This document summarizes five strategies for effective teamwork in high-stress situations, as outlined in the book "Into the Storm" by Dennis N. T. Perkins. The strategies are: 1) Putting team unity first, 2) Preparing thoroughly in advance and continuously, 3) Maintaining balanced optimism by clearly defining what constitutes success, 4) Reinforcing relentless learning through an open culture, and 5) Willingly taking calculated risks to assess capabilities. Accompanying each strategy is a "winning tactic" used by the amateur sailing crew that won the demanding Sydney to Hobart ocean race.

1. Into the Storm
by Dennis N. T. Perkins with Jillian B. Murphy
Inspired by the Ramblers -- the Midnight
Rambler's team of one determined
skipper and six dedicated amateur
sailors -- here are five crucial strategies,
with proven tactics, for Teamwork at The
Edge of human endurance:

2. Strategies and Tactics for Teamwork at The Edge
From Into the Storm:
Lessons in Teamwork from the Treacherous Sydney to Hobart Ocean Race
Strategy #1: Put team unity first. Make the
team the rock star.
Winning tactic: Find committed team members who want to go to Hobart.
"A business team that aspires to excellence may not have the same
physical challenges as an ocean racing crew,” Perkins
acknowledges, "but lofty goals require sacrifice, dedication, and the
ability to persevere. Selecting people with the right levels of
confidence and motivation is fundamental. Realistic job previews
are important."
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3. Strategies and Tactics for Teamwork at The Edge
From Into the Storm:
Lessons in Teamwork from the Treacherous Sydney to Hobart Ocean Race
Strategy #2: Prepare, prepare, prepare.
Remove all excuses for failure.
Winning tactic: Keep preparing while you're racing. Preparing in
advance for everything the team needs to do to succeed is crucial.
But so is continuing to prepare while racing toward the team's goals
and while navigating through a crisis. "Successful teams master the
art of bifocal vision," Perkins attests. "They have the ability to focus
on current challenges while, at the same time, preparing for longer-
term threats and opportunities."
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4. Strategies and Tactics for Teamwork at The Edge
From Into the Storm:
Lessons in Teamwork from the Treacherous Sydney to Hobart Ocean Race
Strategy #3: Strive for balanced optimism.
Find and focus on the winning scenario.
Winning tactic: Be absolutely clear about what it means to win. For some
team members, winning means being the first in their field to
achieve a breakthrough result. For others, it means coming in under
budget. For any team that aspires to win, the first step is to define
winning. "Only then will the team have a clear shared
understanding of their race," states Perkins. "With that awareness,
the team can plan a strategy for taking home their trophy."
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5. Strategies and Tactics for Teamwork at The Edge
From Into the Storm:
Lessons in Teamwork from the Treacherous Sydney to Hobart Ocean Race
Strategy #4: Reinforce relentless learning. Build a
gung-ho culture of learning and innovation.
Winning tactic: Think gung-ho -- a phrase rooted in teamwork.
Originally an abbreviation for Chinese industrial cooperatives,
gung-ho came to be translated as "work in harmony" by some
Americans -- including Colonel Evans Carlson, who, during World
War II, implemented the radical practice of gung-ho meetings,
where everyone, regardless of rank, has a right to speak up. "The
ability to talk honestly about what works, what doesn't work, and
what might work is critical to effective teamwork."
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6. Strategies and Tactics for Teamwork at The Edge
From Into the Storm:
Lessons in Teamwork from the Treacherous Sydney to Hobart Ocean Race
Strategy #5: Take calculated risks. Be willing to
sail into the storm.
Winning tactic: Test your limits before the storm hits. The Ramblers,
who had sailed together for years and knew what they were
capable of as a team, deliberately pushed their limits early in the
race. They broached twice, and each time recovered. As a result,
they were ready to take on the storm, with confidence, when it hit.
"Only by taking small risks will teams be able to assess their ability
to take on big ones -- and to sail into the storm when they need to,"
declares Perkins.
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7. Into the Storm by Dennis N.T. Perkins with Jillian B. Murphy
The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is among the most demanding sailing
competitions in the world. In the face of turmoil and tragedy, a crew of
"amateur" sailors piloted their tiny vessel, the AFR Midnight Rambler, not only
to the finish but to overall victory.
Into the Storm chronicles their nearly four-day ordeal and draws parallels to the
world of business, revealing critical strategies for Teamwork at the Edge.
Illustrated with examples from the story and compelling case studies, the book
sheds light on what teams need to do to succeed in tough times and provides
resources to support teams as they navigate the chaotic seas of business today.
Dennis N.T. Perkins, author of Into the Storm: Lessons in Teamwork from the
Treacherous Sydney to Hobart Ocean Race, is the author of Leading at The Edge and
CEO of The Syncretics Group, a consulting firm dedicated to helping leaders and
teams thrive under conditions of adversity, uncertainty, and change. A graduate of
the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, he successfully completed his
first Sydney Hobart Race in 2006. Follow Dennis on Twitter @DNTP.
Jillian B. Murphy is the Director of Client Services at The Syncretics Group.
Follow Jillian on Twitter @Jbmurf.
Follow The Syncretics Group on Facebook and Twitter @SyncreticsGroup

8. Into the Storm
by Dennis N. T. Perkins with Jillian B. Murphy
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