Seamanship

Teamwork Creates Harmony And Effectiveness On Board

- Pat Mundus

We all think we know what teamwork is, especially in sports or at work. But on board? Why do some crews work like efficient, well-oiled machines, while others succumb to sullen moods, yelling and frustration?

It doesn’t matter whether a team is composed of a couple, overlaid with those particular one-on-one dynamics, or a group of strangers learning to get along for the sake of the vessel. When the captain and crew have healthy communications and trust in one another, they naturally bond and anticipate the group’s needs. Difficult endeavors become growth opportunities that, in turn, form a bond of shared accomplishments, which nurtures the desire to put the ship before the self. When teamwork is at its best on board, the collaboration required to accomplish a concerted physical and mental effort becomes joyful.