Mike Abrashoff was the most-junior officer in the Pacific Fleet when he took command of the near-worst performing ship. Twelve months later, the USS Benfold was the best ship in the entire Navy using the same crew. Abrashoff established a set of management principles that he calls The Leadership Roadmap. At the core of his leadership approach on 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.

By every measure, these principles achieved breakthrough results: turnover decreased to an unprecedented 1%; the rate of promotions tripled; and the crew slashed operating expenses by 25%. Regarded as the finest ship in the Pacific Fleet, Benfold won the prestigious Spokane Trophy for having the highest degree of combat readiness. This remarkable turnaround was accomplished by the very same crew that had performed so poorly just months before.

In many ways, what Abrashoff was able to do with the USS Benfold was an extreme example of the same problems facing many organizations today. That’s why dozens of publications including The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, and Fast Company have cited Abrashoff's story as an inspiring lesson for business. Leaders especially identify with Abrashoff being accountable for the results in an environment where he couldn’t make the rules.

Abrashoff is author of three books. His first, "It’s Your Ship," has a timeless message: don’t use outside forces that stand in your way as excuses – control the things you can influence and amazing results will happen. His next books, "It’s Our Ship" and "Get Your Ship Together," showed how these principles have been put into action by business leaders in their own organizations.

A popular keynote speaker for audiences looking to ramp up organizational performance, Abrashoff has spoken to every industry and kind of audience –from board retreats to front line personnel; from sales groups to universities; from Fortune 500s to startups. He inspires audiences to rethink their beliefs about leadership and organizational culture and tailors the message to focus on engagement, execution, change, safety, diversity, leadership, teamwork, innovation, accountability and more.

Prior to commanding USS Benfold, Abrashoff served as the Military Assistant to Secretary of Defense William J. Perry. He also helped draft the air defense plan for naval forces in the Persian Gulf in 1990, coinciding with Iraq's invasion of Kuwait; and served as the executive officer of the Cruiser Shiloh, where he deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of United Nations sanctions against Iraq.

Abrashoff is also the founder of Aegis Performance Group, a consulting firm which works with and supports leaders as they address leadership, talent and performance challenges within their organizations. Abrashoff and his team prompt leaders at all levels to re-imagine their leadership thinking and create new ways to elevate individual, team, and organizational performance.

Business, Business Authors, Achievement, Leadership, Motivational, Military, Patriotism, Peak Performance, Inspirational, Management, Communication, Business Growth, Human Resources, Corporate Culture, Authors, Change, Security & Defense, Sales, Marketing, Self-Help Authors, influential, Social Issues, Rated most popular, National Affairs, Accountability, Corporate Responsibility, Business Ethics, Business Coaching, Consulting Services / Coaching, Business Leadership, Employee Retention, Employee Engagement, Workplace Issues, Teamwork & Teambuilding, For Team Building, Ethics & Integrity, Empowerment, Workplace Safety Political, Veteran, Servant Leadership, Speaking Engagements, Veteran Affairs,