EKAITZ SAIES

In high-performance sports, we rely heavily on data to evaluate performance. We measure speed, efficiency, and countless other metrics. But one of the most critical factors for success cannot be quantified: team chemistry.

You can’t measure it, but you can sense it.

Some athletes just click. In a crew boat, their movements are seamless, communication is effortless, and the entire team moves in perfect sync. It’s not just about individual talent—often, crews with less raw skill but stronger chemistry outperform expectations.

Robert Greene, in The 33 Strategies of War, discusses the concept of “teamwork as strategy,” emphasizing that a unified force will always outperform a group of disconnected individuals. The best teams function as a single organism, moving with shared intent rather than as a collection of isolated parts.

So how do you recognize great team chemistry? It’s in the way teammates support each other without hesitation. It’s in the unspoken understanding during high-pressure moments. It’s in the trust that each person will do their part.

I was reminded of this during the Paddle Games event in Palma, when my friend and Olympic champion Ronald Rauhe gifted me a signed copy of his book, In Einem Boot. My German isn’t good enough to fully grasp every word, but I could tell from its pages that he speaks about these intangible synergies—the deep, unspoken connections that define great teams.

Recently, I finished watching the BBC series SAS Rogue Heroes, and I was so captivated by the story that I even bought the book to gain a deeper insight. What stood out to me was how this group of misfits—outsiders who didn’t fit the mold of traditional soldiers—developed an extraordinary bond. Their chemistry wasn’t just about working well together; it was about protecting each other at all costs. This deep sense of trust and unity led them to achieve unthinkable feats, proving that chemistry can sometimes be the difference between failure and greatness.

And yet, there’s one more ingredient that often facilitates that chemistry: the coach or the team leader. A great leader knows how to bring individuals together, instilling trust, setting the tone, and fostering a shared mission. The best leaders don’t just give orders – they create an environment where chemistry can thrive. They understand that a group of talented individuals is nothing without cohesion, and they work relentlessly to build that invisible bond.

While statistics are essential, chemistry is the invisible force that binds everything together. You won’t find it on a spreadsheet, but when it’s there, you know it.

And when a team has it, they become unstoppable.