Sailing is a rich metaphor for the journey of leadership. Both require vision, adaptability, and resilience. My own experiences over the last decades on the water have provided me with invaluable lessons that have shaped my approach to leadership.
Here are four key insights:
1. Mast in the Mud? Prepare, Don’t Panic, Trust Your Skills
When I was 16, I bought my first sailboat, a cute little “Turtle” with yellow sails. After school, I loved taking her out on the lake. One afternoon, despite the wind being a bit too strong, I was determined to go sailing. Unfortunately, the boat capsized, and I ended up in the water. Normally, the sail and mast would float, but this time the mast got stuck in the mud. My boat had “turtled”—quite fitting, given its name.
Finding yourself upside down in the water is a moment of panic. But with about 5-6 years of sailing experience at that time, I knew it was crucial to stay calm and trust my skills, even if I wasn’t sure what to do next.
In leadership, we often face unexpected challenges that can feel overwhelming. Projects get stuck, and obstacles appear out of nowhere. These are the times when preparation, calmness, and experience really matter. Don’t panic; rely on your knowledge and the skills you’ve developed over time. Your calm, confident response will set the tone for your team and guide you through the storm, helping you get back on course.
2. Change in the Weather? Prepare for the Worst, Hope for the Best
A few years later, I rented a daysailer with a friend for a two-week adventure in Friesland, a beautiful part of The Netherlands. Halfway through our vacation, after a sunny but hot and muggy day, we were caught off guard by a sudden storm while anchored. Overnight, the calm lake transformed into a choppy mess, with 2–3 foot waves tossing our little boat around.
We tried calling for help to get towed to a safer spot, but other boats didn’t hear us and sailed away. Being anchored so close to shore, the boat’s keel got stuck in the mud, splitting the boat in half. Water rushed in through a crack from bow to stern within seconds. We salvaged what we could, but lost many of our belongings. If we had been better prepared for what was coming, we would have headed to a marina for the night and not ended up with a shipwreck.
Preparation is key: Just as we should have anticipated the storm and headed to a marina, leaders must prepare for potential challenges. Anticipate risks and have contingency plans in place.
Effective Communication: Our calls for help went unheard, highlighting the importance of effective communication. Leaders must make sure to use clear and reliable communication channels, especially in times of crisis.
Stay Flexible and Adapt: The sudden storm required us to adapt quickly, but our options were limited due to lack of preparation. In leadership, being flexible and ready to pivot strategies when faced with unexpected changes is crucial.
Resourcefulness in Adversity: When our boat split and sank, we salvaged what we could. Leaders should be resourceful, making the best of the situation and using available resources to navigate through crises.
3. Grounded our Boat: Don’t Blame, Be Creative with Resources
In my mid-twenties my crew and I managed to run our sailboat aground by accident in near coastal waters, that are characterized as difficult sailing areas due to strong currents and wide ranges in eb and flood tides that expose the seabed twice a day. A navigational error was the cause of this frustrating and disheartening experience.
It’s easy to point fingers and place blame, but in both sailing and leadership, it’s far more productive to focus on solutions. When your boat is stuck, the key is to creatively use the resources at hand to make the best of the situation, which we did.
Leadership requires the same approach. Instead of dwelling on what went wrong or who is at fault, channel your energy into finding creative solutions and leveraging the strengths of your team to overcome obstacles while you’re making the best of it.
4. Change Course in Bad Weather? Don’t Be Afraid to Reassess, Abort and Redirect
During a boat delivery (where a hired crew delivers a boat for the client at a designated location) to La Coruña, on the northern coast of Spain, we found ourselves in a strong storm for the coast of Brittany. Sailing in a storm is perilous, and sometimes the best decision is to change course and head back to safer waters to reassess. We did turn around to our originating location.
In leadership, there are times when, despite the best-laid plans, circumstances change dramatically and quickly. Recognize when it’s necessary to step back, reassess, and create a new plan based on the current realities. It takes courage to admit when a course correction is needed, but this flexibility is essential for long-term success. The ability to assess and change course when needed is a hallmark of effective leadership.
Conclusion: The Compass of Leadership
Leadership, much like sailing, is an ongoing journey filled with challenges and learning opportunities. By staying calm in the face of adversity, being flexible, focusing on solutions, and knowing when to change course, we navigate the seas of leadership more effectively. Each experience, whether a smooth sail or a stormy voyage, adds to our wisdom and skill, helping us become better leaders.
Continue to navigate your leadership journey with the same resilience, creativity, and adaptability that the best sailors embody. Smooth seas never made skilled sailors, and each wave you encounter only strengthens your courage and capability. By integrating these lessons, you can better navigate the unpredictable waters of your professional journeys, ensuring smoother sailing, even when things get rough.
#leadershiplessons, #communication, #problemsolving