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