tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28245291540142589312024-09-14T10:00:07.051+01:00Exploring the business of high performance team leadershipSEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-47406242849666367902014-04-21T11:20:00.001+01:002014-04-21T11:20:04.359+01:00

Learning from those who have already succeeded is a great way to fast-track performance, avoid unforeseen obstacles and improve upon your chances of success.

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-22167724964273616652014-04-21T11:16:00.001+01:002014-04-21T11:16:51.391+01:00

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-89106992968845666652014-03-27T13:37:00.003+00:002014-03-27T13:37:58.878+00:00

The label 'team' is often used interchangeably with 'group' and yet as we understand it, it has a very specific meaning. The difference very largely lies in the direction of action. A group can exist and yet not achieve much. A team, on the other hand, is action-orientated. It has a clear purpose and it is a purpose that is shared by its members. In an effective team, members share a high

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-38883747797695617442014-03-20T13:28:00.001+00:002014-03-20T13:28:20.324+00:00

There is no universally accepted definition of leadership; not least as it is not at all easy to define. But what is clear is that leadership is an essential element of management. There are many definitions of management, but put simply, it is the direction, coordination and control of assets. The exercise of management includes the process by which a manager makes decisions, impresses

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-72933451935913242282014-03-17T10:30:00.001+00:002014-03-18T12:25:24.041+00:00

One of the skills of a leader is the ability to deal with conflict. This may be conflict within a team, conflict between the leader and a team member, or conflict between the leader and several team members!    Conflict is extremely likely in the early stages of a team's development when team members are establishing themselves, and during periods of change when team members may be

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-68425013553696440212014-03-16T09:20:00.002+00:002014-03-18T12:22:47.999+00:00

When you wake in the morning and the blizzard is howling outside and the temperature is 40 degrees below zero do you venture outside and start hauling your sledge? When you encounter the crevasse fields do you get out the ropes and tie everyone together so that if one person falls in the others can help pull him out again? In both of these scenarios, which I have encountered many times, the

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-66788386323412001022014-03-16T09:06:00.001+00:002014-03-18T12:22:58.322+00:00

I have noticed a significant difference between the levels of self-trust in the world of exploration and in the world of business. In the world of adventure, leaders have a strong and unshakeable belief in their ability to complete a challenging assignment. It’s not arrogance, but a quiet self-confidence. In my work with business leaders, I have been surprised just how many senior managers and

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-66227090598560569962013-10-18T01:35:00.003+01:002014-03-18T12:23:09.379+00:00

Team cohesion is essential in high performance teams, it is the glue that binds individuals as one and it provides the resilience and confidence to overcome setbacks. During my adventures, team cohesion is achieved at the end of each day through 'tent-time'. Once we are comfortable in our tent, I encourage my teams to openly share their thoughts and views on the day's progress, highlight any

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-51391620969326238232013-10-17T02:09:00.001+01:002014-03-16T09:22:16.644+00:00

There is no universally accepted definition of leadership; not least as it is not at all easy to define. But what is clear is that leadership is an essential element of management. There are many definitions of management, but put simply, it is the direction, coordination and control of assets. The exercise of management includes the process by which a manager makes decisions, impresses will

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-51303780115689020462013-10-17T02:07:00.001+01:002014-03-16T09:22:54.748+00:00

Leadership excellence is the second most powerful human force in the world, the most powerful being love. Leadership excellence has shaped the world since the earliest days of mankind. Leadership is arguably the greatest single business performance and success factor; it impacts every area of an organisation. What is interesting about leadership is that it means different things to different

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-41736578967370975582012-02-21T20:29:00.001+00:002013-10-18T01:32:45.105+01:00

In early 1995 I set out to complete the first ever ski crossing of Iceland from west to east coasts. It was a journey that many, including the Icelandic mountain rescue service, deemed an impossible journey due to the extreme rugged terrain and unpredictable weather. The journey was also the first time I had independently managed a ‘large scale’ adventure. It took two years just to get the

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-68251005957055303722012-02-19T01:34:00.000+00:002013-10-17T20:37:48.626+01:00

Although these insights were from successful polar explorers there are many lessons that can be learnt to your benefit... 1. Go for both poles. We didn’t manage to even reach one Pole the first time. But we never lowered our goal. Our final success was so much greater in the face of it. 2. Seek out the winners. We wouldn’t have made it without the aid of polar veterans, and they in turn

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-60548247571462307602012-02-18T15:33:00.001+00:002014-03-18T15:05:31.620+00:00

An important attribute of the high performance leader is the ability to never give up. This does not mean carrying on regardless with something that is destined to fail, but about recognising that success is achievable but it will not always be easy and will take time and effort. Here my tips for Never Giving Up: Remember Why Remembering how your journey started and why you are on it

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-61371523219215189052012-02-18T00:05:00.001+00:002013-10-17T20:38:41.465+01:00

