Blake: Leader

Book excerpt: How to lead winning teams: an insider's insight into the leadership of yachting legend Sir Peter Blake. New Zealand lost one of its favourite sons when Sir Peter Blake was shot and killed in the Amazon in late 2001. Blake had become a icon after leading New Zealand to victory in the 1995 and 2000 America's Cups, following earlier successes in the Whitbread Round the World Race and Jules Verne Challenge. His accomplishments demonstrate his skill at assembling, managing and leading winning teams. Blake: Leader is written by sailor and marine scientist Dr Mark Orams, who sailed around the world with Blake and worked with him at Team New Zealand and Blakexpeditions. In this book he looks at Blake's successful style of leadership from a personal viewpoint. It mixes reminiscences and anecdotes from Orams and other sporting and business figures who worked closely with Blake with practical observations of how he chose and led teams. Break-out boxes and chapter summaries highlight key points and techniques that can be used by leaders and team members in a wide range of sports and business situations. Chapters include building a great team, being a great leader, encouraging a great work ethic and having a winning attitude. It also examines the unique New Zealand style of leadership demonstrated by other great Kiwi leaders and how Blake's legacy can be taken into the future.