BY LIM YEW MENG                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
WHAT does the skipper of a winning-team in a yacht race have in                                                                                       
common with a high-achieving-chief executive officer of a                                                                                             
corporation?                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
Leadership. They both need to display inspiring leadership to                                                                                         
achieve their goals.                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                      
Is there anything we can learn by identifying the key                                                                                                 
attributes, skills and behaviour of the winning skippers?                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
Yes, it will provide a pragmatic approach to inspiringly lead                                                                                         
and manage others.                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                      
Recognising this, a research team called the Inspirational and                                                                                        
Intelligence Team undertook the task of tracking the leadership                                                                                       
and performance of the skippers and teams competing in the BT                                                                                         
Global Challenge 2000/1 Round the World Yacht Race. The team                                                                                          
comprised Andrea -Bacon, Rosie Mackie and Jane Cranwell-Ward.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
The race was intensely competitive, and the weather and ocean                                                                                         
conditions were uncertain-and hostile, not unlike today's                                                                                             
turbulent business environment.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
The research team set out to identify the factors that                                                                                                
contributed to sustained performance during the race as well as                                                                                       
cohesiveness and loyalty within the team.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
Management skill. It was found that the skippers of the winning                                                                                       
teams were able to manage their teams effectively. They did this                                                                                      
by being thorough in their planning and preparation and getting                                                                                       
their team members to agree on the goals.  They wanted to                                                                                             
achieve.                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
It was also noted that the team members requited clear                                                                                                
parameters to work within and clear procedures on how things                                                                                          
were done. They noted the management procedures needed to be                                                                                          
continuously reviewed to ensure the goal was achieved.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                      
Leadership attributes. The research findings showed that the                                                                                          
most important attribute required to inspire the team was                                                                                             
respect, which had be earned.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
The leader needs to share his vision, live by the values agreed                                                                                       
on and create a culture where support is ingrained and trust is                                                                                       
implicit.                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
Technical skills. It was observed' that the leader needed to                                                                                          
have knowledge, experience and professional know-how.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
Factors for driving and enhancing performance. These are related                                                                                      
to-self- motivation, performance focus, self-discipline, control                                                                                      
management, resource management and conflict management. This                                                                                         
implies that a leader needs to discipline himself to focus on                                                                                         
performance and manage resources and conflict.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
To inspire individuals in the team and gain their support, he                                                                                         
would need to be open and honest and believe in himself and his                                                                                       
purpose.                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
Leadership style. The study found that to be effective, the                                                                                           
leaders had to understand the-different leadership styles and                                                                                         
use them appropriately.                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
Based on the findings of the research, certain lessons can be                                                                                         
drawn which are relevant to exercising leadership in the                                                                                              
business sector.                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
1. A leader can inspire his team with the right approach. By                                                                                          
getting his team members to enjoy their work and believe in                                                                                           
themselves, the leader can motivate them to sustain their                                                                                             
performance levels over a longer period of time.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
2. Stress, if effectively managed, can be an enabler of                                                                                               
performance. Stress can be effectively managed if one is in                                                                                           
control of oneself, is technically competent and commited.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
3. Good communication is also the key to effective leadership.                                                                                        
If the team members were to be motivated to sustain performance,                                                                                      
they must be informed of developments.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                      
4. In dealing with business issues, effective decision-making                                                                                         
and support for the decision is important. A leader should                                                                                            
therefore provide the right environment to discuss issues                                                                                             
without animosity.                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                      
While conflict is necessary to build awareness and stimulate                                                                                          
creativity, the leader must be able to manage conflict                                                                                                
effectively.                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
5. As new knowledge enhances the competitive edge, leaders must                                                                                       
value the expertise and experience of their team members in                                                                                           
order to grow together.                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
6. As every individual is different, an effective leader should                                                                                       
recognise their contributions and tap their potential,                                                                                                
irrespective of who they are.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
The research team did not come out with any radical findings,                                                                                         
but they reaffirmed some current leadership theories that are                                                                                         
more relevant to leaders who need to inspire their team members                                                                                       
to sustain performance in today's turbulent environment.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
MIM welcomes feedback and response from the public. Please write                                                                                      
to: MIM Speaks, c/o Research & Publications, Malaysian Institute                                                                                      
of Management,227 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur                                                                                                    
(Tel:03-21645255, Fax:03-21643224, e-mail:respubl@mim.edu)