Symbols as Bonding Mechanisms

In this chapter however, we will confine our discussion to the symbols that are the result of attachment.  These symbols are themselves bonding mechanisms.  Over time they develop power and strength that increase their value as bonding mechanisms.  Symbols are so powerful and so ubiquitous in our species that we have developed the field of symbology to study them.

Having said that, symbols arise from the core reasons for attachment to the team.  Much that defines bonding and attachment is, obviously, a product of background and environment.  We all grow up in different environments and are given opportunities based on the exposure we may have had to the groups, expectations, and comfort level of what we find in our environment.  In other words, our culture helps define the objects of our attachment.

For example, I came from a family of rowers.  My father and uncle were Olympians, my great uncle and cousin were accomplished oarsmen, my brother was a rower.  So, naturally, I found myself down on the river learning to row by the time I was ten.  If I had been born into a family of swimmers, or bikers, or basketball players, the odds are I would have found myself doing one of those sports.  I would have been exposed to the culture, the way of thinking, the expectations and the rewards that surround each one of those activities.

But I wasn't, so I became a rower.  My other interests initially grew out of my own culture and environment.  Obviously, as I grew older and made choices that brought me into contact with other environments and other situations, the things that inspired my passions changed somewhat, and yet, the rowing culture and environment were always a very big part of my life.

Now, because the sport of rowing was one of my passions, I've had many opportunities to attach myself to groups of rowers through the years.  I began with my club, Penn AC in Philadelphia, continued with my high school, Archbishop Carroll, graduated to the Naval Academy and continued on to row for the United States.  At each one of those places, I came into contact with different people, different cultures, and different ways of doing things.  But I was committed and attached to each one.  Sometimes, in fact, they conflicted.  When they did, the bonds that held me to one were strained by the stress afforded by my attachment to the other. 

Within each of the organizations and opportunities I belonged to in my rowing career, there were some common bonding mechanisms, represented by symbols, which helped set each organization apart. 

Symbols are powerful bonding mechanisms.  They can be, amongst others, names, nicknames, flags, logos, colors, and uniforms.  Symbols help to focus and define in a meaningful and straightforward way the shared values, culture and beliefs of a group of people.  They represent visually what can sometimes only be felt. 

When we look at the flag of the United States of America, for example, we are seeing an object dripping with symbolism.  Each star represents a state, each color has meaning.  Within the flag is the visual representation of the history and shared values of the American people.  Yet what we are feeling is dependent on our attachment to the country itself.  We could be feeling pride, or anger, patriotism or not.  The flag is a symbol and yet, over time, it has acquired great power, that we ourselves have given to it.

For me, the symbols began with the name.  But really, what IS in a name? Everything, as it turns out.  Penn Athletic Club.  It was my first rowing organization.  It was the place from which my entire family had rowed.  The name symbolized the achievements of not only my flesh and blood, but also the history and tradition of a long line of champions. The colors were blue and gold.  At Penn AC, the symbol was a Prussian eagle perched on the letters PaC.  We wore that symbol on our blue and gold Penn AC jerseys.  We were identified further by our status first as "juniors" and then, as we moved up through the ranks, as "intermediates", "seniors" and finally, "elites".

At Navy, it was the same.  Blue and gold colors and the big "N" adorned our racing shirts.  Our oars were blue and gold on the blades.  The "brigade of midshipmen" was how we were collectively known, but broken down by year, by regiment, battalion, company, platoon, and squad.  At the boathouse, we were plebe, junior varsity or varsity, lightweight or heavyweight, port or starboard.  Each one of these little groups was an attachment.  Each one had bonding mechanisms represented by symbols.  Each one generated names, nicknames, shared experiences and developing traditions.

People absolutely need symbols of this nature to feel part of a team.  The flag, for instance, becomes a rallying point for the team, Team America in this case.  As we shall see, teams can easily exist without these bonding mechanisms, but HIGH performance teams are defined by the symbols they value and which represent them.  The inspirational leader realizes this reality, and works to create it.