Wellness Musings with Cally Cooper (Q&A Edition)

An in-depth exploration of WellCrew's origins and mission, where Founder, Cally Cooper highlights the vitality of wellbeing in private households and explains why unlocking the power of adaptability with the 'empty chair' concept is essential in fast-paced environments.

What drove the creation of WellCrew, and what is its primary focus in the yachting industry?

WellCrew was founded to enhance performance and wellbeing in the yachting sector. Drawing on expertise in performance, health, nutrition, and mental wellbeing, along with a military coaching background, its key aim is to tackle industry challenges both onboard and shoreside. Through personalised coaching sessions and tailored programs for Captains, Crew, and Shoreside professionals, the goal is to create a culture that enhances overall performance and wellbeing while addressing issues like crew retention, satisfaction, burnout, and mental health. Backed by a global network of health and business experts, WellCrew offers core packages like PERFORM, UNLOCK, CONNECT, STEP, and innovative health and performance optimisation programs developed in partnership with WellFounded, setting a new industry standard.

As a performance and wellbeing coach, how do you define wellbeing, and why is it important in the fast-paced world of yachting?

Wellbeing extends beyond mere wellness; it's a holistic concept that ensures mental, physical, and emotional health are aligned, all of which are vital for sustaining peak performance. In the fast-paced yacht world, where long hours, ever-changing environments, and heightened stress levels are common, focusing on wellbeing is not merely a suggestion — it's essential. When crew members are in optimal physical and mental shape, they can excel, maintain focus, manage stress effectively, and build strong relationships, enhancing the experience for all. Prioritising wellbeing not only creates a positive work culture but also boosts crew retention rates and job satisfaction, addressing the current industry crisis of finding suitable crew, high turnover rates, and a lack of job fulfilment.

How does WellCrew's approach to optimising performance, wellbeing, and health stand out in the yachting community?

?WellCrew sets itself apart by blending elite coaching methodologies with cutting-edge technology, such as the Spotlight profiling tool. Rooted in sports psychology and developed collaboratively with top athletes and military personnel, this approach empowers individuals and teams to thrive under pressure, maximise strengths, and enhance adaptability. Tailored coaching programs, coupled with insights from the Spotlight tool, unlock peak performance potential. WellCrew's partnership with WellFounded further enriches its services by offering a comprehensive health program developed by a leading, world-renowoned multidisciplinary team of experts, that encompasses health assessments, integrative health coaching, personalised exercises geared towards improving VO2 peak and glucose levels, as well as nutritional guidance. By using data analysis to provide profound insights into individuals' and teams' health, stress management, resilience, and performance, this approach not only boosts individual wellbeing but also nurtures a culture of excellence, ensuring a substantial impact on the crew and the yacht's success in the industry.

Could you provide more information about Spotlight Profiling?

Spotlight is an advanced personality profiling tool designed to facilitate meaningful change, supported by modern science, and validated in elite sports and high-performance settings. It helps individuals optimise strengths, enhance adaptability, and perform at their peak in critical moments. What makes Spotlight unique is its ability to capture both behavioural patterns and mindset. By placing an emphasis on mindset, Spotlight helps individuals and teams achieve rapid and enduring transformation by exploring various perspectives on challenges to enhance performance. Using the COPE mindset framework, which is based on a biologically-grounded personality model, Spotlight delves into how individuals respond to threats and rewards. In terms of behavioural style, the FLEX framework uses components from the widely recognised Big 5 personality model. Spotlight increases self-awareness, develops performance strategies, builds adaptability through flexible approaches, and reveals motivations and reactions to setbacks and successes. It is crucial for understanding individual and team strengths, behavioural tendencies, building relationships and trust, and creating adaptability through the Empty Chair concept.

Are you able to explain what "Empty Chair" means?

"Empty Chair" refers to a concept that emphasises the importance of considering different perspectives in decision-making processes. It originated from Amazon, where an empty chair in meetings symbolises the customer, encouraging team members to evaluate choices from the customer's point of view. This practice helps in keeping customer interests central to decision-making processes. The concept also finds its roots in Gestalt psychotherapy, where the "Empty Chair technique" is used to address personal issues by engaging with an empty chair as if it represents a person or problem, enabling individuals to express thoughts and emotions in a safe environment. When applied in Spotlight profiling, this technique prompts discussions about our preferences, leading to better strategies and innovations for individuals and teams. Ultimately, the practice of "Empty Chair thinking" highlights the significance of assessing various viewpoints to improve decision-making outcomes.

