Navy commander michael abrashoff attracted worldwide media attention for his success in turning around a struggling ship, the uss benfoldthe subject of his acclaimed bestseller, its your ship. Michael abrashoff wants to help your company chart a better course. The story of captain abrashoff and his command of uss benfold has become legendary inside and. Describing the ideas and techniques that i used to win my. When mike abrashoff took command of the uss benfold, morale was low, turnover was high and the ships performance ranked near the bottom of the pacific fleet.
Michael abrashoff former navy commander bestselling author. When captain abrashoff took over as commander of uss benfold, a ship armed with every cuttingedge system available, it was like a business that had. Its your leader ship as commander of the uss benfold, he initiated a leadership turnaround that rocked the navy. The story of captain michael abrashoff and his command of uss benfold has become legendary inside and outside the navy. At 36, he was selected to be commander of uss benfold and was the most junior commanding officer in the pacific fleet.
The most important thing that a captain can do is to see the ship. Despite her potency, the dysfunctional ship had a sullen crew that resented being there and could not wait to get out of the navy. Knowing that responsibility for improving performance rested with him, he realized he had. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. When captain abrashoff took over as commander of uss benfold, it was like a. Build up your people article by mike abrashoff from its. Now abrashoff offers this fascinating tale of topdown change for anyone trying to navigate todays uncertain business seas. Prior to commanding uss benfold, our brilliant speaker mike abrashoff was the military assistant to secretary of defense william j. When captain abrashoff took over as commander of uss benfold, a ship armed with every cuttingedge system available, it was like a.
Perry and served as the executive officer of the cruiser shiloh, where he deployed to. Prior to commanding uss benfold, abrashoff served as the military assistant to secretary of defense william j. Navy captain mike abrashoff, who took control of the uss benfold, one of the worst performing ships in the pacific fleet. Naval academy in annapolis, md, and was a military assistant to the former secretary of defense, the honorable dr.
Management techniques from the best damn ship in the navy, by captain d. This inspiring talk is for every individual and organization looking for practical and. 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. Mike abrashoff, author of its your ship, led the legendary turnaround of the nearworst ship in the navy. May 17, 2017 in this book excerpt, naval captain d. The lesson was clear leadership matters and culture is everything. Jul 23, 2014 mike abrashoff s inspiring speeches challenge people to reimagine their own leadership thinking and instill a renewed responsibility for results and success. Michael abrashoff was the most junior officer in the pacific fleet when he took command of the uss benfold the nearworst performing ship in the navy. Buy a discounted hardcover of its your ship online from australias leading online bookstore.
What police leaders can learn from uss benfold commander. Abrashoff left the navy in 2001 and became the founder and ceo of grassroots leadership, inc. The legendary new york times bestselling tale of topdown change for anyone trying to navigate todays 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. Michael abrashoff, former captain of the uss benfold, is founder and coowner of aegis performance group. After just 12 months, abrashoff transformed the ship using the same crew and won the navys spokane trophy for bestperforming ship in the pacific fleet. Benfold is a guided missile destroyer staffed with 310 sailors. Knowing that responsibility for improving performance rested with him, he realized he had to improve his own. Management techniques from the best damn ship in the navy summary when captain abrashoff took over as commander of uss benfold, a ship armed with every cuttingedge system available, it was like a business that had all the latest. Abrashoff left the navy in 2001 and became the founder of grassroots leadership, inc.
As was military tradition, the navy rolls out the red carpet for a departing. At 36, he was selected to be commander of uss benfold and was the most. Mike abrashoff is the ny times best selling author of its your ship former naval. Mike abrashoff former commander, uss benfold and author. Mike abrashoffs inspiring speeches challenge people to reimagine their own leadership thinking and instill a renewed responsibility for results. Twelve months later, the uss benfold was the best ship in the entire navy using the same crew. When captain abrashoff took over as commander of uss benfold.
Knowing that responsibility for improving performance rested with him, he realized he had to improve. Michael abrashoff former commander of the uss benfold, write in an engaging, easy to read style. Knowing that responsibility for improving performance rested with him, he realized. Management techniques from the best damn ship in the navy summary when captain abrashoff took over as commander of uss benfold, a ship armed with every cuttingedge system available, it was like a business that had all the latest technology but only some of the productivity. Uss benfold ddg65 is an arleigh burkeclass destroyer in the united states navy benfold is a multimission platform capable of aaw antiaircraft warfare with the powerful aegis combat systems suite and antiaircraft missiles, asw antisubmarine warfare, with towed sonar array, antisubmarine rockets, asuw antisurface warfare with a harpoon missile launcher, and strategic land. As commander of the highly acclaimed uss benfold, captain d. Michael abrashoff took command of the uss benfold, he knew immediately that the ship and its crew were sinking under the weight of an ineffective leadership model and a 200yearold. This was abrashoffs first sea command, so he was undoubtedly anxious as he walked onto the ship. 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. Its your ship the legendary new york times bestselling tale of topdown change for anyone trying to navigate todays uncertain business seas. Mike abrashoff was the mostjunior officer in the pacific fleet when he took command of the nearworst performing ship. Mike abrashoff former commander, uss benfold and author, its. 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. The challenges of this underachieving destroyer were staggering, with low morale and the highest turnover rate.
Nick hornby reminds us why we love books sometimes. Mike abrashoffs inspiring speeches challenge people to reimagine their own leadership thinking and instill a renewed responsibility for results and success. Michael abrashoff irrefutably demonstrated how progressive management can succeed at sea. Michael abrashoff reveals the management principles that shaped his ship, the u. If you are concerned about productivity, profitability and opportunities for growth, the book is a handbook for success. Mike abrashoff is at the center of one of the most remarkable modern day stories of organizational transformation. At the core of his leadership approach on uss benfold was a process of replacing command and control with commitment and cohesion, and engaging the hearts, minds, and loyalties of workers with conviction and humility. Management techniques from the best damn ship in the navy abridged edition. Booktopia has its your ship, management techniques from the best damn ship in the navy, special 10th anniversary edition revised and updated by d. Since then, hes been a fixture on the business lecture circuit, spreading an empowering message that any organization can be turned around with compassionate but firm leadership. By governing his ship through his unique management techniques, abrashoff turned the benfold into a model of naval efficiency, with amazing cost savings, the highest gunnery score in the pacific fleet, and a highly motivated and top performing crew. The ship was the uss benfold, and it ranked near the bottom of the performance rating in the fleet.
Mikes solution was to establish a set of management principles that he calls the leadership roadmap. This extraordinary interest in abrashoffs leadership journey and benfolds organizational lessons led to two followup books get your ship. After leaving the navy, he wrote a bestseller about progressive leadership called its your ship. Michael abrashoff served for almost twenty years in the u. The legendary new york times bestselling tale of topdown change for anyone trying to navigate todays uncertain business seas. By governing his ship with his unique management techniques, abrashoff turned the benfold into a model of naval efficiency, with amazing cost savings, the highest gunnery score in the pacific fleet, and a highly motivated and top performing crew. Michael abrashoff, legendary commander of the uss benfold, continues in the same vein of his bestselling book its your ship with the knowledge hes gained from his speaking to and advising some of the top business minds in the world. Oct 15, 2007 the legendary new york times bestselling tale of topdown change for anyone trying to navigate todays uncertain business seas. Michael abrashoff and his command of uss benfold has become legendary inside and outside the navy. His latest, its our ship the no nonsense guide to leadership is the third in a series based on his command tour aboard uss benfold ddg65 and building on his experiences with leaders in the business world.
Speaker mike abrashoff organizational change book a. Mike abrashoff former commander, uss benfold and author of its. The legendary tale of topdown change for anyone trying to navigate todays uncertain business seas. Governing his ship with his unique management techniques, abrashoff turned the benfold into a model of naval efficiency, with amazing cost savings, the highest gunnery score in the pacific fleet, and a highly motivated and top. Benfold, into a model of leadership as progressive as any celebrated in the business world.
The story of captain abrashoff and his command of uss benfold has become legendary inside and outside the navy. Thats the situation mike abrashoff, author of its your ship, faced when he became the youngest commander in the u. Other than the sobering fact that real lives are regularly at stake, running a navy ship is a lot like running a business. Its safety record was abysmal, morale was worse, and its reenlistment rate ranked at an. Pacific fleet presented the battle effectiveness battle e award to the crew of the guidedmissile destroyer uss benfold ddg 65 as part of a visit to local forward deployed naval force japan fdnfj ships and commands june. When captain abrashoff took over as commander of uss benfold, a ship. This article is excerpted with permission from the book its your ship. Aug 25, 2015 prior to commanding uss benfold, abrashoff served as the military assistant to secretary of defense william j. Michael abrashoff was in his midthirties when he took command of the uss benfold, a guided missile destroyer and one of the worst performing ships in the navy. When he took over the ship it was armed with every cuttingedge system available, it was like a. He also helped draft the air defense plan for the naval forces in the persian gulf in 1990, coinciding with iraqs invasion of kuwait. Speaker mike abrashoff organizational change book a keynote. Mike abrashoff former commander, uss benfold and author of. Abrashoff recounted the leadership lessons from the turnaround of uss benfold in its your ship, a new york times and wall street journal bestseller, with over 800,000 copies sold to date.