OceanGybe is a sailing and surfing expedition designed to promote ocean conservation and protection. During the three year journey the OceanGybe team will circumnavigate the globe in search of remote coastlines and surf breaks. Gathering data from these remote areas, OceanGybe aims to bring awareness to the vast tracts of undocumented ocean pollution that affects the coastlines and the people who depend on them for survival. OceanGybe consists of Vancouver-based activists Bryson Robertson, Ryan Robertson and Hugh Patterson. It is an expedition to promote understanding: understanding of the world’s oceans, and a better understanding of ourselves. Insights Vancouver is supporting the expedition by providing Personal Discovery Profiles and consulting.

After living through the challenges, stress, conflict, personal growth and reflection of the first year, the team was searching for a way to better understand the team dynamic, build it, and prepare for the 2nd and 3rd years of the voyage. A recommendation from a friend put the Oceangybe expedition in touch with Insights Vancouver. The following 2 articles outline how the team uses their Insights Discovery Profiles as tools for person growth, communication and conflict resolution.

Article 1

In this article, Hugh Patterson discusses how the team uses their Discovery Profiles as a tool for personal grow.

Personal growth

A good friend of mine told me before we embarked on this trip that it would mark a turning point in our lives; we would consider ourselves before and after. Knowing this starting the trip, the team searched different ways to realize this growth and affect positive change in ourselves while underway. From journal writing and blogs, to group discussions and reflecting with friends back home, all had been invaluable to realize changes in ourselves over the first year of the voyage. But we realized that the team could each benefit from more than just reflection.

Firstly, where do you look when you want to grow as a person? Obviously we had goals for ourselves before the trip, in addition there are issues [Addressed in the next article Group Conflict] that have arisen in the first year that have prompted goals for the next two. However, having a base to start with; both Lifelong Learning ideas and a shopping list of ‘blind spots’ outlined in the Discovery Profile has proven invaluable.

Lifelong Learning –

Clearly, an expedition such as ours offers many areas for lifelong learning. However, often it can be difficult to know where to focus to grow since this environment is quite unlike any other we have operated in before. To gain an immediate comparison, I looked to an area familiar to me before the sailing expedition; mechanical problem solving. Prior to sailing, I worked as a mechanical engineer and have many mechanical hobbies. So to look at how I solve mechanical problems now provides a good comparison and ideas to stretch my learning. My Discovery Profile suggests ‘involving team members more’ and ‘meeting new challenges even though conditions are not perfect’. These two suggestions I found particularly useful to focus on when addressing a new mechanical problem on the boat.

Living in such close quarters presents difficulties, magnifies certain aspects of ones personality and how another person affects you. In everyday life one is in contact with innumerable people on a constant basis. If a certain person elicits a reaction in you that is undesirable (conscious or unconsciously) you can simply avoid that person and the personality trait they bring out in you will no longer be evident. In our situation this is not possible; you must deal with that person and your reaction to them or risk major conflict.

So what are these traits and how do you recognize them? How do you know when your reaction is something you want to deal with inwardly or outwardly; addressing the issue with the other person? The Blind Spots section of the Profile is an excellent place to start.

Blind Spots –

‘ability to detect what might go wrong’ – I found this as a key point about myself that I noticed in group situations with Ryan and Bryson. Usually an optimistic leader, I found when discussing plans with the other two, I often became the ‘glass half empty’ perspective: A reaction to the optimism of the others? Standing back from situations, I had to evaluate this roll. When in this situation now, I decide whether I am simply putting forward the negative perspective, or providing a rational, thought-out analysis of potential problems.

Blind spots and Lifelong learning are just two of the many sections of the Insights Discovery Profiles that the Oceangybe Team has used to further personal growth and create a strong team.