Don't push to thin slams on 4-4 fits. Be more aggressive with 5-4 fits. If your teammates don't want to talk about it, don't push. If they push after you tell them you don't want to talk about it, lie to them. Try not to be believable.
Partnerships are very synergistic.
The sum can be anywhere between a large negative constant and something much greater than the sum of the parts. When playing in an individual, treat your partners with courtesy and respect. Don't make life tough on them, but give them a chance and you will often get pleasantly surprised. Give them no chance and you cannot win. If you have not been passed in blackwood, you cannot win an individual.