Based on a case study by TMS Development International Ltd on how I used the Team Management Profile to create and sustain high performance during my ground-breaking North & South Pole journey. Building an effective team Regardless of each individual's skills, experience and character, to succeed, it was essential that everyone was committed to working together as a team. To do this they

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-49066528942169011122012-02-17T21:59:00.000+00:002014-03-18T15:06:59.829+00:00

Leading for Ultimate Performance Leadership excellence is the second most powerful human force in the world, the most powerful being love. Leadership excellence has shaped the world since the earliest days of mankind. Leadership is arguably the greatest single business performance and success factor; it impacts every area of an organisation. What is interesting about leadership is that it

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-73501876814979508462012-02-15T18:54:00.000+00:002012-02-19T16:34:32.873+00:00

On all of my polar journeys the area that takes most of my attention is the development of my team. I attract together a group of individuals and over a short period of time have to develop them into a high performance team capable of achieving some seemingly impossible polar journeys. One of my techniques it to use a proven psychometric tool called the Margerison McCann Team Management

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-88058234579413179612012-02-12T20:15:00.000+00:002014-03-18T14:49:35.153+00:00

Team cohesion is essential in high performance teams, it is the glue that binds the individuals as one and provides the resilience and confidence to overcome setbacks. During my expeditions, at the end of each day’s hauling our tent time was important in maintaining team cohesion. We discuss the day’s progress and review future strategy. I facilitate discussions to actively encourage

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-26077101453199590332012-02-11T19:25:00.001+00:002013-10-17T20:39:40.792+01:00

During one of my early attempts to ski unsupported to the geographical North Pole, a fuel leak from a damaged fuel can in my sledge contaminated our radio batteries. The fuel caused the battery to short and without power the radio and other vital safety equipment could not be used. This was a major setback and a serious blow to the team who had spent two years preparing for this journey.

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-48947100480357417362012-02-11T19:23:00.001+00:002013-10-17T20:39:57.901+01:00

A great tool to lay the foundations upon which to build and sustain high performance is the Team Charter. A Team Charter specifies the purpose of a team, the boundaries of its scope and authority, creates team cohesion and articulates expectations of team membership. Although usually produced by the formal team leader this does not always have to be the case. What is important is that once

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-29607515406917272852012-02-09T21:35:00.001+00:002012-02-19T16:16:00.992+00:00

When I set out to complete my groundbreaking return ski to the South Pole I knew that food would be pivotal to our success. Studies had shown that a polar adventurer needs to consume at least 5,000 calories (kcals) a day to offset the high expenditure associated with hauling a heavily laden sled in sub zero temperatures. One study in Antarctica reported expenditure levels as high as

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-39118483853835809012012-02-08T20:12:00.000+00:002013-10-17T20:40:23.875+01:00

Teams tend to unite around a common goal. When one is not obvious, or indeed perceived to be out of reach, individuals will manifest their own and follow them. This can result in a breakdown in team cohesion with devastating results. During all my polar journeys I create a 'Keep Walking Scheme of Manoeuvre'; a planning aide that I first developed for my successful crossing of Iceland in 1994.

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-81852571339558898362012-02-08T19:05:00.001+00:002012-02-19T16:11:03.613+00:00

Having assumed leadership of a new team or group, or on taking over an existing one, your first task is to create a team charter. A team charter is a vital tool in your toolbox and creates the foundations upon which to build and sustain high performance. It specifies the purpose of a team, the boundaries of its scope and authority, creates team cohesion and articulates expectations of team

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-88611095844194535912012-02-07T15:28:00.000+00:002013-10-17T20:40:39.390+01:00

Over my years as a polar expedition leader and Officer in the elite Royal Marines I have identified nine common characteristics in winning teams. Here is the first one 'Maintain a positive viewpoint' In the current world of global complexities, it is easy to lose heart when things start to go wrong or when unexpected issues threaten to derail even the best laid plans. An ability to take

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-55781352782240891432012-02-05T09:04:00.014+00:002014-03-15T04:28:05.590+00:00

I'm reading Narrative of a Voyage to the Polar Sea, the journals penned by Sir George Nares during his leadership of the British Arctic Expedition 1875-76, and came across the following passage; ‘At 10pm we arrived at Cape Isabella, and on Commander Markham climbing up to the depot he found the package of letters and newspapers left there by Sir Allen Young a few weeks previously; we gathered

SEAN CHAPPLEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08600061843179483670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824529154014258931.post-45653103563260488482012-01-26T22:22:00.000+00:002012-02-19T16:29:29.882+00:00

Polar exploration and business are both adventures. I truly believe that adventure has enormous relevance in both our personal and working lives, perhaps more so now than ever before. We live in a climate that is in the main risk averse, constantly seeking to mitigate and reduce uncertainty. Unfortunately, we face uncertainty and risk every day, however what is essential is how we approach

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