It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy (revised)

by D. Michael Abrashoff

Overview

The legendary New York Times bestselling 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, 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 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, 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 eventually started calling 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781455523023
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	10/09/2012
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	21,859
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Captain D. Michael Abrashoff is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, and was a military assistant to the former secretary of defense, the Honorable Dr. William J. Perry. Abrashoff left the Navy in 2001 and became the founder and CEO of Grassroots Leadership, Inc., in Boston. You can visit his website at www.grassrootsleadership.com.

Table of Contents

Author's Note ix

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 Take Command 11

Chapter 2 Learn Real Leadership 30

Chapter 3 Lead by Example 42

Chapter 4 Listen Aggressively 54

Chapter 5 Communicate Purpose and Meaning 63

Chapter 6 Create a Climate of Trust 74

Chapter 7 Look for Results, Not Salutes 93

Chapter 8 Take Calculated Risks 116

Chapter 9 Go Beyond Standard Procedure 130

Chapter 10 Build Up Your People 152

Chapter 11 Generate Unity 181

Chapter 12 Improve Your People's Quality of Life 199

Chapter 13 Life After Benfold 212

Epilogue Out of Uniform 221

Acknowledgments 225

About the Author 227