Mike Abrashoff is at the center of one of the most celebrated success stories in turnaround leadership. At the age of 36, the Navy selected Mike to become Commander of USS Benfold - at the time, the most junior commanding officer in the Pacific Fleet. The immediate challenges that faced him were staggering: Exceptionally low morale with unacceptably high turnover. Few thought that this ship could improve. In many ways, USS Benfold was actually an extreme example of the same problems facing many organizations today.
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George has over 20 years of experience leading and managing fast growing companies, with a proven record of accomplishments in several areas including start-ups, turnarounds, strategic planning, business development, operations and legal matters. George received his undergraduate degree from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois and his J.D. from the University of Miami – School of Law in Coral Gables, Florida.
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Mike Abrashoff is at the center of one of the most celebrated success stories in turnaround leadership. At the age of 36, the Navy selected Mike to become Commander of USS Benfold - at the time, the most junior commanding officer in the Pacific Fleet. The immediate challenges that faced him were staggering: Exceptionally low morale with unacceptably high turnover. Few thought that this ship could improve. In many ways, USS Benfold was actually an extreme example of the same problems facing many organizations today.
The solution was to establish a system of management techniques that Mike calls GrassRoots Leadership. At the core of his leadership approach on USS Benfold was a process of replacing command and control with commitment and cohesion, and by engaging the hearts, minds, and loyalties of workers - with conviction and humility. "The most important thing that a captain can do is to see the ship through the eyes of the crew." According to Mike, GrassRoots Leadership is a principle that empowers every individual to share the responsibility of achieving excellence. "It's your ship," he was known to say.
His former sailors to this day still remind him of it.
By every measure, these principles were able to achieve breakthrough results. Personnel turnover decreased to an unprecedented 1 percent. The rate of military promotions tripled, and the crew slashed operating expenses by 25 percent. Regarded as the finest ship in the Pacific Fleet, USS Benfold won the prestigious Spokane Trophy for having the highest degree of combat readiness.
Mike recounted the leadership lessons from his turnaround of USS Benfold in It's Your Ship, a New York Times and Wall Street Journal Best Seller, with over 500,000 copies sold to date.
Prior to commanding USS Benfold, Mike served as the Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Dr. 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.
George has over 20 years of experience leading and managing fast growing companies, with a proven record of accomplishments in several areas including start-ups, turnarounds, strategic planning, business development, operations and legal matters. George received his undergraduate degree from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois and his J.D. from the University of Miami – School of Law in Coral Gables, Florida.
Through a varied entrepreneurial and corporate career, George has been involved in several start-ups and turnarounds. The experience and knowledge gained during those years allowed George to understand the many issues and challenges leaders face. This understanding, coupled with his ability to quickly build trust with teams, has helped him lead and guide organizations in challenging fast growth times. Over the years, George has developed a certain appreciation and enthusiasm for leading and working with fast growing mid-market companies.
Currently George is guiding the growth of GRL Solutions, a leadership and talent consulting company founded with Mike Abrashoff, author of the book It’s Your Ship, a business best seller. The message of GRL Solutions, that the greatest opportunity for every organization to improve performance is to create a culture where people are engaged and act as owners, entrepreneurs and empowered contributors, is a philosophy that capitalizes on George’s strengths and passions, and guides all GRL Solutions’ client projects.
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