By Ryla Krulik | John Jay High School, NY
A Team Decision Making event is the ultimate trust exercise. Every step of the way, from the test to the day of the competition, you must have complete reliance on your partner. Here are some tips and tricks from a Freshman who qualified for ICDC with her best friend.
Have a Study Schedule Together
Life gets busy. We all know the feeling of having weeks to prepare and then, all of a sudden, it's competition day. As soon as you qualify for each level, you should have a conversation with your partner about how much time you're each willing to dedicate. Then plan a few study dates. This can be a great excuse to visit your favorite cafe! Turn it into something you will both enjoy and want to keep doing. Study dates together are essential for practicing your roleplay. After just a few practices, you’ll find you can use your prep time more efficiently and speak more fluidly when presenting.
Swap Notes
Everyone should keep a DECA notebook, the place where you store your study notes and research. Keeping these notes in writing and in one place can make it much easier for you and your partner to exchange knowledge. This both doubles your productivity and ensures that both teammates have the same information, so no one gets thrown for a loop during the presentation. I like swapping at one of our study dates and just taking a moment to read through each person's notebook. When you go through them together, you can ask follow-up questions and research together!
Anyone can work with someone… but the best know how to work together
You should understand your partner's thinking and have a clear plan for what will happen when you reach the prep room. You don’t have long to talk and figure out a solution. Deciphering your partner's strengths saves you time in that prep room. You will ultimately have a better role-play because you're both good at what you do. Have serious talks with your partner, even if you have known them your whole life. DECA requires a new style of joint thinking; you must learn to work together that way. Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses, and don’t be afraid to point out if your partner has a weakness they don’t know about. Constructive criticism from someone close to you is a great thing, especially when it comes to competitions like DECA.
Get through the Ups and Downs
DECA will challenge you. There will be unforgettable moments and hard ones. It’s vital to remove any pressure from each other; there's enough pressure as it is! You should feel comfortable enough with your partner that you know either of you could fail or mess up and still be okay. Competitions should only strengthen friendships, not break them up. You’ll find that once that unnecessary pressure is removed, both of you will do much better in the long run and not have to recover from many losses!
Most of all… Have Fun
Every article, self-help book and life coach says this, but it's true. Your judge will be able to tell if you genuinely enjoy doing DECA with your partner. Bring light energy into the room, not heavy energy. DECA is so much fun once you learn to work with your partner and to love DECA. Trust me, it’s not hard.
