What makes effective team leadership, and what roles do communication, trust and individual strengths play?
Julian Knaup and Ramakrishnan Subramanian, research associates at inIT, explored these questions in an unusual setting. From 1 to 6 September 2026, they swapped the seminar room for a sailing ship and took part in the training programme “Leadership & Communication Under Sail”. Organised by the Graduate Centre.OWL at the OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts (TH OWL), the programme was aimed at doctoral researchers and master's students interested in pursuing a doctorate.
Team Leadership in Real-World Conditions
The “Elegant”, a historic sailing ship dating back to 1889, served as a floating laboratory for teamwork and leadership. Together with twelve other participants, two instructors and two crew members, the two researchers sailed around the island of Rügen, starting and finishing in Stralsund. Rough weather conditions, changing responsibilities and living together in a confined space repeatedly put their teamwork to the test.
Whether setting the sails, steering the ship or preparing meals together, everyone had to take responsibility, coordinate their actions and rely on one another. The sailing manoeuvres in particular demonstrated just how essential clear communication and mutual trust are to achieving a common goal.
From Communication Models to Leadership Styles
The programme was led by Prof. Dr. Klaus Maas, Academic Director of the Graduate Centre.OWL, and Dr. Jan Schametat, Regional Coordinator at Zukunftszentrum Holzminden-Höxter. Theoretical sessions, practical exercises and group reflections alternated with sailing manoeuvres.
The focus was on identifying personal strengths, exploring different leadership styles and managing conflicts. Using established communication models and Meredith Belbin's team roles, participants examined how misunderstandings arise, how collaboration can be improved and why teams benefit from a variety of skills and perspectives.
The participants also contributed to the programme themselves. Julian Knaup teamed up with another participant to teach essential sailing knots, while Ramakrishnan Subramanian explained the physics of sailing, demonstrating how wind and sails work together to propel a ship forward.
New Perspectives on Teamwork
What do six days aboard a sailing ship teach you? Above all, the importance of communication, trust and recognising the different strengths within a team.
“The training showed us that leadership is primarily about good communication and trusting your team members,” Julian Knaup summarises.
Ramakrishnan Subramanian particularly appreciated the hands-on approach: “On board, it quickly became clear how differently people approach tasks and how important it is to find solutions together. I’ll take this experience with me into our day-to-day research work.”
Special thanks go to the Graduate Centre.OWL for organising this exceptional training programme, which combined professional development with valuable hands-on experience.
Auther: Mona Marie Brinkmann