ThelegendaryNewYorkTimesbestsellingtaleoftop-downchangeforanyonetryingtonavigatetoday’suncertainbusinessseas.WhenCaptainAbrashofftookoverascommanderofUSSBenfold,itwaslikeabusinessthathadallthelatesttechnologybutonlysomeoftheproductivity.Knowingthatresponsibilityforimprovingperformancerestedwithhim,herealizedhehadtoimprovehisownleadershipskillsbeforehecouldimprovehisship.Withinmonths,hecreatedacrewofconfidentandinspiredproblem-solverseagertotaketheinitiativeandresponsibilityfortheiractions.Thesloganonboardbecame“It’syourship,“andBenfoldwassoonrecognizedfarandwideasamodelofnavalefficiency.HowdidAbrashoffdoit?Againstthebackdropoftoday’sUnitedStatesNavy,Abrashoffshareshissecretsofsuccessfulmanagementincluding:Seetheshipthroughtheeyesofthecrew:Bysolicitingasailor’ssuggestions,Abrashoffdrasticallyreducedtediouschoresthatprovidedlittleadditionalvalue.Communicate,communicate,communicate:ThemoreAbrashoffcommunicatedtheplan,thebetterthecrew’sperformance.Hiscreweventuallystartedcallinghim“MegaphoneMike,“sincetheyheardfromhimsooften.Createdisciplinebyfocusingonpurpose:DisciplineskyrocketedwhenAbrashoff’screwbelievedthatwhattheyweredoingwasimportant.Listenaggressively:AfterlearningthatmanysailorswantedtousetheGIBill,Abrashoffbroughtatestofficialaboardtheship-andheldtheSATsfortymilesofftheIraqicoast.FromachievingamazingcostsavingstowinningthehighestgunneryscoreinthePacificFleet,CaptainAbrashoff’sextraordinarycampaignsentshockwavesthroughtheU.S.Navy.Itcanhelpyouchangethecourseofyourship,nomatterwhereyourbusinessbattlesarefought.
