Build Better Partnerships: Unlocking The Secrets To Good Communication
Takeaway: The article discusses how communication is critical to building and maintaining successful dance partnerships. A clear set of expectations, patience, respect, and learning your partner's preferred communication style are some of the ways to build a solid foundation for effective communication and better results.
The First Step To Better Partnerships: Unlocking The Secret To Good Communication
Dance is unique from other sports in numerous ways, but none more obvious than in the dynamics of partnerships.
Nothing will make or break a dancer’s performance and results more than their relationship and teamwork with their partner.
And just as it is mirrored in real life, who you choose as your partner is the most important decision you will make as a dancer.
And yet, what most dancers fail to realize after selecting a partner with whom they mesh well, is that this relationship is a living, breathing organism. It is not a decision you make once and forget about. It requires constant upkeep.
Like a high performance sports car, it can only perform it’s best when you have a constant pulse on the mechanics and condition of its most inner parts.
What we’re talking about here is having rock solid communication between both dancers. Here’s how to build a solid foundation of communication to ensure peak performance:
Start With Open Communication
It's important to establish clear communication from the beginning. Both partners should express their expectations, goals, and concerns to each other. How frequently do you both expect to practice together? For how long in each session? What can both people realistically commit to?
Establishing a clear set of expectations from the very beginning is important to ensure both dancers remain on the same page and excel together.
Additionally, as time goes on it is a good idea to check-in with each other about your current goals, expectations, and any concerns that may have developed since the last time you spoke about it. I recommend you have one of these “check-in” conversations at least once every three months.
Always Be Patient and Respectful
It is inevitable that at some point emotions will be high. Being reliant on another person during times of peak stress and adrenaline, such as the day of a competition, can mean that tension develops. Especially as each dancer reacts to this stress differently.
First, it’s crucial to understand how your partner tends to respond in these high-stress situations. Do they keep their cool, or do they get inside their head? Knowing what type of behavior to expect means you can collectively develop a plan to manage these emotions so that they don’t negatively impact your performance.
Once you understand how to best support your partner, it’s important to be patient with each other and try to understand each other's perspectives. Sometimes this patience requires you to do the hard task of setting your own emotions aside momentarily.
And always avoid personal attacks, no matter how frustrated you might be feeling.
Learn Your Partner’s Preferred Communication Style
How does your partner prefer to receive feedback? Are they ok with blunt criticism, or does it need to be dialed back so as not to arouse negative emotions?
Both dancers should clarify the ways they prefer to receive this critical feedback on performance. Then, as their partner, you should do your best to mold your feedback to fit within this framework. Going the extra step to match your partner’s preferred communication style could mean all the difference between consistent improvement or consistent fights.
Utilize Active Listening
Active listening is an essential component of effective communication.
Dancers need to be attentive to their partner's feedback, ideas, and suggestions, and respond in a way that shows that they have heard and understood them. This helps to build trust and mutual respect between partners and improves their overall relationship.
How can you improve your active listening skills? Here are some tips:
Pay attention: Focus on your partner when they’re speaking and avoid distractions, such as your phone or other activities.
Show interest: Show your partner that you are interested in what they are saying through your body language, such as maintaining eye contact, nodding your head, or using verbal cues like "uh-huh" or "yes."
Ask questions: Ask open-ended questions to clarify your understanding and encourage your partner to elaborate on their thoughts.
Paraphrase: Repeat what your partner said in your own words to show that you understand their message and to clarify any misunderstandings.
Avoid interrupting: Allow your partner to finish their thought before responding.
Summarize: Recap what your partner said at the end of the conversation to ensure that you understood their message accurately.
Use Clear and Concise Language When Communicating With Your Partner
Dancers should use clear and concise language when discussing their routines or providing feedback to their partners. This helps to avoid misunderstandings or confusion and ensures that both partners are on the same page.
Here are a few ways to ensure you’re being clear in your communication:
Be Specific: When discussing dance routines or providing feedback, be specific about what you mean. Use concrete terms and avoid vague or general statements. For example, instead of saying, "I think we need to work on our footwork," you could say, "I noticed that we are not pointing our toes during the cha-cha step. Let's practice that movement specifically."
Be Direct: Get to the point quickly and avoid rambling or going off on tangents. Be direct and straightforward in your communication. For example, instead of saying, "I was thinking maybe we could try something different here," you could say, "Let's try adding a turn on the third beat of this measure."
Be Respectful: Communication should always be respectful, even when discussing areas for improvement. Avoid using harsh or critical language and focus on providing constructive feedback that helps both partners to improve. Always remember the preferred communication style we discussed earlier.
Effective communication is crucial to any partnership, and dance is no exception. For dancers, the partnership is especially important as it can make or break your performance.
A good foundation of communication should be established from the beginning with clear expectations and goals. It's important to be patient and respectful, especially in high-stress situations. Understanding your partner's preferred communication style is crucial, and active listening is essential. Lastly, using clear and concise language helps avoid misunderstandings or confusion.
By following these tips, your dance partnership can thrive and lead to improved performance and success. Remember, dance is not just a sport but an art form that requires both skill and teamwork to excel.
~ Coach Alex
P.S. Want to learn more about how to improve your results in dance competitions? Click here to learn what many of your peers already know—that extra step to focus on your efforts outside the studio can give you a huge competitive advantage.