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. The most important thing that a captain can do is to see the ship. This article is excerpted with permission from the book its your ship. Mike abrashoff speakers bureau and booking agent info. Read the short excerpt on commander abrashoffs leadership style and discuss the following two questions found at the end of the excerpt. Jul 02, 2014 now abrashoff offers this fascinating tale of topdown change for anyone trying to navigate todays uncertain business seas. This was abrashoffs first sea command, so he was undoubtedly anxious as he walked onto the ship. The legendary new york times bestselling tale of topdown change for anyone trying to navigate todays uncertain business seas. 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. Mike abrashoff former commander, uss benfold and author of. First published in 2002, it quickly became a classic in the field of management books. This was abrashoff s first sea command, so he was undoubtedly anxious as he walked onto the ship. 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 armed with every cuttingedge system available, it was like a business that had all the latest technology but only some of the productivity. 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. Prior to commanding uss benfold, our brilliant speaker mike abrashoff was the military assistant to secretary of defense william j. Mike abrashoff is the ny times best selling author of its your ship former naval. Mike abrashoff former commander, uss benfold and author, its. Mike abrashoff is at the center of one of the most remarkable modern day stories of organizational transformation. 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. Mike abrashoffs inspiring speeches challenge people to reimagine their own leadership thinking and instill a renewed responsibility for results and success. 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.
Achieving breakthrough performance michael abrashoff. Regarded as the finest ship in the pacific fleet, benfold won the prestigious spokane trophy for having the highest degree of combat readiness. Read the short excerpt on commander abrashoff s leadership style and discuss the following two questions found at the end of the excerpt. Mikes written three books his first, its your ship, has sold over 1 million copies. Knowing that responsibility for improving performance rested with him, he realized. Michael abrashoff the story of captain abrashoff and his command of uss benfold has become legendary inside and outside the navy. Mike abrashoff learned about leadership as captain of the uss benfold, a guidedmissile destroyer that he and his crew transformed from a disgrace into the best damn ship in the navy. 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. The story of that stunning transformation has lessons for every organization. The legendary tale of topdown change for anyone trying to navigate todays uncertain business seas. Benfold is a guided missile destroyer staffed with 310 sailors. Despite her potency, the dysfunctional ship had a sullen crew that resented being there and could not wait to get out of the navy. Mike recounted the leadership lessons from his turnaround of uss benfold in its your ship.
Speaker mike abrashoff organizational change book a keynote. He also helped draft the air defense plan for the naval forces in the persian gulf in 1990, coinciding with iraqs invasion of kuwait. Now abrashoff offers this fascinating tale of topdown change for anyone trying to navigate todays uncertain business seas. Through what he calls grassroots leadership, he turned around the operations of the uss benfold, one of the u. Uss benfold ddg65 is an arleigh burkeclass destroyer in the united states navy. Michael abrashoff s leadership methods and his books. 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.
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. Mike abrashoff was the mostjunior officer in the pacific fleet when he took command of the nearworst performing ship. Michael abrashoff and his command of uss benfold has become legendary. When captain abrashoff took over as commander of uss benfold. 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. 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. The challenges of this underachieving destroyer were staggering, with low morale and the highest turnover rate. Michael abrashoff and his command of uss benfold has become legendary inside and outside the navy.
As was military tradition, the navy rolls out the red carpet for a departing. 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. What police leaders can learn from uss benfold commander. Twelve months later, the uss benfold was the best ship in the entire navy using the same crew. Its your ship the legendary new york times bestselling tale of topdown change for anyone trying to navigate todays uncertain business seas. Mike abrashoff became commander of uss benfold at age 36, making him the most junior commanding officer in the pacific fleet on a ship that was plagued by low morale, high turnover and abysmal performance evaluations. Michael abrashoff floridavirginia capitol city speakers bureau. At 36, he was selected to be commander of uss benfold and was the most junior commanding officer in the pacific fleet.
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 abrashoffs leadership methods and his books. Abrashoffs written three books his first, its your ship, has sold over 1 million copies. Mike abrashoff generally travels from lakeland, fl, usa and can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other. The story of captain abrashoff and his command of uss benfold has become legendary inside and outside the navy. Its safety record was abysmal, morale was worse, and its reenlistment rate ranked at an. Mike abrashoff former commander, uss benfold and author. 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. Twelve months later the ship was the benchmark for performance the shining star. Oct 15, 2007 the legendary new york times bestselling tale of topdown change for anyone trying to navigate todays uncertain business seas. Navy commander michael abrashoff attracted worldwide media attention for his success in turning around a struggling ship, the uss benfold.
Mikes solution was to establish a set of management principles that he calls the leadership roadmap. Book mike abrashoff for speaking, events and appearances. Jim loehr and tony schwartz in their groundbreaking book. The ship was the uss benfold, and it ranked near the bottom of the performance rating in the fleet.
Michael abrashoff recounted the leadership lessons from the turnaround of uss benfold in its your ship, a new york times and wall street journal bestseller. When captain abrashoff took over as commander of uss benfold, a ship armed with every cuttingedge system available, it was like a. Michael abrashoff served for almost twenty years in the u. Thats the situation mike abrashoff, author of its your ship, faced when he became the youngest commander in the u. Michael abrashoff former commander, uss benfold and author, its your ship.
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. At the age of 36, the navy selected mike to become commander of uss benfold. Michael abrashoff, former captain of the uss benfold, is founder and coowner of aegis performance group. Knowing that responsibility for improving performance rested with him, he realized he had to improve his own. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our favorite reads in. Book mike abrashoff for speaking, events and appearances apb.
Build up your people article by mike abrashoff from its. After leaving the navy, he wrote a bestseller about progressive leadership called its your ship. 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. At the time he was the most junior commanding officer in the pacific fleet on a ship that was plagued by low morale, high turnover and abysmal. Mike abrashoff is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. Under his leadership, within 12 months the ship was ranked first in performance, utilizing the same crew. Management techniques from the best damn ship in the navy, by captain d.
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