Abstract

Coaching a high-performing professional team involves challenges that may be met through a variety of leadership approaches. Because each team has idiosyncratic resources and goals, the style most effective for one team may not be appropriate for another. Further, those who aspire to team leadership have varying capabilities. This inquiry uses case scenarios based on personal interviews to depict the challenges of three leaders of America’s Cup sailing teams, illustrating the confluence of personal style, team structure, and idiosyncratic team goals. The leaders of each team, Dawn Riley of Areva, Chris Dickson of BMW Oracle, and Grant Simmer of Alinghi, choose strategies to meet their team challenges with varying success, from autocratic direction to empowering members as a collection of equals.