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It's Your Ship

Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy

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It's Your Ship

Written by: D. Michael Abrashoff
Narrated by: D. Michael Abrashoff
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About this listen

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 the 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.

©2006 D. Michael Abrashoff; 2012 Hachette Audio
Communication & Social Skills Management & Leadership Personal Development Small Business & Entrepreneurship Business Sailing Ship Leadership

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Amazing & super inspiring book - read it!

Amazing and super inspiring book - everyone should read and re-read it. Great lessons on transformation a culture, building and empowering a team and always looking to do better. Loved that it was the Captain's voice reading it, and I wish he would read more audio books because I loved his voice!

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Phenomenal leadership

Michael Abrashoff shares his outside the box leadership style, mindset, and strategies. There is a ton of great material in here that is applicable to work and everyday life.

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Leadership lessons from the USN

It’s compelling to hear the stories and to learn from the experiences of the commander of the floating team/community that is a ship’s company. The stories make this book particularly interesting.

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Great Read

Loved this book, clearly demonstrates what can be accomplished when people are treated with respect and dignity. Well read by the author, make you want to be on that damn ship.

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Must listen to

This book is so good I listened to it twice within a month. It seems so easy when he says it however very few companies and people exercise these principles.

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Leadership is a calling

I like the quote:leadership is not a pay check but is a calling! People who are wondering how to lead should read this.

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Top choice.

I have covered 25 books on leadership since Jan 1st and this is top 3. It is the only book I have ever reread.

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Great read and insight

Worth every penny. Great book that articulates and gives examples of great leadership. Will refer to it many times in the future I am sure.

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No Fuss Leadership Lessons

Widely applicable.
All leaders should feed their mind with the contents of this book.
Thank you for your service, then and now!
Great read!

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Examples of smartly pushing the boundaries

I have ascribe to many of his philosophy. I believe some rules are to be broken otherwise there will be not growth. Many rules are designed to produce average people.

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