Teaming: Wins or Woes

A vital part of our job as interpreters, teaming with each other can be a grisly business. A lack of connection will exasperate already challenging situations, leaving us bristling like a kettle close to boil (and everyone can feel it!). A harmonious pair imparts a sense of empowerment: we did something well because/and we allowed ourselves to do it together. Teaming has unique challenges in different environments such as Video Relay Service (VRS) work compared to community, but it’s a part of our role that works to either energize or drain our precious interpreting life-force, so let’s talk about it.

Read on for common challenges interpreters aggrieve (yay, vent fest!) and how to summon a mindful vision as one whole half of the interpreting body.

Ten Common Teaming Woes:

1. The Non-Team: on-seat who? Unbothered, moisturized, in my own lane, direct needs for feeds elsewhere please.
2. The Jumpy Team: lag time makes me question if this train needs a new conductor?? And if it should be me??
3. The Non-Prepped and Non-Plussed: Their preconference is “I’m parking”; followed by a disappearing act post-assignment
4. The (off-seat) Copy Signer: in case you need a mirror while you’re signing- in sight and in mind!
5. The Over-Feeder: No need for feeds but here they are anyway!
6. The Checking My Phone Team: Always on their phone and has no idea what is happening
7. The Reinvented Wheel Team: The established signs escaped me! (over and over ((and over)) again)
8. The Happy Camper: (One Hour Later) I just got started and Time is Not Real
9. The Prescriptionist Team: I’ll tell ya what you want, what you really really want (no really, please type, there’s too many signers on this screen)
10. The Abrupt Switch Team: Get that shepherd’s hook outta here, I tell ya! I won’t skedaddle!

Clearly, we have entered into a Goldilocks situation- just the right kind of teaming will do- what a challenge! Not too much, not too little, pay attention but don’t distract, listen but don’t prescribe, treat it as a duet not a solo, and so on. Quite a delicate balance to strike, but a few of these woes can be categorized so the bigger picture emerges.

Take the “non-team” and “always checking my phone team”. This tells of a checked-out off-seat who has left the on-seat dancing all alone. The effect is an on-seat fruitlessly searching for feeds and potentially shutting down when it’s their turn as the support. What once was a chance to connect and show the consumers a display of unity has left at least one member of the interpreting team brooding about the lack of support and acknowledgment. No wins here, only woes- a disjointed connection seeks repair.

What about the jumpy team and the off-seat over-feeder or copy-signer? These approaches communicate a lack of trust and respect for the counterpart; creating a sense of urgency that may hinder the on-seat interpreter’s process. Instead of concentrating on deciphering the source message and developing an equivalent in the target language, there is an added element of defense. The work of interpretation is a cognitive body-slam and we know lag time is important to reduce errors. Continuously offering a feed, practicing while off or jumping in creates a new cognitive draw akin to warding off a buzzing bee. Oh, the unwanted woe! It begs for a clear visual and mental space in which to work and beckons trust to the forefront of the connection.

When interpreters neglect to discuss switching in the pre-conference or resist setting clear turn-taking expectations, it throws off the rhythm of the teaming structure. Within the Goldilocks’ teaming-model is a sweet spot of turn-taking that keeps the off-seat warm and leaves wiggle room for natural hand-offs. Think of the jarring effect when a team decides it’s time to switch without waiting for a natural pause. Like a popped balloon flailing helplessly as it lands in a deflated heap next to our interpretation on the floor, a woeful sight! Or when a team decides to exercise incredible stamina and slowly ices out their counterpart. Setting clear expectations takes both of these too-long and too-abrupt bowls of porridge off the table, leaving greater mental room for teams to confidently approach their work. Creating an environment without doubt is a freeing state for teams to reach for.

Lastly, the team who shows up late to the party and redefines the vibe- oh, rude woe! We had a good thing going! When entering an assignment as a newbie, a clear sign of respect and willingness to collaborate is to note and adopt established signs. If the wheel of communication is turning, there is no need to re-shape it as the new interpreter. This attitude relates to disregarding preferences of your team, such as how to deliver feeds. Grasping too tightly to how you would sign something or how you prefer to provide feeds neglects the chance to learn and support your team in an effective way. How better to create a flexible, considerate scene that exudes strength and humility than by listening, noticing, and adjusting? In short, let’s dance!

Teaming woes are challenging to address but if they are neglected they have a chance to fester and infect our environment. So, be brave and say the hard things out loud! We are purveyors of interpretation and students of communication, always learning and growing; humility allows us to do both less painfully. Now we’ve gotten that off our chest, let’s talk wins. What does being a supportive, adaptable, just-right team look like?

Ten Common Teaming Wins:

1. The Detective: Ears perked, ready to notice demands as the off-seat and mitigate them inconspicuously.
2. The Cool Cucumber: Provides feeds when asked and gives space for lag time (feel that trust?!).
3. The Collaborator: Arrives ready to pre-conference, takes notes in the off-seat, and available to debrief after.
4. Sharing Is Caring: Team is mindful of their time in the on-seat and shares the load.
5. The Sponge: Team listens to understand how to their team prefers to be supported.
6. The Cheerleader: What was that magic?! INCREDIBLE! We’ve got SHARP HANDS here people, SHARP HANDS!
7. The “Doesn’t Eat My Young”: Does what they can to make the newbie feel less like an outsider and gives them concrete tools to be successful.
8. The “Respects My Elders”: Respects what previous team and consumer have developed for sign choices when coming in as the new team.
9. The Realistic Optimist: Can identify when a situation is subpar but still roll with the punches and stick with their team (Do Not Panic mode is very helpful when ships are sinking due to outside forces!)
10. The A-Team: Shows up with extra coffee (for moral support and logistics)- ah, a gentle reminder to slow down and savor the moment.

In essence, being a good team is a practice of mindfulness. Consider how you show up to a space; are you calm, clear-headed, and centered? Notice any tension brewing and practice releasing it before it spills over onto your team or inhibits your own process. Muster the courage to communicate what your needs are and listen to understand your team’s. Visualize entering each teaming moment as stepping onto the dance floor rather than the boxing ring. We have the ability to dial into our assignment and set the tone with notes of ease, openness, consideration, and attentiveness. Our porridge can burn, it can leave a chill in the air, or it can serve as a warm invitation to the table.

Teaming gently implores us to relinquish total control in order to flow with a sense of give-and-take. Are you able to support without taking over? Being both humble enough to follow and confident enough to lead in this dance is vital to center your work around the consumer, where it belongs. So, lace up (your shoes, not your gloves!), tune-in, and step onto the dance floor of teaming with poise and intention. Only we know the mental and emotional agility it takes to do our job- so when the music starts, lean in and don’t let go. It’s time to waltz!