It's Our Ship August 01, 2008 The No-Nonsense Guide to Leadership(Business Plus, $25.99)
A true legend, Captain Mike Abrashoff became famous for taking the once dysfunctional USS Benfold and transforming it into the navy's finest ship. Thanks to his innovative management, the Benfold crew members reached incredible levels of efficiency and achieved the highest gunnery scores in the Pacific Fleet. Abrashoff recounts these experiences in his first title It's Your Ship, which became a bestseller. Now, in his new book entitled, It’s Our Ship, Abrashoff presents insights that he learned both as naval officer and as CEO of Grassroots Leadership. Looking back on his work, the author focuses on how to turn a group of self-centered individuals into a cohesive team.
The book elaborates on many aspects of teambuilding, covering everything from welcoming new employees on the first day to preventing senseless rivalries. Of special note, Abrashoff details how to keep people from "kissing up to you," as well as how to pinpoint disingenuous people within the ranks of management. The author notes that once these objectives have been achieved, you can take the belief in teamwork a step further, demonstrating how a team is actually part of a larger network. As Abrashoff notes, a captain should think of what's good for the entire naval force, not just a single ship.