groups. Like an event planner at a friend’s wedding, I just can’t help myself when it comes to critiquing the little details that make a big difference.  To my absolute delight, Fluid Movement is a model for creating an environment where people thrive.

Fluid Movement lives and breathes their culture. You feel it from the moment you step into their space. As the ultimate Culture Keepers* the leaders of the group gracefully remind you of it if you’re not swimming in sync with the vibes of the tribe. I learned so much from this group of fabulousness and you can too!

Here’s how Fluid Motion SHOWED us their values and culture through their ACTIONS. Here are just a handful of the positive culture infusion that they bring to every experience:

• Connection: Before practice begun a special online group was created for our team, with the sole purpose to connect with one another on both the human and the logistical side. From the first gathering the majority of our time was spent getting to know each other’s names and creating a real connection for each person. Every practice thereafter time was dedicated to continue to get know one another.

CULTURE TIP: Knowing team members names is often taken for granted. How can you build a meaningful relationship if you don’t know someone’s name? It’s the leader’s job to create these norms from day one. In an office, it can be as simple as taking the newbie on a tour and introducing them along the way.

• Humor: Our directors literally spoke in puns from the first email. They admitted that they love to laugh at their own jokes and were goofballs right off the bat. They encouraged and rewarded members would join in on their silliness. And always reminded us that this entire experience was about having fun – even though water ballet is serious stuff!

• Feedback: In the first week the founder came to practice and spoke openly about the importance of giving feedback throughout the entire season. She spoke about the fact that we can’t see the bigger picture of what’s happening in the pool and we need to rely on each other’s criticism in order to be stronger. After all, it would be quite the let down to the audience if we looked more like ninnies bobbing around than actually having a tight routine.

• Enthusiasm: You couldn’t ask for more passionate group of folks. All the former performers spoke about the joy and immense pleasure that the group brings them each year. It was clear that they were a tribe. Members had been engaged for 7+ years and made the newbies excited to get to taste what Fluid Movement had nourished within them over the seasons. Everyone (new and seasoned) showed support and enthusiasm towards each other’s progress and the overall growth of the scene.

For anyone looking to build or shift their organization’s culture to one that feeds off any of the aforementioned culture principles, I highly suggest you take a lap in the Fluid Movement pool of sparkle.

Come feel it for yourself in the upcoming shows the weekends of July 29^th and August 5^th!

*”Culture Keepers” is a SparkVision term used to describe people who lead and maintain the positive aspects of your organization’s environment and values.