In the unique world of yachting, where crew live and work together, the importance of a positive atmosphere cannot be overstated. The intensity of interactions is amplified by the close quarters and time spent together, making these interactions critical to the atmosphere onboard. Some yachts have exceptional crew morale and a great work environment. This makes for a really enjoyable experience for crew as well as guests. Other yachts, unfortunately, develop quite a toxic crew environment. Yachts with this unhealthy culture tend to turn over a lot of crew and therefore struggle to provide an exceptional guest experience, which is the primary goal of yachting.
In this post, we will talk about what factors contribute to the atmosphere onboard, highlighting the importance of leadership as well as the individual responsibility each crew member holds.
What is a toxic crew environment ?
A toxic crew environment is one whereby the interactions and onboard culture negatively impact the mental and emotional well-being of the crew. The environment is characterised by stress and anxiety among the crew, a lack of mutual respect, a culture of blaming, and a sense of job dissatisfaction.
There are many factors that contribute to the crew environment, both internal and external factors. We are mostly concerned with the internal factors because these are the ones we can influence. In my experience the biggest factors contributing to the atmosphere on board are: leadership, valuing your job and social awareness. Recognising and addressing these factors can significantly improve the vibe onboard.
Leadership
Heads of Department (HODs) play an important role onboard. Not only are they running the various departments, but they also play a significant role in crew morale. They are role models and are constantly in the eyes of the crew, whether on the clock or not. The vibe onboard is not solely the senior’s responsibility but they can make a big difference.
HODs who are stressed and don't manage their stress will often take it out on their team. They appear to care so much about their role that they become overly authoritative, shouting, over-criticising, and therefore creating discontent among their team.
Yachting can be stressful for senior crew; some owners and management companies apply a lot of pressure. However ,senior crew need to be very careful about how they manage this pressure. It is not helpful for anyone to lash out at juniors. This will only result in poor crew morale, high crew turnover and down the line an inadequate guest experience.
Having leaders who are driven, open to questions and guide their teams help promote a positive atmosphere onboard. A yacht that encourages growth and learning is always a great place to be. In an environment like this, mistakes are not punished with an iron fist, they are managed and lessons are learnt. Crew don't feel they need to walk on eggshells around their HODs, rather they feel they can approach them, learn and therefore grow in their roles.
Valuing your Job
Valuing your job means you are invested in what you are doing. It's hard to work with people who don't put effort into their work. Caring about your job doesn't mean overworking yourself or taking things too seriously. It simply means doing your best in every task, regardless of its size.
You should be grateful to have a job, especially in an industry that turns away thousands of applicants a year. If you manage yachting well, it can be an extremely rewarding and fulfilling career.
If you find yourself feeling complacent or disinterested in your work perhaps you are in the wrong industry. Life's too short to spend the majority of our time doing what we don't want to do. Don't expect to love every minute, no job is like that. But I think if you are enjoying 60-70% of your job you are doing well.
Individual Responsibility
Working on a yacht is truly a combined effort that requires each individual's input. It encompasses more than just your job; it includes being socially aware on and off the clock. It's not uncommon in yachting for crew members to overlook their contribution to the atmosphere onboard. This is a grave mistake; it is not only the HOD’s who are responsible for crew morale. Each one of us plays a crucial part and should take it as seriously as our professional duties.
It's essential to take a look at yourself and evaluate your attitude. If you find yourself feeling indifferent towards your job, consider stepping away. Your attitude can impact others' experiences and negatively impact the vibe onboard.
Social Awareness
Being socially aware means to understand and respond appropriately to the emotions of those around you. It involves recognising social cues, being open to different perspectives, and navigating social situations. Social awareness is crucial when you are living with your co-workers. Being socially aware is hard work, it requires a level of emotional intelligence as well as significant energy.
Avoid talking behind people's backs in a negative way, apart from the fact that it is simply rude, it also creates a divide amongst the team. On the flip side of this, always take the opportunity to praise people. When you praise other crew, people often jump on the bandwagon and it really ups the vibe.
Notice the crew who are a little bit shy and less socially inclined. Just because they don't speak up when everyone is talking about going out, doesn't mean they don't want to go out, they may feel that they haven't been invited. Some people need to be told directly that they are invited.
Yachting can be isolating, not everyone finds it easy to open up and make new friends, help your fellow crew members.
Complaining
Yachting is hard work, the hours are long, the work is hard, sometimes guests can be difficult, but nothing gets a crew down like a culture of complaining.
Complaining is a vicious cycle, making it difficult to appreciate the positives. Instead of succumbing to this cycle, consider alternative ways of expressing how you feel. It is important to speak up about issues you are having onboard, but there are more constructive ways to do so than simply complaining to your colleagues.
Personally, I find that stepping off the boat and going for a walk gives me much needed perspective and realise that what I was complaining about isn’t as big of a deal as I am making it out to be
If you really have a big problem onboard, take a moment to think about it, and bring it up formally with your HOD. More information on this can be found here.
Conclusion
There are a lot of things that impact the vibe onboard, and not all of them are within our control. However by recognising what is in our control, and taking an active approach, we can create a positive and enjoyable environment.
The key takeaway here is that each and every one of us has an important role to play in contributing to the vibe onboard. Decide whether you want to be a positive or a negative influence onboard.
By valuing our roles, engaging with emotional intelligence, and maintaining a proactive approach to crew interactions, we collectively contribute to a positive, supportive environment. Remember, this is your place of work as well as your home, put effort into making it the best environment possible.