We recently connected with Ivy McNeil and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ivy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

The Dragon Boat Club at ASU is an organization represented by a wide ethnic variety of people that share a common interest. The club offers both competitive and leisure forms of dragon boat racing and is committed to promoting physical and emotional well-being. The team strives to enhance a cross-cultural understanding and awareness of Asian and Asian-American culture while encouraging a passion for the sport.

By providing a safe, respectful, and supportive environment, students can meet and exceed personal goals, strive for excellence, while building friendships, teamwork, and sportsmanship. We aim to contribute to a positive sporting atmosphere within ASU by engaging the students in challenging activities enhanced through the spirit of competition, discipline, and fair play.

Basically, we focus on spreading the knowledge of Dragon Boat to everyone, and having a welcoming environment so people can practice the sport happily and safely!

Ivy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was introduced to Dragon Boat when I was in 8th grade by a friend’s dad’s coworker. This experience showed me the importance of relationships and connections in spreading awareness about lesser-known sports or hobbies. I started paddling with the Kids team, also known as the Cuddlefish, and eventually joined an adult team in high school. However, due to the spread of Covid, I had to stop paddling. When I started college at ASU, I joined the Dragon Boat team and currently serve as the acting president of the club. Through this experience, I have learned valuable skills such as motivating and reaching out to people, as well as being approachable. I am most proud of how I have stepped up to keep the club running smoothly with the help of other paddlers and the Executive Board.

For those who are not familiar with me, I provide products and services related to Dragon Boat. As a team, we solve the problem of finding an exciting and unique way to stay fit and active. Our team is different from others because we focus on building strong relationships and creating a supportive community within our club. I am proud of how we have been able to maintain the club’s success and growth, and I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know that we prioritize inclusivity, fun, and growth within our community.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One challenging situation I faced as a team leader was taking on the responsibility of organizing two Festival races in California, which involved managing numerous details such as car assignments, hotels, and registrations. Despite feeling overwhelmed and stressed, I was able to successfully plan and execute both trips, and the races went smoothly. This experience taught me valuable lessons in time management and problem-solving, and I am proud of the resilience I demonstrated.

Any advice for managing a team?

As the acting president of ASU Dragon Boat, I believe that effective team management and maintaining high morale involves a few key elements:

Communication: Communication is critical in ensuring that all team members are on the same page, understand their roles and responsibilities, and are informed about any changes or updates. As a leader, it’s important to set clear expectations and communicate openly and honestly with the team.

Encouragement and recognition: Recognizing and encouraging team members for their hard work and contributions can go a long way in boosting morale. Whether it’s a verbal thank you or a small token of appreciation, showing that you value and appreciate your team members can help keep them motivated and engaged.

Collaboration and inclusivity: Encouraging collaboration and inclusivity within the team can help foster a sense of community and shared purpose. As a leader, it’s important to listen to and incorporate ideas and feedback from all team members, regardless of their role or experience level.

Flexibility and adaptability: Inevitably, there will be challenges and unforeseen obstacles that arise. Being flexible and adaptable in how you approach these challenges can help maintain team morale and keep everyone focused on the end goal.

Overall, effective team management and maintaining high morale requires a combination of strong leadership, open communication, recognition and encouragement, collaboration, and adaptability. By prioritizing these elements, I believe that teams can achieve their goals while also fostering a positive and supportive team environment.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: dragonboat_asu

Image Credits
dragonboat_asu