Yacht-based Team Training


The Challenge A director of a publishing company is aware that his executive team needs to work better together if they are to move forward and achieve their strategic goals - although they have been together for over a year, he feels they are not working at full capacity yet. However, he is also aware that they have been working very hard for the preceding months and need a break or at least some kind of reward for all their efforts.


Emerging Project - Yacht-based Team Training The xpand-pro approach: A 2 day Team Training course is set up using the opportunity to go yacht sailing as an incentive for the staff. The previously completed DISC Behavioural Profile is used as a basis for understanding themselves and the other team members. This theoretical understanding is then experienced, as the team spend a day yacht sailing. After a full safety briefing, and minimal instruction in the art of sailing, the team is assisted in getting clear of the marina prior to them taking control of the yacht themselves. Information is quickly communicated around the team as lessons are learnt and passed on. Roles are changed and further rounds of communication ensue. Once the basics of sailing have been mastered, the objective of reaching the lunch stop can be tackled, all the while changing roles and tckling new aspects of the task. The afternoon sees a clarification and further application of the sailing lessons learnt in the morning, followed by a full review of the teamwork principles that worked for them in the foreign surroundings of the yacht. These lessons are then gathered and adapted for application in the workplace; a set of principles on which to base their future performance - Outcome Team members experience real-life situations such as conflict, crossing boundaries and the necessity for co-operation, in a non-critical way, where behaviours can be played with. This practical experience forms the basis for defining team rules. - Commenting on each other’s potential by being exposed to positive as well as challenging feedback in open feedback sessions. This produces very encouraging moments, as well as some moments of deep emotion, when people have to face critical, but insightful, feedback from others. “As the non-sporty person on the team, I was worried about what would be involved in the sailing element of the course but I really enjoyed it and have learnt a lot about what I am capable of, as an individual, but more importantly as a part of our team."