Who's In Your Boat? Evaluating the Strength of Your Team

March 30, 2026•5 min read

Who’s in Your Boat? Evaluating the Strength of Your Team

Leadership is often described as setting direction, making decisions, and driving results. But at its core, leadership is about people. And one of the most important questions any leader can ask is simple:

Who’s in your boat?

It’s a question rooted in the metaphor we’ve talked about often—the idea that leadership, relationships, and partnerships are all part of the same journey. You’re not navigating alone. The people around you matter. The way they row, support, challenge, and respond in difficult moments matters even more.

Because not all boats move at the same pace—and not every crew is aligned.

So it’s worth taking a step back and evaluating: Who’s with you, and how strong is your team?

Are People Rowing in the Same Direction?
You can have talented, hardworking individuals, but if they’re rowing in different directions, progress stalls. Alignment isn’t about agreement on everything—it’s about clarity of purpose. Does your team understand the mission? Are they committed to it? Do their daily actions reflect that commitment?

A strong team rows together, even when the waters get rough.

Who Brings Energy—and Who Drains It?
Every team has individuals who elevate the group and those who quietly pull it down. Energy matters. Attitude matters. The way people show up impacts everyone else in the boat.

This isn’t about labeling people—it’s about awareness. As a leader, you have to recognize who is building momentum and who may need support, redirection, or accountability.

Who Can You Count on When It Gets Hard?
Calm water doesn’t reveal much about a team. Adversity does.

When challenges arise, who leans in? Who takes ownership? Who supports others instead of stepping back? Trust is built in these moments. A strong team isn’t defined by how they operate when things are easy, but by how they respond when things are not.

Are You Willing to Make Tough Decisions About the Crew?
This is where leadership becomes real.

There are times when someone may not be the right fit for the boat you’re trying to move forward. That doesn’t make them a bad person—but it does require an honest evaluation. Avoiding these decisions in the name of comfort or loyalty can stall the entire team.

Strong leaders address these realities with clarity, respect, and courage.

Are You the Right Leader for the Boat?
This question cuts both ways. It’s not just about evaluating others—it’s about evaluating yourself.

Are you providing clear direction?
Are you building trust?
Are you modeling the behaviors you expect from others?

The strength of the team is often a reflection of the leader at the helm.

The Bottom Line
Every organization, every school, every team is on a journey. The destination matters—but so does the crew.

Take time to reflect.
Pay attention to alignment, energy, trust, and accountability.
Have the conversations that need to be had.

Because at the end of the day, the success of your journey isn’t just about where you’re going—it’s about who’s rowing with you.

And whether you’re all moving forward together.

—Randy Russell, Ph.D.

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Our experts have helped dozens of schools, school districts, and businesses develop their Strategic Plans and Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) through our highly interactive and engaging process which includes all of your stakeholders.

One Superintendent shared, "When we engaged RLR for the strategic planning process, I had high expectations and they exceeded every one of them. Their facilitation was thoughtful, well-structured, and deeply focused on authentic community engagement. Randy and Erich really integrated themselves into our community, as they successfully brought together diverse voices from across our district, creating a shared vision which I believe reflects our students, families, staff and partners. The result was not only a strong strategic plan, but a renewed trust, clarity, and agreement on our path forward. I highly recommend their work to any district seeking a strategic planning partner which reflects your community."

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Who's In Your Inner Circle?
RLR Leadership Consulting and The CORE Project

Think about the people closest to you. The ones you share ideas with, lean on for support, and let influence your decisions. That group—your inner circle—shapes how you see yourself, the choices you make, and even the risks you’re willing to take.

Sometimes, those relationships give you energy and push you forward. Other times, they hold you back. That’s why RLR Leadership Consulting and The CORE Project have teamed up to create Your Inner Circle—an opportunity to pause, reflect, and intentionally shape the connections that matter most.

In this experience, you’ll:

Identify who truly belongs in your circle
Learn how to set healthy boundaries when needed
Build trust that actually lasts
Choose connections that make you stronger

Because the truth is, leadership isn’t just about strategy or skills—it’s about people. And the people closest to you can either empower your growth or limit your potential.

We’d love for you to join us. As a special opportunity, use code Randy15 for a discounted price—but hurry, this offer won’t last long.
https://thecorepro.com/coregroups/p/your-inner-circle-curriculum

Your circle matters. Choose it wisely.

If you would like me, or someone from our RLR Team, to speak or work with your school and/or school district, please contact us at www.randyrussell.org.