Peter Jones

“How much brainpower does the Navy—or any organization, for that matter—waste because those in charge don’t recognize the full potential hiding at the low end of the hierarchy? If we stopped pinning labels on people and stopped treating them as if they were stupid, they would perform better. Why not instead assume that everyone is inherently talented, and then spur them to live up to those expectations? Too idealistic? On the contrary, that’s exactly how Benfold became the best damn ship in the U.S. Navy.”
― D. Michael Abrashoff, It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy

“If your bosses see you lifting burdens off their shoulders, and they find out they can trust you, they stay out of your face. And that gives you the freedom you need to operate independently and improve your ship.”
― D. Michael Abrashoff, It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy

“I found that the more people knew what the goals were, the better buy-in I got—and the better results we achieved together.”
― D. Michael Abrashoff, It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy

“If what I’m about to do appeared on the front page of the Washington Post tomorrow, would I be proud or embarrassed? If”
― D. Michael Abrashoff, It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy