It's Your Ship : Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy: Amazon.ca: Michael D. Abrashoff: Books

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51 Reviews

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4.5 out of 5 stars (51 customer reviews)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Comments from a former Marine and current academic, May 12 2002

By

Dr. Thomas M. Box (Pittsburg, KS United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: It's Your Ship : Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy (Hardcover)

I just read Abrashoff's "It's Your Ship" and strongly recommend the book to managers at all levels and academics that teach Management, Organizational Behavior and Leadership. The author, Captain D. Michael Abrashoff - former commander of the USS Benfold, write in an engaging, easy to read style. The information he conveys is priceless. If you are concerned about productivity, profitability and opportunities for growth, the book is a handbook for success.

Having spent many years in the "old Corps (USMC)", heavy industry and higher education, I, too, have come to reject the old fashioned and dysfunctional command and control approach to leadership. There is a much better model and it is well described and richly illustrated in this book.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good book on how to create a rewarding work environment, Feb 2 2005

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Jason Koulouras (Aurora, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: It's Your Ship : Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy (Hardcover)

Abrashoff was one of the most effective Commanders in the Navy in recent history - this book recounts his lessons learned and is very proactive with respect to empowering your staff and delegating to them as well. On Page 158, he has a great line - Expect the best from your crew (and you will get the best).

When we have high expectations and we properly equip people to deliver, harmony is created and a virtuous cycle of achievement and progress is created.

Abrashoff was very objective focused as opposed to process or traditional ways of getting things done. He also took care of his people and made exceptions where feasible to ensure their long term emotional stability and commitment to the Navy. He understood the true costs of acquiring, training and bringing new staff up to speed. Often your best investment is employee retention!

A very good book with a different focus than the standard mantra management book. Well worth the read!

It is a loss for the US Navy that Abrashoff retired to pursue other life objectives. He was a strong credit to the Navy.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Benfold crew knows we're the best!, Dec 11 2003

By

EW3 Holly (Davis) Simpson (Louisville, KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: It's Your Ship : Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy (Hardcover)

I am a plankowner of the Benfold and admired Capt. Abrashoff's leadership. His superior leadership brought the moral of our ship from just ordinary shipboard life to a ship that many in the fleet wanted to become a part of. Our ship was a show-piece and we were proud to carry out his orders. What could have been a horribly desolate six months on deployment, including the holidays spent in the Gulf in 97-98, turned into a memorable experience for all, thanks to Capt. Abrashoff who even made UnRep a grand event! We learned from him that although we had a VERY important job to conduct, we were rewarded with pride in our accomplishments. Capt. Abrashoff was a very approachable Commanding Officer, an experience I had never encountered in the military and has been rare while employed with state government. He made an effort to see that his crew not only did their jobs exceptionally well, but that we enjoyed the festivities he provided for the ship while in port. I have read his fantastic book, reliving all the memories of my Benfold life and have used his leadership knowledge to become a successful professional in the "civilian" world. To the readers who feel Capt. Abrashoff is "arrogant" in his leadership style--I think if you had as awesome a ship as the Benfold to be a part of, you would be extremely proud of it and the leadership that made it such a fine place to spend a few years of your life.

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Published on July 18 2004 by Stefan Hopper