Below Deck season 10 reunion was an explosive event, with the crew members sharing their thoughts on various issues that arose during the season. One significant topic that came up was Captain Lee’s leadership style. For ten seasons, Captain Lee has been the face of Below Deck, and his leadership style has been under scrutiny. In this article, we will explore the crew’s thoughts on Captain Lee’s leadership style and why it matters.
Let’s start with the basics of Captain Lee’s leadership style. He has been a captain for over three decades and has led successful teams of sailors and crew members in the yachting industry. Captain Lee’s leadership style is authoritative, which means he believes in making decisions efficiently without seeking input from his team. The authoritative style requires a leader to provide clear directions, expectations, and consequences to their team without any room for negotiation. As a leader, Captain Lee expects his crew to follow and respond to his commands without question.
While the authoritative style has its benefits, such as maintaining order, it can also stifle creativity, hinder communication, and make the crew feel undervalued. The crew of Below Deck has had several moments throughout the season where Captain Lee’s leadership style came under scrutiny. Several crew members complained about feeling disrespected, unheard, and devalued under his leadership.
One such moment was when deckhand Rhylee Gerber expressed her concerns about the surface conditions of the water, which could have led to a dangerous situation. Instead of acknowledging her concerns, Captain Lee dismissed her and continued with the plan, which could have resulted in an accident. Rhylee felt disrespected and unheard, which led to a lack of trust between her and Captain Lee.
Another time was when chef Adrian Martin cooked unconventional dishes, which Captain Lee didn’t approve of, resulting in tension between the two. Adrian felt undervalued and creatively stifled, which led to a decline in his performance.
During the reunion, the crew members shared their thoughts and experiences working with Captain Lee, with many expressing their frustrations with his leadership style. For instance, second stew Josiah Carter shared that he felt undervalued under his leadership and felt that his contributions were not acknowledged. Meanwhile, Rhylee Gerber felt that he was dismissive of her experience and that she was not given adequate feedback to improve her performance.
However, not everyone had negative feedback on Captain Lee’s leadership style. The first officer, Chandler Brooks, praised his leadership style, claiming that he appreciated how he didn’t micromanage and allowed his team to do their job without constant supervision.
But why does Captain Lee’s leadership style matter?
Leadership styles matter because they influence how teams collaborate, communicate, and perform. When a leader’s style is authoritarian and dismissive of input and feedback from their team, it could lead to a lack of trust and respect from the team. This lack of trust could create a negative and toxic work environment, which ultimately lowers the team’s productivity and satisfaction.
Moreover, the authoritarian style does not encourage creativity and innovation in the team, which could limit the team’s potential for growth and development. This is why it’s important for leaders to have a management approach that listens to, values, and supports their team members.
In conclusion, the crew’s feedback on Captain Lee’s leadership style highlights the importance of having a management approach that supports and values employees. While Captain Lee’s leadership style has worked for him and his team in the past, it’s clear that it doesn’t work for everyone. The next season of Below Deck should take these feedback into consideration, and ensure that Captain Lee takes a more adaptive approach to his leadership style. This will improve trust, collaboration, and ultimately increase productivity and job satisfaction among his crew.
