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

by D. Michael Abrashoff

Book Overview

The legendary tale of top-down change for anyone trying to navigate today's uncertain business seas.

New York Times Bestseller

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...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446529117
• ISBN13: 9780446529112
• Release Date: May 2002
• Publisher: Warner Books (NY)
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.5" x 10.3"

Customer Reviews

Best _ Ship in the Navy

Excellent read! I purchased this book for my daughter. She is currently a Navy Petty Officer! This book was a mandatory reading assignment for her training and ranking up ( which she did)! Such useful information! Highly recommend parents read as well.

One of the best books on leadership you'll find

I am a cynic on business books. There is a lot of drivel out there penned by half-wits. This book is not one of them. This book presents practical, common-sense leadership ideas that have been field tested in one of the most rigid organizations going- and yielded extraordinary results. I particularly like the author's emphasis on encouraging feedback from lower level team members, common sense solutions, quick action on new and promising ideas, and concern for all members of the team. The fact that his ideas on leadership are the distilled results of what he did to turn a troubled ship into a Navy-leading example give the author credibility. It's an inspiring read, and I found myself unable to put the book down. This is definitely a book I'll put front and center of my bookshelf, and come back to again and again. I've already passed it to another member of my team.

Documented Account of Progressive Leadership Results

This was my vacation read this year. I am not the kind of person who reads work related books, required or not, while on holiday. In fact, I am no longer in a position in which I am supervising others, but my wife brought the book home as it had become suggested reading in her company. The book is well thought out, enjoyable to read, full of real life stories, thoughtful analysis and practical conclusions. Abrashoff was motivated to consider new approaches to ongoing problems plaguing the poorly motivated crew of the Benfold when during the change of command ceremony the crew exhibited an overt sense of relief as the former Commanding Officer was departing the ship. It is likely that most managers would have construed that the crew was unprofessional then proceed with micromanagement policies and procedures that continued to make their life seamlessly miserable. Instead Abrashoff decided that if anything he would see the ship through the eyes of the sailors and try to deal with the gripes of his crew. The book is written as a series of captivating anecdotes rather than a simple autobiographical record of his experiences as the commanding officer. The book details his personal accounts illustrating his innovative interventions used to rectify the deficiencies of his ship and crew. Abrashoff also discusses the manner in which he navigated the relationship with his superiors as his ideas were often at odds with existing guidance, established doctrine and the way things had always been done. Unlike most authors espousing management theories, Abrashoff had the benefit of the results oriented, metric driven Navy to document the improved performance and readiness of the individual crew members as well as the Benfold herself. It is clear to the reader that the bulk of the progress resulted from the progressive leadership of Abrashoff and not the established policies. Abrashoff is the very best of leaders, willing to take chances, break from policy, do the right thing for the his people, sometimes exposing himself to unwanted scrutiny in the process, and I am grateful that he captured all of it in his outstanding book.

Benfold crew knows we're the best!

I am a plankowner of the Benfold and admired Capt. Abrashoff's leadership. His superior leadership brought the moral of our ship from just ordinary shipboard life to a ship that many in the fleet wanted to become a part of. Our ship was a show-piece and we were proud to carry out his orders. What could have been a horribly desolate six months on deployment, including the holidays spent in the Gulf in 97-98, turned into a memorable experience for all, thanks to Capt. Abrashoff who even made UnRep a grand event! We learned from him that although we had a VERY important job to conduct, we were rewarded with pride in our accomplishments. Capt. Abrashoff was a very approachable Commanding Officer, an experience I had never encountered in the military and has been rare while employed with state government. He made an effort to see that his crew not only did their jobs exceptionally well, but that we enjoyed the festivities he provided for the ship while in port. I have read his fantastic book, reliving all the memories of my Benfold life and have used his leadership knowledge to become a successful professional in the "civilian" world. To the readers who feel Capt. Abrashoff is "arrogant" in his leadership style--I think if you had as awesome a ship as the Benfold to be a part of, you would be extremely proud of it and the leadership that made it such a fine place to spend a few years of your life.

Inspirational and Practical

I was fortunate enough to hear the author speak once at work. He provides the inspiration and can-do attitude that empowers people that they can make a difference. He is so effective because he has done it. He could have never changed his part of the Navy unless, his employees, unless he led them through the change himself. He led from the front and backed up his employees. He could have never pulled things off without having the courage to make mistakes and learn. He provides excellent examples of managing up and down the organization...something every leader needs. It is also a skill every employee wants to see in their leader. It was refreshing to see Abrashoff apply his daily learnings to his work. Each time a new risk was taken, whether the risk was successful or not, the author applied the learnings for the next opportunity, readying his team to learn from their trials.This book is easy to read and practical...a leadership guide that all leaders should read. This will be a must read for my team.

It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Shi

With the world struggling to find effective leaders and managers, this book could revolutionize leadership and management techniques. The examples that Mike uses throughout the book essentially make this a "how to" book...a much needed asset in any managers briefcase. This easy reading book should be a must read by any and all managers...I'm buying several copies for my managers. Thanks, Mike!!