Captain Lee is the Best Leader on Television
Being a leader is hard work, and those born to lead are found few and far between.
That’s why it is important to showcase them when you see one, especially on television.
That goes double for reality television. Usually, people in a leadership are characterized as incompetent, or screaming, raging psychopaths like Gordon Ramsey.
However, there is one man that is neither of these things. Captain Lee Rosbach captains mega yachts for wealthy clients, and for the past five seasons, he has been doing as the captain of, and arguably main star of, Below Deck, a reality series on Bravo.
He is everything you’d want in a boss. He’s stern but fair. He doesn’t play favorites, and he holds his entire crew accountable. He isn’t quick to give out praise, but it means more when the crew finally hears a kind word.
Some may say that he’s too hard on the crew, but anyone that truly pays attention sees that isn’t so. Yachting has a strict hierarchy, but that is because it’s potentially dangerous. If a storm arises, there isn’t time for debate. People need to follow orders.
Anyone that watches sees that safety is paramount to Captain Lee. In the first season, he made the green crew practice fire drills until they got it right. He makes sure time and time again that anyone under his command is not in any danger. He obviously cares for the people he works for.
He’s mentored several of the cast. He was close with Eddie, the bosun the first few seasons. And he mentored the former marine Kelly until he became a capable seaman and leader himself. And, if people don’t make the cut, then he lets them go. Several people have fallen victim to receiving a plane ticket home, because they couldn’t hack it on the yacht.
Perhaps the best way Captain Lee shows his leadership ability is his frank, and honest communication style. He makes it know what he wants from everyone and they are expected to keep up his high standards.
His forthrightness is a welcomed deviation from typical reality shows. He isn’t afraid to tell people they’re wrong to their face. Also, at the reunions, instead of pretending, he doubles down on any criticisms he had on the show, and he will say it face to face with his crew, and he admonishes those that refuse to take responsibility for their mistakes.
He’s the tough fatherly figure that people may not want, but everyone needs.
