Four men, four days, a forty foot boat and one captain to make captains of us all.

Three friends and I recently received our yacht piloting licences.  We can now officially charter and pilot a yacht in the incredible coastal waters of British Columbia – and anywhere else for that matter.  I have become certified as a Day Skipper and Competent Crew by the International Sail and Power Association.

Prior to heading out on the water in our chartered boat with the instructor we had to complete several hours of self-led study in two course books.  We then spent 4 days on the boat learning all the hands-on elements of piloting a yacht.

Day 1 we headed out from downtown Vancouver, crossed the Strait of Georgia, through Porlier Pass, and went down the Trincomali Channel to Montague Harbour on Galiano Island.  All throughout our journey we were learning.  The amount of content was oftentimes overwhelming, but easily understandable because we were actually experiencing it.

Each day we headed off to a different destination.  Regardless of the destination we always went through the same 5 steps to ensure we successfully reached our destination safely and in the timeframe we had planned.  As we did this I began to realize the correlation between piloting a boat and piloting a company.

The 5 steps were as follows:  1. Determine our destination.  2. Chart our course.  3. Assess our obstacles.  4. Monitor our metrics.  5. Stay in touch with the outside world.

Step #1:  Determine your destination – define what success looks like.

To complete a successful journey we needed to know where we were going.  Where did we want to end up that night?  Just like in business, we need to define what success looks like.  Success for us on the first day was to moor in Montague Harbour.  What does success look like for you on your business journey or on your leadership journey?

Step #2:  Chart your course – create your strategic plan.

We then needed to chart our course.  How were we going to get there?  What compass bearing would we follow to ensure we arrived at Porlier Pass after leaving Vancouver? What direction do we head in? Where do we turn?  How fast do we need to go?  We charted our course on paper prior to leaving harbour, and then followed our course.

Step #3:  Assess the obstacles that will impact your course and adjust accordingly – take into account those variables that can impact your strategic plan.

In order to effectively chart our course we needed to understand the obstacles that would come against us.  The primary obstacles we assessed were wind, weather, tides and currents.  Each of these would impact our ability to accomplish a successful voyage.  What are the obstacles that will impact your ability to successfully accomplish your strategic plan?  Finances, competition, production, staffing, etc..

Step #4:  Monitor your metrics – measure your Key Performance Indicators to ensure you are on track and on time with your plan.

Throughout our voyage we had to constantly monitor our metrics to ensure a successful trip.  What is our boat speed?  What is our compass bearing?  Has that bearing been accurately adjusted from true north to magnetic north?  What is our fuel consumption?  In business we call these KPIs – Key Performance Indicators.

Step #5:  Monitor the outside world – don’t lose sight of the bigger picture.

Throughout this entire process we were frequently monitoring the VHF radio emergency and weather channel.  This was our way of staying in touch with the bigger world and those things that were beyond our control that could drastically change our charted course.  In business we need to ensure we do not get trapped in our own little world and lose sight of those bigger picture issues that can significantly impact our plan.

Just like piloting a yacht, piloting your business can be a fabulous and exhilarating experience, but it can also be disastrous if you do not engage in the 5 critical steps of effective piloting.

Make sure you pilot your business like you would pilot a yacht.  If you do you will always successfully reach your destination.