It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy by D. Michael Abrashoff
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Summary
The story of Captain D. Michael Abrashoff and his command of USS Benfold has become legendary inside and outside the Navy. Now Abrashoff offers this fascinating tale of top-down change for anyone trying to navigate today's uncertain business seas. When Captain Abrashoff took over as commander of USS Benfold, a ship armed with every cutting-edge system available, it was like a business that had all the latest technology but only some of the productivity. Knowing that responsibility for improving performance rested with him, he realized he had to improve his own leadership skills before he could improve his ship. Within months he created a crew of confident and inspired problem-solvers eager to take the initiative and take responsibility for their actions. The slogan on board became "It's your ship," and Benfold was soon recognized far and wide as a model of naval efficiency. How did Abrashoff do it? Against the backdrop of today's United States Navy-Benfold was a key player in our Persian Gulf fleet-Abrashoff shares his secrets of successful management including: See the ship through the eyes of the crew: By soliciting a sailor's suggestions, Abrashoff drastically reduced tedious chores that provided little additional value. Communicate, communicate, communicate: The more Abrashoff communicated the plan, the better the crew's performance. His crew would eventually call him "Megaphone Mike," since they heard from him so often. Create discipline by focusing on purpose: Discipline skyrocketed when Abrashoff's crew believed that what they were doing was important. Listen aggressively: After learning that many sailors wanted to use the GI Bill, Abrashoff brought a test official aboard the ship-and held the SATs forty miles off the Iraqi coast. From achieving amazing cost savings to winning the highest gunnery score in the Pacific Fleet, Captain Abrashoff's extraordinary campaign sent shock waves through the U.S. Navy. It can help you change the course of your ship, no matter where your business battles are fought.
As an army veteran who is a proud first-generation immigrant and a socialist who values looking out for one's fellow countrymen, I must admit that military-related books don't typically resonate with me, especially when they involve terms like "insurgents." However, I found this particular book to be quite insightful and relatable. The author's perspective and personal experiences confirmed my existing beliefs, as he prioritizes seeing individuals for their unique strengths rather than viewing them as adversaries or competition. Well, unless you happened to be on a ship under his command! Overall, I would say this book is definitely worth reading.
Did you enjoy the book 'It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy' enough to consider reading another one by D. Michael Abrashoff or listening to his narration in the audiobook?
Amazing to listen to, the themes are straightforward yet impactful. Appreciate you for sharing your personal journey and a big thank you for your dedication and service.
If more companies adopted these principles, things would run a hell of a lot smoother. The whole notion of "it's just business" doesn't have to be seen as the norm.
This book is about a genuine leader that all managers should strive to be like. If they can achieve success in the military, they can achieve it anywhere.
I gotta say, this book really breaks down the fundamentals of leadership! The pointers I picked up from the first three chapters were immediately applicable to my job.
The Captain's narrative in 'It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy' is comprehensive and thought-provoking. The importance of striving to be the best in any organization, along with the notion of helping employees discover their strengths, is emphasized.
I found Capt. Abrashoff's experiences onboard his naval vessel to resonate with my own business career, making his advice applicable to achieving my goals in my own company.
However, I should note that towards the end of the book, there is an increasing focus on stories involving rule-breaking, parties, and extravagant spending. While this approach can create a fun environment and potentially enhance performance, it may not be universally successful.
I would advise caution when considering some of the advice provided, as it may not be suitable for all industries.
Despite this caveat, I highly recommend reading the book.
I stumbled upon this book after reading an article in The Athletic. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in discovering leadership strategies, techniques, and how to apply them. This book is excellent.
This book seems to boast excessively about the author's achievements, almost like a "look at me" narrative. It's all about how amazing they are for passing on a successful ship to someone else and attributing their success to themselves. Their ego seems quite inflated.
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