Review

Rating: 8

I want to thank my wife for watching Monday Night Football and recommending this book to me. (Did you just read that right?) Yes, Arlene was watching MNF with me and I left the room to take a phone call and while I was out, the sideline reporter held up this book written by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff. Apparently, Carson Palmer (who is the exceptional quarterback of the Bengals) was given this book by his father. Carson apparently was deeply moved by this book and it transformed him as a leader of his football team.

99% of the time, the books I read are one that have recommended to me. So given the fact that my wife actually went online, requested the book from our local library, and picked it up and put it into my hands (and a NFL QB loved it) - how could I not read it?

I must say, the effort and recommendation were spot on. What a great book! I can’t think of a better book for a CEO, senior-level, and middle-level manager to read and find inspiration on being a better leader.

Captain Abrashoff is a remarkable man. His tales of leading the USS Benfold during the time of the first Persian Gulf war with Iraw are inspiring. The Captain took over a failing ship. The previous captain left him a vessel with rock bottom morale and high turnover rates. This man faced an uphill battle of epic proportions and could not be blamed for going in with a ‘woe is me’ attitude.

Instead, Captain Abrashoff decided to tackle this challenge and set his mind to be the leader this ship needed. (Lesson number 1 - Leadership is not automatic, nor is it easy. You must set in your mind the task and goal of being a good leader). I also marvel at his motivation — not because of his own ego or pride - but to make sure he served his bosses (admirals, commanders, and the Navy at large). He was motivated to develop a combat-ready ship that modeled efficiency and performance — exactly what his ‘bosses’ required of him. However, the ways in which the Captain went about to do this often defied norms, tradition, and routine. He often chose to pursue ideas that were ‘outside the box’ that got him to a solution that was ultimately cheaper, better, and more efficient. Imagine that, a military leader that actually took pride in saving taxpayers money!!

Now realize that Captain Abrashoff was, in civilian terms, a middle manager. He was a junior level officer, outranked and low on the Naval food chain; however, he was in charge of 310 men and women aboard the USS Benfold. This is just like many middle managers in corporate America — leaders squeezed in between ‘laborers’ and higher level ‘bosses’. It’s often thankless job, disrespected position, and a non-factor in producing change within a large organization.

Yet, Captain was extremely distressed and saddened by the low level of morale and turnover rate on the ship he took over. He took seriously his responsibility to lead these 310 sailors and set his mind to reverse the disturbing trends. (Lesson 2 - No matter what your role, or limited scope of responsibility may be, when you are put in a position to lead, then lead with intention and confidence. People are counting on you!)

I’m going to tell you here that the Captain did turn that problem around. You’ll get the pleasure of finding out exactly how he did it when you read the book, but on the highest level, I want you to know that his basis for turning things around was to hand over responsibilities and ownership of jobs to those he was leading. He accepted and implemented feedback and critical thinking by those that actually did the work. In doing so, he not only reversed the morale and retention problem, but his ship became such a model of efficiency and change, that the entire Navy was affected by his little ship and to this day have new procedures and policies in place that began and were proven by the little USS Benfold.

Captain Abrashoff’s ship truly became ‘The Best Damn Ship In The Navy’ — evidence proved it time and time again. I encourge you to fully experience the journey when you read this book.

My favorite quote from the book is good advice for anyone that has to lead others, whether you are a boss, leader of an organization, a parent, a coach, or a supervisor.

Page 65 - ‘Trust is like a bank account–you have got to keep making deposits if you want it to grow. On occasion, things will go wrong, and you will have to make a withdrawal. Meanwhile, it is sitting in the bank earning interest.’

As a parent, coach, and business owner, this is life advice. Look for ways to help those you lead make deposits into their trust account. It not only builds confidence in you, it builds confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth in those you lead. That’s what being a leader of influence should be doing. Thank you to Captain Abrashoff for recording a portion of his life journey with us in his excellent book.–Bob