At just 36, Captain Michael Abrashoff took command of the guided missile destroyer USS Benfold. The ship was struggling—low morale, high turnover, and poor performance plagued the crew. Instead of relying on rigid command-and-control, Abrashoff made a bold choice: he empowered his sailors. His message was simple but transformative—“It’s your ship.”
By listening to his crew, respecting their ideas, and holding them accountable, Abrashoff inspired them to take ownership of their work and the ship itself. In just one year, with the same sailors, Benfold went from one of the fleet’s worst performers to the top-rated ship in the Pacific Fleet. The turnaround became a powerful case study in leadership built on trust, communication, and respect.
After leaving the Navy, Abrashoff captured these lessons in his book It’s Your Ship, which has sold over one million copies worldwide. He later expanded his philosophy in additional titles, including It’s Our Ship and Get Your Ship Together. Today, Abrashoff shares his experience with audiences across industries, giving more than 100 talks annually—from Fortune 500 executives to frontline workers.
His story proves a timeless truth: when leaders put people first, ordinary teams achieve extraordinary results.
