It's Your Ship

Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy

By: D. Michael Abrashoff

Narrated by: D. Michael Abrashoff

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

Trust your crew to do their best

Whether commanding a ship or leading a company, the reasons that sailors or employees leave an organization are similar:
1. Not being treated with respect or dignity
2. Being prevented in making an impact
3. Not being listened to
4. Not being rewarded with more responsibilities
5. Low pay

The top four reasons are controllable by the leaders of the organization, which is what Captain Abrashoff set off to do. The book isn't the result of years of research and studying business operations. Captain Abrashoff worked with his crew to come up with ideas to make it the best damn ship in the Navy. Particularly admirable was that Captain Abrashoff gave his crew the responsibilities they were willing to take on and trusted they would do it well. Many leaders would be unwilling to give up what they perceive as their source of power - the ability to tell people how to do their jobs.

Third reading this book.

this book has so many good leadership tips that whenever I'm faced with a challenge I go back to it as a resource. I work for several different organizations public, private and volunteer in my life. The biggest Gap we seem to have right now is in the realm of leadership. anyone aspiring to be a leader should find this book most beneficial.

Great read for educators!

Great read for teachers, principals, superintendents and anyone wanting to improve their organizations. #bethechange #leadership

Very insightful

I would have liked to have served under Abrashoff on the Benfold. Well done Captain. Thank you for writing this. Lessons that can be used in any business for sure.

Excellent leadership advice!

Excellent, practical leadership advice shared by the author in a style which is engaging and personable.

It Was My Ship and Now It's More My Ship

Would you listen to It's Your Ship again? Why?

Yes. I had countless flashbacks of my US Navy career while listening to this audio book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Radioman 1st Class who found a way to generate more bandwidth for the satellite communications for the various ships when they were in the Persian Gulf. They must have been using modems of very slow baud rates.

Which scene was your favorite?

The coordinated effort of Captain Abrashoff (at the time he may not have been that rank) in preparing for Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Dr. William J. Perry's multi-country series of meetings. The logistics for pulling together an effort of multiple US military branches and the military of other countries must have been mind boggling.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

It's My Ship and I'll Cry if I Want To, Cry If I Want to... just kidding! I would keep it the same as the book "It's Your Ship". I would hope that this would make for a great movie. Maybe if it took the same approach as the book. To appeal to an audience of entrepreneurs. It may take a bit of thought to pull it off but I don't know if a movie was ever made with this type of approach. Using a movie to do the same as what you would want a book to do.

Any additional comments?

I very much appreciated and enjoyed the contrast and compare of what Abrashoff faced in the Navy and bringing it into perspective for to the reader, the entrepreneur to better understand. That is, pointers in how to deal with certain situations and conditions. Also, to make educated, calculated or how ever your want to call it type of risks. My military and entrepreneurial experience allowed me to thoroughly enjoy this book.

Great Leadership Guidance and Lessons

I was not drawn into this story at first, but was eventually taken in once the the main message of the book can into play. Great leadership guidance and lessons for leaders at all levels; your greatest resource for any organization needs to be given the tools and latitude to excel. Additionally, it is vital to know our audience...

One of the Best Damn Leadership Books

I listened to this book on a referral and absolutely loved it. I've read or listened to many leadership books and have found none as enjoyable as this one.

While far from comprehensive, it paints in broad strokes and provides excellent personal examples. The author is humble and speaks often of his change in leadership style. It feels like a shared journey.

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for perspective on their leadership style.

Loved this book

Loved the leadership style in this book — building up your people, looking out for them, and empowering them to action. The story was amazing. I could listen to it again. #Leadership #Inspiring #Tagsgiving #Sweepstakes

Great book for growth

Great book if you want to be a more effective leader as a business owner, leader of an organization or just a better personal leader for those around you.