"The true measure of how well you did on your watch is the legacy you hand your successors." -- Captain Abrashoff
Legacy is a gift to others, rather than a measure of self-worth. What do you know today about your relatives from a hundred years ago?
Showing posts with label It's Your Ship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label It's Your Ship. Show all posts
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Stunted Speech
"I gave the shortest change-of-command speech in military history. It was five words long: 'You know how I feel.'" -- Captain Abrashoff
Think about it.
Think about it.
Crazy For You
"Giving our people the freedom to act a little crazy seemed to confirm that we really cared about them." -- Captain Abrashoff
In this case, it was a live karaoke concert on board a U.S. naval ship. In our department, it's the recent tradition of a certain employee singing Happy Birthday in an off-key, warbly high-pitched voice.
In a life where death is the only thing that's certain, we need something to balance it out. In the right doses, craziness is the fuel of happiness.
In this case, it was a live karaoke concert on board a U.S. naval ship. In our department, it's the recent tradition of a certain employee singing Happy Birthday in an off-key, warbly high-pitched voice.
In a life where death is the only thing that's certain, we need something to balance it out. In the right doses, craziness is the fuel of happiness.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
How's It Hanging?
"We must indeed all hang together, or, assuredly, we shall all hang separately." -- Benjamin Franklin, upon signing the Declaration of Independence
Thanks to the people who signed their revolution to paper, we'll likely never have to truly understand what it means to risk our lives and freedom.
Thanks to the people who signed their revolution to paper, we'll likely never have to truly understand what it means to risk our lives and freedom.
Down With Diversity
Captain Abrashoff cancelled his ship's diversity training. Is that a firable offense?
"In its place I substituted unity training, concentrating on people's likenesses and our common goals rather than differences. A ship of 310 people who looked and acted just like me would probably be one of the worst ships in the history of the Navy... Unity is about maximizing uniqueness and channeling that toward the common goals of the group."
"In its place I substituted unity training, concentrating on people's likenesses and our common goals rather than differences. A ship of 310 people who looked and acted just like me would probably be one of the worst ships in the history of the Navy... Unity is about maximizing uniqueness and channeling that toward the common goals of the group."
How to Get Hired
Captain Abrashoff wondered why he was hired in the first place. The answer he received from his higher-ranking officer:
"I have been in both government and business for over forty years. I can hire the smartest people around. But I have found what works the best is a staff that works together and backstops each other. The staff decided that you were the one they could work with the best."
I think that includes keeping cool under pressure. Work and play are filled with conflict. People are drawn to those who handle it with confidence and a smile.
"I have been in both government and business for over forty years. I can hire the smartest people around. But I have found what works the best is a staff that works together and backstops each other. The staff decided that you were the one they could work with the best."
I think that includes keeping cool under pressure. Work and play are filled with conflict. People are drawn to those who handle it with confidence and a smile.
What's Up With SAT?
Captain Abrashoff learned that only 45% of his crew had ever taken the Scholastic Aptitude Test, or SAT, needed to enter college. So he had an SAT administrator flown out to the ship, thirty miles south of Iraq. It triggered a larger wave of academic work by the sailors -- in time, hundreds also took advantage of a program to take college courses online.
"Anything you can do to understand your people, support them in tough times, and nurture their gifts will pay benefits to your bottom line."
"Anything you can do to understand your people, support them in tough times, and nurture their gifts will pay benefits to your bottom line."
Running Mates
The Benfold's captain was embarrassed to learn that his ship had no program for welcoming new sailors aboard. Have you ever joined a new group of people at work, church, or a party and been non-welcomed?
After that, when new sailors arrived they were greeted by a name on their locker, a made bed, and a chance to call their parents from the captain's cabin. Better still, each was assigned a top-performing sailor as his or her "running mate," a sort of mentor to make them feel personally valuable.
I've been trying to greet every Jazz player at every practice. When I can, I take them aside and tell them what their important role will be for the day's game. It might be one of the deeper longings of the human soul to feel uniquely special. Why not give each other that gift?
