Let’s be real: leading on a superyacht isn’t just about wearing stripes, making calls on the radio, or knowing where the ECR fire blanket lives. It’s about people: managing them, motivating them, sometimes mediating between them when things get messy. And doing all that while keeping guests happy, systems running, and owners off your back.

Welcome to the part of the job no one gives you a manual for.

Here’s how to lead like someone who’s done more than memorise a management module.

The best leaders don’t bark orders from behind a closed door. They show up. On time. Present. Sharp. Calm. They help with the heavy lift, they admit when they don’t know something, and they never expect the crew to do what they wouldn’t do themselves. You want respect? Start there.

Just:
 🔸 Treat people fairly
 🔸 Acknowledge hard work
 🔸 Nip problems in the bud
 🔸 Celebrate wins (yes, even getting through a guest trip counts)

Happy crew stay longer, work harder, and have fewer cabin meltdowns. We’ll talk about creating genuine camaraderie in a later chapter.

As we said in our previous chapter on communication: Be clear. Be kind. Be direct. Rambling monologues or clipped sarcasm aren’t leadership tools, they’re morale killers.

Use all forms of communication wisely: talk, write it down, show them how. Then check for understanding. Don’t assume silence equals comprehension. Or agreement.

And if someone’s trying to tell you something? Listen. Properly. With your eyes, ears, and brain switched on.

Saying “You two need to sort this out yourselves” isn’t leadership. It’s avoidance.

We cover conflict in a later chapter – but know this: ignoring drama doesn’t make it go away. It just delays the explosion.

Yes, leadership requires confidence. But that doesn’t mean charging ahead without thinking.

Get the facts. Make the call. Own it. Whether you’re dealing with a tech issue or a drunk owner’s brother wanting to jetski at midnight, your crew need to see that you can lead when it counts - not crumble when it matters most.

Also: learn when to delegate. It’s not weakness. It’s trust.

Superyacht crews are gloriously diverse. Different cultures, backgrounds, personalities - and that’s a good thing. But it means your leadership style has to flex. Be aware of how your tone, timing, or expectations land across cultures and communication styles.

Can you read the room? Spot when someone’s about to lose it? Know when to back off, or when to check in? That’s emotional intelligence - and it’s pure gold for senior crew.

Crew don’t need you to be their therapist. But they do need to feel like you’re human.

Yes, you’ve got admin coming out your ears, but don’t neglect your technical game. Whether it’s bridge tech, interior systems, ISM, MLC, engine logs, or safety drills - know your stuff. Stay current. The moment you become the weak link in an audit, the whole chain rattles.

Leadership on a yacht is relentless. You live with your team. You work with them. You decompress (sometimes badly) around them. But when you lead well, you create a culture that carries the whole operation.

So show up. Communicate like a pro. Own your mistakes. Back your crew. And remember - your attitude sets the tone for everything.

Lead well. It matters more than you think.

❌Acting Like You’ve Got Nothing Left to Learn
Arrogance is not authority. The best leaders are still students - always refining, always listening.

❌Micromanaging Everything
If you’re doing everyone else’s job, you’re doing your own badly. Delegate. Then let go.

❌ Avoiding Conflict
Hoping crew drama “sorts itself out” is fantasy. Step in early or deal with the fallout later (usually mid-charter).

❌Playing Favourites
We see you. So does the rest of the crew. Fair leadership means consistency for everyone, not just the ones you want to share a beer with.

❌Failing to Give Feedback
Silence isn’t leadership. It’s confusion. Praise when it’s due, correct when it’s needed - and do it properly.

✔ Check in one-on-one, not just in briefings
A private “How are you doing?” goes further than a mass pep talk.

✔ Say thank you. Often. And mean it.
Doesn’t have to be a speech. Just genuine appreciation for the graft.

✔ Feed them well
Hungry crew = grumpy crew. Give the chef what they need to fuel the team.

✔ Rotate the crap jobs fairly
No one should always be stuck scrubbing the sewage tank or cleaning the guest gym at midnight.

✔ Create breathing space
A short break, a coffee run, or a night off when you can give it - crew remember that stuff. It’s called loyalty building.

 ✨ For more no-nonsense tips and honest advice at every stage of your yachting journey, check out Superyacht Life: How to Start, Succeed, & Stay Sane by Erica Lay - available 1st October on Amazon.