For immediate release 31 March 2009

Charting a course to Lead through recession

The R. Tucker Thompson Sail Training Trust is to launch a Young Leadership Programme that focuses on bring out leadership and teamwork qualities for employees.

It is a given that businesses that invest during a recession will be better placed to kick start their recovery when the tide turns: investment not just in infrastructure, but also in people. Sail training is internationally recognised as a way of building confidence, developing leadership skills and instilling a sense of teamwork.

“We believe that this is an excellent investment businesses can make in their key staff,” says Executive Trustee Jane Hindle. “At only $1,350 +GST for the 5-day programme, it’s substantially cheaper than some of conferences around and the outcomes will provide long term benefits not just in the workplace but for life skills generally”.

The Northland-based tall ship has been running sail training programmes aimed at youth for the past 14 years, and team-building activities around the same length of time. The programme structure and materials are already in place” Jane says “We just need to fine tune the language to meet the business environment rather than a parent or teacher. We’ve yet to decide whether the early morning swim will be compulsory!”

The five-day programme will see participants operating as two teams, and each individual assuming responsibility for a given watch during the voyage. On the final day the crew will elect their own Master and First Mate and as a team put their learning in to practice by bringing the tall ship home. 360º feedback will be given on a regular basis, with a final report being supplied to the participants’ managers.

The ship is still committed to its youth sail training programme, and is slotting the Young Leaders Programme in the place of their other adult educational voyages. The first voyage takes place from 22-26 May and additional ones may be scheduled in September and October.

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