Paul Ferdais
Paul Ferdais is founder and owner of The Marine Leadership Group based in Ft. Lauderdale and Vancouver delivering leadership training workshops and coaching (www.marineleadershipgroup.com). He has a master’s degree in leadership and spent seven years working as a deckhand, mate and first officer on yachts.Author Archives
Taking the Helm: Ensure trust outlasts COVID
Taking the Helm: by Capt. Paul Ferdais The COVID-19 pandemic has forced everyone to balance the business side of our boats with respect for the potential threats to the lives…
Taking the Helm: Leaders, set an example; take care of yourself
Taking the Helm: by Capt. Paul Ferdais The COVID-19 pandemic has been an incredible test of character and determination for all crew on yachts. Captains have had to deal with…
Taking the Helm: First step for a good leader is staying quiet to listen
Taking the Helm: by Capt. Paul Ferdais Something more and more common today is an inability or unwillingness to genuinely listen to what others have to say. Sure, there are…
Taking the Helm: Build team resiliency to get through crisis
Taking the Helm: by Capt. Paul Ferdais There’s no doubt we live in an unusual time. Stories about worldwide lockdowns, daily death tolls, personal safety equipment, food and rent issues…
Taking the Helm: Three steps help leaders in times of crisis
Taking the Helm: by Capt. Paul Ferdais Crisis management isn’t thought about much until the proverbial mess hits the fan. Then it’s all we can think about. Only during a…
Taking the Helm: Leading in times of crisis takes consistency in messaging
Taking the Helm: by Capt. Paul Ferdais In times of uncertainty, crew members and co-workers need to frequently hear from the captain and team leaders to stay informed, feel heard,…
Taking the Helm: Good sail racing leadership is more about non-racing habits
Taking the Helm: by Capt. Paul Ferdais I recently asked my friend Steve, a sail-racing captain, what leadership considerations he makes when he’s out racing. He said leadership for him…
Taking the Helm: Job expertise doesn’t happen without intentional practice
Taking the Helm: by Capt. Paul Ferdais I was recently on a boat doing a stern-to anchoring in a bay. The plan was to set the anchor, then back up…
Taking the Helm: Balance high expectations with empathy, respect
Taking the Helm: by Capt. Paul Ferdais I recently had a meeting with Susan, a woman who’s moved into the chief stew position for a 100m vessel with lots of…
Taking the Helm: Communication breakdown leaves charter crew to flounder
Taking the Helm: by Capt. Paul Ferdais I was on a charter recently when there were a couple of issues that developed between the guests, the chief stew and the…
