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 enlarge | Author: Michael Abrashoff
Publisher: Business Plus
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy Used: $4.00
You Save: $20.95 (84%)
New (55) Used (85) Collectible (36) from $4.00
Rating:  115 reviews
Sales Rank: 3119
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Pages: 256
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6.1 x 1.2
ISBN: 0446529117
Dewey Decimal Number: 658.4092
EAN: 9780446529112
ASIN: 0446529117
Publication Date: May 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Showing reviews 6-10 of 15
 ***A MUST READ BOOK*** May 9, 2008
J. Gregory Souders (Thomasville, GA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am both a Pastor, as well as a Critical Care Paramedic for a hospital in a nearby city where I live. This book, "It's Your Ship", contains a MUCH NEEDED MESSAGE that should be REQUIRED READING for ALL managers, CEOs, Presidents, Pastors, Administrators, Leaders, etc. in any and all organizations no matter their size. Too many of those, who are listed above, are still trying to "micro-manage" their employees, ignore the vast resources and ideas of their employees and personnel, as well as operate out of a system that is no longer relevant for today's generations, etc. The sad part is that they are doing it either out of ignorance, stubbornness, pride, refusal to change / adapt, or just plain stupidity which is 'destroying' organizations, companies, churches, by ignoring THE BEST RESOURCES they have available. Those who they are to lead and manage.
I would HIGHLY recommend this book coupled alongside another book by Graeme Codrintgton entitled, "Mind The Gap". This book discusses the reality of generational differences (how they differ, why, etc.) in an easy to understand, well-researched manner that is both much needed and well-written book that would give anyone in leadership the foundation and principles that they need in understanding the 'WHY' they NEED to CHANGE and to APPLY those same principles that are mentioned in the book "It's Your Ship".
Sadly, those in 'leadership' who "fail to do so", will, if not already finding themselves on a 'sinking ship' in their organization, and it is only a matter of time before they destroy the very company they want to succeed; by failing to change and adapt, by failing to make the necessary changes, by failing to 'grow themselves' "outside the box" they have placed themselves in, and by ignoring the awesome resources at their disposal which is found in the very employees they are supposed to "lead" instead of "drive and walk over".
Again, this book is a very practical MUST READING for ANYONE who is in a leadership position, wants to improve their organization, grow themselves, etc. AND it could be a resource to bring about the very change needed in your organization. We could only PRAY & HOPE that in your or my situations we could have a leader who would become and embrace those principles and examples found in "It's Your Ship".
However, be warned, IF you work for a boss who 'refuses to change', listen to others, and is determined to operate in a system that is no longer relevant from 20+ years ago, you WILL become frustrated. Even so, it may open your eyes, and the eyes of those around you how things "should be" as well as perhaps "ideas" on how things need to change, perhaps can change, motivating you to be the catalyst in brining about the change, or to seeing the hopelessness of the situation you are in until a new "admiral / captain" heads up 'your ship'.
(Here is my suggestion: Leave a copy of this book for your boss. You might want to do it annonymously though. For in an abusive situation, "those that aren't the problem, who point out the problem, sadly, become the scapegoat or the problem they will focus on ignoring what the actual problem really is)
Get this book and read it today!! :o)
Superior leadership tips for government leaders and managers April 3, 2008
S. Sweetow (Atlanta, GA)
On my bookshelf sit a wide variety and number of tomes on leadership and management, some of them provided to me as a result of my current job as a junior executive, while I purchased others myself based upon either recommendations from fellow executives or informal leaders within federal government whom I know and respect.
Mike Abrashoff's book kind of "snuck up" on me, for while I had heard others mention it in passing, and noticed the cover on forays to the bookstore, I had believed - incorrectly - it was not in the league of "Good to Great," "First Break All the Rules," or other perhaps better known efforts.
What I found was a leadership book that was not only a legitimate page turner, but something that I actually enjoyed well enough to read twice, which is almost unheard of for me given my schedule.
Although I served in the U.S. military for almost a decade (sorry Captain, I was in the Army!), the bulk of my leadership training and experience has come from my work in the federal government, where targeted leadership texts are hard to come by and largely unfocused; that is, until now.
I found Captain Abrashoff's writing to be succinct and to the point, his stories spot-on examples of problems with non-military applicability and his insights keen and consistently self-deprecating. The world in which I work (law enforcement) has a paramilitary structure, and contains many highly educated and intelligent "type-A" folks with matching assertive personalities. These in turn are mixed with a smaller number of people ranging from the unmotivated and unenthusiastic, to self-starting and virtually brilliant folks who are un-empowered and who therefore are not contributing as they could. Worse still, since law enforcement is hierarchical, the impact of a bad leader at the helm is even more damaging than you might imagine.
When I found myself in a position of suddenly having control over a segment of our agency, one of the very first things I did was to provide all of my dozen or so subordinate supervisors and other key people with a gift of Captain Abrashoff's book at a staff meeting, along with the simple suggestion that they enjoy the gift and see what lessons they found within.
Although this book is, in my opinion, best suited to organizations which are more structured or hierarchical, I think Captain Abrashoff's efforts have broad applicability if you are interested in trying some non-traditional, but surprisingly simple techniques, chief among them empowering your subordinates to excel by trusting and challenging them, sadly a rarity in a world where leaders are often ego-centric and/or authoritarian. I have rarely encountered such a readable and even inspiring book when it comes to pondering "what would I do if I were in charge?
Partners, Not Peons or Parrots March 29, 2008
John W. Pearson (San Clemente, CA, USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
"If all you give are orders," writes U.S. Navy Captain D. Michael Abrashoff, "then all you will get are order-takers." And so begins this new captain's voyage to change a ship's morale and create a polished crew of 310 self-starters. Trust me--this is a must-read!
This risk-taking leader's dominant core value, "It's your ship, take responsibility for it. Don't ask permission; do it." Captain Abrashoff begins with his personal goal, "I was determined to be the captain these sailors deserved." Wow. He cites a Gallup study that said 65 percent of those who leave their companies are actually leaving their managers. So Abrashoff gives fascinating and fun stories demonstrating how he injected risk-taking leadership on his ship. He developed partners, not peons or parrots.
He covers almost all of my 20 management buckets from my book, Mastering The Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Non-profit. Look at this list: lead by example, listen aggressively, communicate purpose and meaning, create a climate of trust, look for results--not salutes, take calculated risks, go beyond standard procedure and build up your people.
Some estimate that the cost of losing a trained employee is one and a half times the annual salary of the outgoing team member ("as measured by lost productivity and recruiting and training costs for the replacement"). As you "supervise" team members (and volunteers, perhaps) are you creating order-takers or self-starters? What could you do to enhance your culture so being a self-starter is honored?
Captain Abrashoff writes, "If a rule doesn't make sense, break it." Do you have that kind of "It's your ship" mentality onboard your company? Quick--order the book and pass it around to every manager.
best leadership book around March 26, 2008
csb
I was given this book when I promoted to Fire Captain. It is the best book on leadership I have ever read. I have given many copies as gifts to friends that have also promoted. Clear and straightforward advice, loaded with practical and funny stories. Captain A. is an unpretentious, people kind of leader. There is no doubt he ran a tight ship, but after reading this book and his follow up book I know his ship ran tight because he empowered his folks and instilled a great pride in them, his crew were the owners of his boat.
It's Your Ship February 29, 2008
love to read (Wisconsin, USA)
It's Your Ship is a great read - fast but with leadership tips through and through! It's a perfect choice for a team building project!
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