D. Michael Abrashoff

It's Your Ship

1. IDEA 1

   A struggling ship became the best

   Abrashoff describes taking command of the US Navy destroyer Benfold, which had low morale and poor performance. Within a short time, his leadership turned it into one of the best ships in the fleet.

2. IDEA 2

   Lead by example

   Abrashoff argues that sailors watch their captain closely and copy what he does. He tried to model the behaviour he wanted, from respect to commitment, in every interaction. Small actions sent big signals.

3. IDEA 3

   Listen aggressively

   Abrashoff describes interviewing every crew member to learn their ideas and frustrations. Many of the ship's improvements came directly from suggestions by junior sailors. He made a point of acting on what he heard.

All 8 ideas from It's Your Ship →