What is your personal "Empty Chair"?

My "Empty Chair" is logically prudent, signifying the need for strategic thinking and structured decision-making—qualities that don't come naturally to me but are crucial in running my business, WellCrew, and providing elite coaching services to my clients. Prior to any business decisions, I take a moment to introspect, connect with my emotions, and address the tailored questions presented by my own profile, guiding me in refining processes, mitigating risks, considering key factors, setting realistic expectations, and establishing systematic approaches.

I've had to lean into my "Empty Chair" mentality during an extreme winter endurance challenge where I skied the height of Everest. This event required meticulous training, a focus on safety protocols, disciplined nutrition, and a mindful balance of pushing limits while ensuring wellbeing. Balancing my natural empathic preference with self-care was crucial in this journey, just as it has been essential in stepping out of my creative comfort zone to make structured and precise business decisions. Using the "Empty Chair" concept has not only guided me through challenges like these but has also been invaluable in decision-making, problem-solving, and stress management in various aspects of life.

In what ways has WellCrew supported yacht crew members transitioning ashore?

WellCrew's STEP 6-week coaching package plays a pivotal role in guiding yacht crew through career transitions. Through this program, individuals undergo a thorough profiling to analyse their strengths and enhance adaptability for their new roles. The coaching sessions focus on understanding the skills acquired during their yachting career, align personal values with new career directions, set clear goals, prioritise mental wellness, and equip individuals with tools and strategies to excel in new environments. By creating a supportive community and providing valuable resources, WellCrew STEP ensures a seamless transition from the dynamic yacht industry to onshore positions.

Are you able to provide feedback from a client who has been through the WellCrew STEP program and transitioned into a career working in a private household?

Sarah B. shares, “Transitioning from the world of yachting to a private household was going to be a big change for me. I loved my role as Chief Stewardess for many years, and I knew how much I was going to miss it, but WellCrew STEP made it all feel surprisingly smooth and supportive. Cally’s guidance showed me how my yachting background and skills could be a real asset in my new role, giving me the confidence I needed. WellCrew STEP and the Spotlight profiling tool helped me understand my strengths, what drove me, and boosted my self-belief, showing me new possibilities. Prioritising my mental wellness during the process was needed for me! WellCrew STEP helped me navigate this significant life change with resilience. I can’t thank WellCrew enough. The WellCrew STEP program was amazing! I discovered a fresh sense of purpose and confidence, and it actually made the whole process exciting rather than daunting.”

Can the Human Performance and Crew Support Program be extended to benefit Wilsonhalligan candidates working in private households and Shoreside roles, beyond just those on yachts?

The challenges faced by individuals working in superyachts and private households are alike in many ways, such as demanding schedules, high levels of responsibility, and the crucial need for maintaining health, performance, and overall wellbeing. Success in these environments demands exceptional attention to detail, professionalism, and the ability to adapt to various demands. To effectively tackle these challenges, introducing a customised support program can prove highly beneficial. Such a program could involve tailored health plans, stress management strategies, fitness resources, mental health support, and techniques for establishing a work-life balance. By offering a comprehensive and individualised support system, professionals in these roles can access the resources and guidance necessary for success, wellbeing, and peak performance in their specific positions.

How do you envision the future of WellCrew?

Envisioning the future of WellCrew involves aiming to be the ultimate pillar of support for Captains, Crew, Management companies, and individuals bridging the gap between their yachting roles and shoreside careers. Equipped with an extensive toolkit and personalised techniques, WellCrew is dedicated to empowering crew members to seize every moment, ensuring they thrive in fulfilment, happiness, and optimal health.

Our vision extends beyond personal wellbeing. Our aim is to enhance crew longevity, increase retention rates in the yachting industry, and nurture a culture of positivity and mental wellness across all professional settings. Through leadership training, customised performance coaching, and tailored support to meet the diverse needs of yachting professionals, WellCrew is committed to driving significant change within the industry, providing support and guidance to help professionals excel in their careers and create high-performance teams that achieve success, whether navigating the seas or contributing ashore.

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