Developing and creating a workplace filled with happy people isn’t as difficult as you might think. When your able to keep the same crew on board long term they work like a team and the performance improvement is evident. Building strong teams starts from the top. You have to have leadership; it has to filter down so that people respect their leader. The purpose of team building is to find the joy of working together and strengthens the common goal among every­one.

While the owner, client or guests ultimately determine the vessel’s success, it is the interaction between them and crew that make the vessel a happy one. Teamwork promotes safe success for the whole team that in turn creates a positive environment seen by all and enhances their experience. Effective teams are something that you can build.

Being a leader happens one day at a time and requires learning the fundamentals of what makes a good leader: communication, motivation, engagement, and how to handle responsibility. Many obstacles that limit crew potential can start with a captain's own fears, unproductive habits, and inflated egos. A clear understanding of the limitations created by human flaws, along with the owning of the positive and negative aspects of one’s own personality, can vastly improve how crew responds to their captain. One of the benefits of team and leadership development is helping people to become more aware of the impact they have on others, and increasing their levels of self-awareness. When a leader has good communication, it tends to naturally build morale and loyalty, promote a sense of pride in the vessel, and result in less crew turnover.

In order to build a strong team, it is essential to get the crew to buy into the program. You have to foster a positive working environment and give people a sense of self-worth and encourage them to participate. This can be accomplished by sharing information and where possible, inviting and allowing people to take on responsibility, encouraging teaching and learning on all levels, and treating people with respect.

Every vessel is different and has to build their own team based on how the captain runs the boat and how the owner expects the vessel to be run. Therefore, it’s important that crew know what is expected.

Leading Teams has been developing high performing teams and leaders for over 20 years. They are a team of expertly trained facilitators that deliver on their Performance Improvement Program.

Ensure you encourage a safe and positive working culture with your crew, by keeping an up-to-date Safety Management System.