Observe the wind direction and strength, will it help or hinder.
Determine the relative strength of wind vs engine power.
Use the rudder and dock lines intelligently.
Move slowly but under control for the wind conditions.
Give crew clear instructions. Assign line handlers and give clear commands addressing crew by name.
Always allow a safety margin (Margin of Error). Boat should almost completely stop 2/3 way into the slip without having to rely on the lines.
At 10 feet from the entry into the slip, the boat should be barely inching forward. Do not expect the reverse power to stop the boat after you get into the slip. If necessary, you should engage the reverse long before the point of no return (the bow inside the slip).
Deploy an adequate number of fenders on the correct side, including a roving fender.
Dock lines should be coiled into two-part sections and ready to lasso the cleats from the boat.
Crew should be positioned near the rail to lasso the cleats easily.
Boat is close enough to the dock for the line handlers to step off (about 1-1.5 ft).
No part of the hull may touch the docks (fenders may touch) or other boats.
Use prop-walk and wind to good advantage or mitigate against if not possible.
If you are departing from the docks, make sure everyone is on board with the spring line and another line doubled back.
There should be at least 4 fenders on the side where the dock is. If you were returning to dock, deploy the fenders, connect to the metal rail if possible.
Adjust the fender height so that they do not touch the water, but also not too high; otherwise, they will pop up onto the dock instead of staying between the dock and the hull. Use a clove hitch or round turn and two half hitches to attach the fenders.
If you are backing in, there should be a fender positioned at the stern corner. You also need this for going against the forward spring line for bow-first departures. For head-in approach, there should be a fender very near the bow and also at the shoulder (about 6-10 ft from the bow). Think where the boat is likely to make contact with the pier if still moving.