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'It's Your Ship': The Leadership Lessons That Saved the USS Benfold
“Leaders must know and understand themselves before they can lead others.”
The USS Benfold had been underperforming for years. This guided missile destroyer, equipped with formidable capabilities, consistently fell short of expectations. Due to this underwhelming performance, the Navy initiated multiple leadership changes in an attempt to boost the ship’s productivity. Yet each new leader struggled to improve morale or retention rates, as the crew lacked pride and motivation. The Benfold had become the Navy’s biggest blemish.
In a move driven by urgency, the Navy appointed a 36-year-old leader who would soon become the youngest commander in the Pacific: Michael Abrashoff.
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Abrashoff rose to the challenge, blending his formal training with a strong dose of common sense to form his own leadership style. In less than a year, he transformed the Benfold by implementing time-tested, straightforward principles.
How did Abrashoff accomplish what others could not? Simply put, he leveraged human capital. He coined the phrase that would later become the title of his bestselling book, It’s Your Ship.
As a young commander, Abrashoff knew his strengths and weaknesses, often saying, “Leaders must know and understand themselves before they can lead others.” Recognizing his age as a potential obstacle, he understood that his leadership would have to be earned, not simply granted by rank or title. With that awareness, he developed ten leadership principles, which guided him as he took command of the Benfold:
The Abrashoff Code of Conduct:
Lead by example. Leadership starts from within; you cannot lead others if you cannot lead yourself.
Listen aggressively. Great leaders are engaged listeners, who truly hear and understand.
Communicate purpose and meaning. Everyone needs to understand the “why.”
Create a climate of trust. Trust must be earned and maintained.
Look for results, not “salutes.” Don’t be swayed by gestures of respect; what matters are the outcomes.
Take calculated risks. Be smart and bold.
Go beyond standard procedure. Expect more, do more, and deliver more.
Build people’s confidence. Simple words like “thank you” and “great work” can have a big impact.
Generate unity. Emphasize, “It’s our ship.” Success is a shared mission, not an individual pursuit.
Improve quality of life. Show people you care about them as individuals, not just their work.
Reflecting on his approach, Abrashoff wrote: “I began with the idea that there is always a better way to do things and that, contrary to tradition, the crew’s insights might be more profound than even the captain’s. Accordingly, we spent several months analyzing every process on the ship. I asked everyone, ‘Is there a better way to do what you do?’ Time after time, the answer was yes, and many of the answers were revelations to me.”
He continued, “My second assumption was that the secret to lasting change is to implement processes that people will enjoy carrying out. To that end, I focused my leadership efforts on encouraging people not only to find better ways to do their jobs, but also to have fun as they did them. And sometimes—actually, a lot of times—I encouraged them to have fun for fun’s sake.”
Through this innovative approach, the Benfold became the star of the Pacific Fleet, and Abrashoff went on to sell millions of copies of his book. His success underscores a timeless truth: common sense combined with people skills never fails.
