The Paradox of Leadership: Lead Like a Coach, Not a Captain
24/09/24 12:28
In the maritime and yachting world, captains are traditionally seen as authoritative figures—responsible for every decision, every operation, and ultimately, every outcome. But today’s best leaders embrace a paradox: they lead like a coach, not a captain. This shift in mindset moves away from top-down command toward a more collaborative and open approach to leadership.
The paradox is this: While captains are responsible for guiding their teams, true leadership is about empowering those around you, not just issuing orders. Leading like a coach means involving the team in the decision-making process, encouraging crew members to think critically, and giving them the space to take ownership of their roles. This doesn’t diminish a captain’s authority—it strengthens it by building a team that operates with shared purpose and trust.
A key part of this coaching approach is thinking aloud—by verbalising decisions and thought processes, captains create transparency and invite their crew into the leadership process. This collaborative bridge aligns the captain’s goals with the operations team, enabling smoother communication and a stronger sense of unity onboard.
In my work coaching captains, I emphasise this collaborative leadership style because it leads to higher performance, greater engagement, and, ultimately, a more harmonious crew. When captains lead like coaches, they don’t just command respect—they earn it.
If you’re ready to move beyond traditional leadership and build a high-functioning, collaborative crew, let’s explore how coaching can empower your performance as Captain, and that of your team.
Howard Le Cornu
(Captain and Coach!)
#SuperyachtLeadership #LeadAsACoach #EmpowermentThroughCoaching #CollaborativeLeadership #CaptainDevelopment #YachtOperations
The paradox is this: While captains are responsible for guiding their teams, true leadership is about empowering those around you, not just issuing orders. Leading like a coach means involving the team in the decision-making process, encouraging crew members to think critically, and giving them the space to take ownership of their roles. This doesn’t diminish a captain’s authority—it strengthens it by building a team that operates with shared purpose and trust.
A key part of this coaching approach is thinking aloud—by verbalising decisions and thought processes, captains create transparency and invite their crew into the leadership process. This collaborative bridge aligns the captain’s goals with the operations team, enabling smoother communication and a stronger sense of unity onboard.
In my work coaching captains, I emphasise this collaborative leadership style because it leads to higher performance, greater engagement, and, ultimately, a more harmonious crew. When captains lead like coaches, they don’t just command respect—they earn it.
If you’re ready to move beyond traditional leadership and build a high-functioning, collaborative crew, let’s explore how coaching can empower your performance as Captain, and that of your team.
Howard Le Cornu
(Captain and Coach!)
#SuperyachtLeadership #LeadAsACoach #EmpowermentThroughCoaching #CollaborativeLeadership #CaptainDevelopment #YachtOperations