Forget your ego, you can learn from anyone

Today's post is about a simple, yet often overlooked truth in the yachting industry: you can learn something from everyone, regardless of their rank, position, or title.

Yachting is an interesting world. It's filled with ups and downs, moments where you feel like you're on top of the world, and others when you're ready to walk away. In this rollercoaster of experiences, one key opportunity often gets missed: learning from each person on your team.

Now, here's the thing. In yachting, like in many other fields, there's a tendency to get caught up in the hierarchy. Crew members climb the ladder, sometimes too quickly, sometimes because they're just the next in line. But in this race to the top, a crucial element gets lost – the art of learning from each other.

It's not uncommon to see a captain or a department head who believes they've got it all figured out. They've reached the pinnacle of their career, so what more is there to learn, right? Wrong. This mindset is a trap. When leaders think they're always right and their team can't question them, they're not leading anymore; they're dictating.

As an ETO and small business owner with a few years under my belt, I've seen my share of good leaders and, well, not-so-great “leaders”. The difference often comes down to whether they listen and take action. For instance, in my position, if a deckhand has an idea or they’ve spotted something in a tech mag, about new technology or a better way to do things, it's worth listening to. Their perspective might be the missing piece we never knew we needed. Ignoring this could mean missing out on something that not only makes our job easier but also enhances our guests' experience, imagine not taking the few minutes out of your day just to listen.

There's an immense pool of knowledge and experience that goes untapped because of ego and hierarchy. Think of all the great ideas that were never heard because someone didn't feel they could speak up due to the god-complex culture, or worse, they did speak up but were ignored.

So, this is a call to everyone in yachting – and really, any industry – to break down these barriers. No matter your rank, there's always something new to learn, and often, the most valuable lessons come from the most unexpected sources.

Let's create an environment where every opinion is valued, where learning from each other is just part of the job. In doing so, we not only improve our operations but also build a stronger, more cohesive team. After all, the best ideas don't always come from the top; sometimes, they come from the person you least expect.

Being a better listener might just make you a better leader and better crew member.