After that, when new sailors arrived they were greeted by a name on their locker, a made bed, and a chance to call their parents from the captain's cabin. Better still, each was assigned a top-performing sailor as his or her "running mate," a sort of mentor to make them feel personally valuable.
I've been trying to greet every Jazz player at every practice. When I can, I take them aside and tell them what their important role will be for the day's game. It might be one of the deeper longings of the human soul to feel uniquely special. Why not give each other that gift?
Level With Me
Naval ships were judged in twenty-four categories, ranging from Level One to Level Four depending on performance. The Benfold's captain noted that his rival on a fellow ship aimed for Level One. Indeed, to gain higher was a taxing effort. In fact it was virtually impossible for the senior officers to oversee all the testing areas.
So Abrashoff delegated leadership to junior officers.
As the Level Four ratings started rolling in, the skipper of another ship ordered his crew to shoot for the same.
"But you can't 'order' an outstanding performance. You have to plan, enable, nurture, and focus on it."
I probably spent ten hours this week preparing the Jazz for their surprising victory. To reach the next level, preparation succeeds where yelling fails.
So Abrashoff delegated leadership to junior officers.
As the Level Four ratings started rolling in, the skipper of another ship ordered his crew to shoot for the same.
"But you can't 'order' an outstanding performance. You have to plan, enable, nurture, and focus on it."
I probably spent ten hours this week preparing the Jazz for their surprising victory. To reach the next level, preparation succeeds where yelling fails.
In Touch With People
"People seem to think that if you send somebody a compliment online, it's as good as the human touch. It is not. It's easier, but much less effective." -- Captain Abrashoff
An interesting theory. Tell you what, blog me a compliment and I'll let you know if it was effective.
An interesting theory. Tell you what, blog me a compliment and I'll let you know if it was effective.
Cheerleaders and Chariot Drivers
"I'm absolutely convinced that positive, personal reinforcement is the essence of effective leadership." -- Captain Abrashoff
Right on! There's a fine line between positive reinforcement and cheap flattery, but there's almost no reason to skimp on any chance to be thankful or encouraging. Motivation can be done with carrots or hammers. Why the heck not choose the carrot?
Right on! There's a fine line between positive reinforcement and cheap flattery, but there's almost no reason to skimp on any chance to be thankful or encouraging. Motivation can be done with carrots or hammers. Why the heck not choose the carrot?
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Shrink Your Way to Success
"If you want to achieve anything in a large bureaucracy, get inside the bosses' heads. Anticipate what they want before they know they want it." -- Captain Abrashoff
Leadership: Abrashoff's Definition
"Leadership is mostly the art of doing simple things very well... Unlike some leaders, I prefer to build myself up by strengthening others and helping them feel good about their jobs and themselves. When that happens, their work improves, and my own morale leaps." -- Captain Abrashoff
We All Can Just Get Along!
"I came up with a plan to simulate the German ships as the enemy and conduct a battle at sea. Then we would exchange personnel to visit one another's ships, and we would do joint maneuvers in the South China Sea." -- Captain Abrashoff
In my line of work we hear about "silos" where different areas of the organization work independently of, or even competitively with each other. Some of that happens by the nature of our size, some not.
I was at a Leadership McLean County session the other day where CEOs from the two major hospitals in town formed a panel to answer questions about the state of health care in our community.
It struck me how very well these two got along with each other. Clearly they liked each other and worked together regularly. What are the odds of two "competitors" putting the good of the neighborhood ahead of their own profits? Such is the case, as they teamed up to develop a community cancer center and other joint ventures. And more personally impactful, what are the odds of CEOs taking time to visit with ordinary yokels like us?
Sometimes I think about pride in being an Illinoisan, an American, or of Irish descent. In the end, though, we're all part of the human team. Does there have to be an opponent?
In my line of work we hear about "silos" where different areas of the organization work independently of, or even competitively with each other. Some of that happens by the nature of our size, some not.
I was at a Leadership McLean County session the other day where CEOs from the two major hospitals in town formed a panel to answer questions about the state of health care in our community.
