The Ocean Racing Leadership Challenge™

Businesses and indeed, organisations of all kinds, have long recognised that of all the factors affecting their performance, leadership remains the single most important. From Nelson to Shackleton, history is littered with examples of extraordinary performance and achievements inspired by the world's great leaders, examples that continue to be much analysed and used as metaphors by the more informed of today's captains of industry.
However, it is direct exposure to modern day metaphors that provides the greatest inspiration and proves to be of most value to today's leaders. Surprisingly perhaps, this is easier said than done, the best examples often remaining inadequately researched and generally inaccessible. Enter the Ocean Racing Leadership Challenge™

The Ocean Racing Leadership Challenge™ takes as its metaphor the experiences and research surrounding one of the world's toughest team events, the BT Global Challenge. This event features twelve yachts racing right around the world in a westerly direction, against the prevailing winds and currents including those of the notorious Southern Oceans. Each yacht is crewed by amateur volunteers, the only professional on-board being the skipper. The yachts are identical - only the skipper and crew can make the difference between winning and losing.

As a metaphor for business, the BT Global Challenge addresses all of the key leadership and performance issues likely to be encountered including:

• Building a high performing team
• Creating a culture and climate for winning
• Sustaining a winning position
• Thriving under pressure
• Sustaining performance and motivation in difficult times
• Overcoming setbacks to achieve performance
• Recognising the skills and capabilities needed for inspirational leadership

The Ocean Racing Leadership Challenge™ addresses these same issues by simulating actual legs of the most recent race of 2001, its participants competing in teams to take decisions on real scenarios that parallel situations faced by business leaders. Being discrete, practical and in largely unfamiliar territory, these challenges stimulate enormous focus in high pressure situations that delegates are able to relate directly to their own organisations.

Performance is measured by assessing each team's responses during each leg of the Ocean Racing Leadership Challenge™ and awarding points accordingly, results being displayed graphically to show leg and overall race positions. Teams are also given the opportunity to review their own leadership and teamwork performances, enabling lessons to be learned and retained through personal participation, development and shared experience.

The Programme Details      
All of our programmes are developed through consultation with the client organisation. The challenges selected and exercises created then address the particular Team and Leadership behaviours that are of your highest priority.

Typical programme will include the following:

• An evening visiting the yachts in Southampton
• An after dinner presentation
• A full day's training on the Leadership Challenge(TM)
• Delegates' training packs

"We’ve received excellent feedback from our attendees relating to Conrad’s presentation – they were left feeling motivated and all were captivated for the entire talk. We didn’t allow long enough in the agenda for questions – as there were many questions following the talk – maybe something Conrad highlights to future clients to ensure they allow sufficient time following his talk for attendees to ask questions! We were very satisfied with Conrad’s input to the event and will definitely consider Conrad for future events – many thanks!”

Dr. Zoe Bond, Department of Environment, Fisheries and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

"Conrad's presentation was inspiring! His approach to leadership sets an example we should all aspire to and made me remember all the things I know that I should do to build high performing teams. A highly motivated individual, Conrad's passion and enthusiasm are infectious."
Leanne Middleton, Euroclear Group

"Conrad gave a very effective, thought provoking presentation on the challenges faced by his team and the leadership style necessary to achieve results and bring the crew through their adventure to ultimately win the world's toughest yacht race. Highly recommended."
Frank Stone, Head of Communications, BTexact Technologies

"Conrad Humphreys delivered a powerful and highly relevant talk on 'leadership', to a group of Ericsson's Next Generation Executives. His style is low-key and engaging and his message is well presented and carefully thought through. What gives his presentation the greatest impact is his own credibility. He 'is the message that he puts across' and that immediately clicks with everyone in the group ."
Steve Newman, Program Director for Executive Development, Ericsson University

"Conrad was inspirational... his messages were clearly articulated. The challenges he has faced on the oceans provided a great metaphor for our business conditions"
LEK

"Your stories of motivating your team and leading them across the Southern Ocean have left a huge impression on our management team"  
Microsoft

"The entire team was enthralled throughout Conrad's talk, an exceptional tale which left us very motivated as a team. Highly recommended!"
Natwest

'Our senior team remained attentive, competitive, energised and above all took some profound learning back to Motorola. You made a real difference!'
Motorola

"Your speech was very inspiring and received excellent feedback from all our guests"
Oracle

"Conrad provided the Pfizer team with an inspirational presentation which had the whole audience on the edge of their chairs. An incredible achievement delivered in a moving and emotional way."
Pfizer

Conrad has delivered leadership and team building workshops and inspirational speeches to Barclays, BT, England Netball Team, Ericsson, Gill, GlaxoSmithKline, Henley Management College, Hull City Council, IMPACT, LEK, LG, Microsoft, Motorola, NatWest, Oracle, Pfizer, PPMA, RBS Insurance, Salespage Technologies, Trader Media Group, UBS, Yell.

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