A kinder way to lead at sea?

THE training of young officers for the world’s merchant fleet these days largely focuses on the technical skills they will need for their careers at sea. Specifically, it complies with the requirements of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping (STCW) for Seafarers, under the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The extent aspiring seafarers are taught to lead people, and the ways they are taught this, varies greatly across the world and even within countries. Often, however, either little leadership training is given, or it is part of a military, naval approach to basic training.

But the Maritime Professional Council (MPC) of the UK has noted an increasing interest within the shipping industry in “kind leadership”.

A new MPC report, simply titled “Kind Leadership”, has proven that the adoption of this approach can transform leadership and safety culture, and improve the well-being of individuals.

But what is it? The MPC defines it as an approach to leadership that creates a satisfying, inclusive and enabling working environment without compromising standards and safety.

While this is essentially a UK initiative, the MPC’s research was carried out by The Nautical Institute (NI), an international body with a global membership. At this point, I must declare an interest: I am involved in the MPC, and am also an associate fellow of the NI, although I was neither involved in the research nor in the compiling of the report.

Coincidentally, the NI’s Singapore branch is holding its annual conference on Friday (Oct 27) at M Hotel, and nearly 200 shipping professionals and industry leaders from across the region are expected to attend. The guest of honour is Teo Eng Dih, chief executive of the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), who will deliver the keynote speech.

The conference will discuss the current and future challenges of seafarers, which include rapid improvements in technology, additional regulations, environmental concerns, and the new fuel systems being introduced on ships. It will also discuss how the maritime industry can keep pace with technology, and ensure that seafarers have the necessary training, skills and experience to navigate modern vessels safely.

But, back to the theme of this column on kind leadership: The NI’s survey was aimed at assessing whether this style of leadership has a place in the maritime industry. Could it be used to enhance the industry’s leadership and safety culture, and could it improve the wellbeing of individuals?

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From the NI’s survey among its members and also some non-members, 119 comprehensive responses were gathered. Of these, 88 per cent agreed that there was a place for kind leadership at sea. The respondents generally viewed it as an effective way of enhancing leadership, safety culture, team motivation, communication and improving the well-being of individuals.

Some respondents advocated the creation of group goals and the elimination of the blame culture in favour of learning from mistakes. The survey revealed a strong belief that kind leadership could be learnt and taught in a working environment, and through carefully planned activities in the classroom and online.

Steve Cameron, a co-author of the report, said: “There is a lack of proper leadership and soft-skills training in current STCW training – it is too process-driven. Technology is providing the support for many of the traditional technical aspects of the seafarer’s role, but in the future, the soft leadership skills of emotional and social intelligence will be essential.”

Adam Parnell, director of CHIRP Maritime, part of the Confidential Human Factors Incident Reporting Programme, said: “This report is invaluable. Too often, leadership discussions focus on toxic leadership (the bad) rather than kind leadership (the good). In publishing this report, the MPC has moved the collective conversation forward.

“Adopting these principles across the maritime industry will improve safety, effectiveness and efficiency for all, and deliver a more motivated, engaged and more resilient maritime community.”

The report makes some recommendations on how kind leadership can be taught. One way is by integrating kind leadership into a modernised cadet curriculum; another is by formal mentoring, which would require shipping companies to realistically implement and evaluate mentoring in a workplace setting.

The MPC said that kind leadership should be used to improve teaching and learning practices when cadets are undergoing “sea-phase” placement. This would entail the introduction of benchmarks and standards that can hold companies to account.

The concept of kind leadership is now being promoted by the MPC through social media, webinars and by approaching key decision makers to explain the importance of radically transforming the shipping industry’s approach to leadership.

The big question is how this change in tack will be received by the shipping industry. There is a danger that the term “kind” would prompt a reaction – especially among those of my generation – along the lines of “Oh no, not more ‘woke’ (very politically correct) nonsense”.

I struggle to recall the word “kind” being used in my contemporaries’ opinions of many of the senior officers we sailed with as cadets. Other terms certainly do come to mind!

This might, perhaps, make the case for change.

To an extent, a “macho” authoritarian culture has been self-perpetuating, though I do think things have generally changed for the better. It would be a great shame if an initiative that has been developed – and now endorsed – by people with practical experience of the industry were to be rejected without it being given the thought it deserves.

Nobody is suggesting that there should not be strong and effective leadership at sea. It is how you get there that needs looking at. I do hope everybody in the shipping industry will read this report and consider how this approach could not only improve relations within the maritime workforce, but actually make vessel operations more efficient and, crucially, safer.

The full “Kind Leadership” report can be downloaded from the MPC website.