It struck me how very well these two got along with each other. Clearly they liked each other and worked together regularly. What are the odds of two "competitors" putting the good of the neighborhood ahead of their own profits? Such is the case, as they teamed up to develop a community cancer center and other joint ventures. And more personally impactful, what are the odds of CEOs taking time to visit with ordinary yokels like us?
Sometimes I think about pride in being an Illinoisan, an American, or of Irish descent. In the end, though, we're all part of the human team. Does there have to be an opponent?
Plug Into the Right Outlet
Captain Abrashoff chuckled at the sailor who said that he wanted to be a social worker when he left the Navy. He said that he could get him a job paying $60,000 to $80,000 per year if he stuck with electronics, the wave of the future. But he was put in his place by the teenager's response, that he'd been in and out of foster homes all his life and didn't want to see the same thing happen to other kids.
After picking his jaw up off the ground and crawling out from under the rock he felt like hiding under, the captain soon found a way to make the most out of the sailor's passion. The next time they docked at home in San Diego, the sailor was put on a mission to find a local elementary school that the ship could adopt. The crew painted the building and tutored students. It was a winning situation for everyone, especially so for the rejuvenated future social worker. And it happened because the captain took the time to plug his energy into the right outlet.
After picking his jaw up off the ground and crawling out from under the rock he felt like hiding under, the captain soon found a way to make the most out of the sailor's passion. The next time they docked at home in San Diego, the sailor was put on a mission to find a local elementary school that the ship could adopt. The crew painted the building and tutored students. It was a winning situation for everyone, especially so for the rejuvenated future social worker. And it happened because the captain took the time to plug his energy into the right outlet.
Information, Please
"I realized the power of information. Those that have it prosper. Those that don't, wither." -- Captain Abrashoff
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
How to Achieve Mediocrity
"You will seldom get in trouble for following standard operating procedure. On the other hand, you will rarely get outstanding results." -- Captain Abrashoff
Early in my supervising career, a father who'd never missed his son's baseball games came to me and asked if he could vary his schedule to get away early. Since it was outside of the rules, I sadly declined. What a bummer that it took me so long to learn that people are more important than rules! Flexibility brings some its own cost (namely the elusive goal of "fairness"), but in the end it's a seed well sown.
Early in my supervising career, a father who'd never missed his son's baseball games came to me and asked if he could vary his schedule to get away early. Since it was outside of the rules, I sadly declined. What a bummer that it took me so long to learn that people are more important than rules! Flexibility brings some its own cost (namely the elusive goal of "fairness"), but in the end it's a seed well sown.
Do It Yourself!
"My goal was to create self-starters... 'Hey... it's your ship, take responsibility for it. Don't ask permission; do it.'" -- Captain Abrashoff
Monday, January 14, 2008
Out of Orders
"If all you give are orders, then all you will get are order-takers." -- Captain Abrashoff
I started tonight's practice with a huddle to review the last game. Rather than spout my own thoughts on strengths and weaknesses, I just asked them what they thought needed work. It was good to hear them bring up the points I was thinking of, without my having to say them. Especially, they wanted to see more passing and less one-on-one play. Bingo! By agreeing on the problem, we'll be motivated toward the solution.
I started tonight's practice with a huddle to review the last game. Rather than spout my own thoughts on strengths and weaknesses, I just asked them what they thought needed work. It was good to hear them bring up the points I was thinking of, without my having to say them. Especially, they wanted to see more passing and less one-on-one play. Bingo! By agreeing on the problem, we'll be motivated toward the solution.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Hey Boss, Do This
"There's an art to managing your boss, and all bosses can be managed if you know what their triggers are. A universal trigger is saving money." -- Captain Abrashoff
It's a business rendition of an impressive formula for success: Find a need and fill it. Bosses are paid to manage money, and they have tendencies in the way they like things to look. We're paid to be servants, to fill needs, both of those above and below us in the organizational chart.
It's a business rendition of an impressive formula for success: Find a need and fill it. Bosses are paid to manage money, and they have tendencies in the way they like things to look. We're paid to be servants, to fill needs, both of those above and below us in the organizational chart.
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