 Mike tells the story of his successes and failures as Commanding Officer aboard USS Benfold. As one of the youngest commanding officers in the Navy’s Pacific Fleet, following his post as Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Mike took command of his first ship and wasted no time instituting radical changes. Antiquated, do-as-I-say leadership practices literally went overboard when Mike stepped aboard USS Benfold. Mike went to work on one of the lowest retention rates and poorest performing ships in the Pacific Fleet, solving core problems using grassroots solutions.
By transforming dated command-and-control practices with commitment and cohesion, Mike tapped into his greatest asset - People. "You need to recruit your people every day even though you already have them on board." By empowering his people and making them accountable for every process, he discovered unparalleled success and a crew that reinvented themselves and their mission.
Immediately after leaving the Navy, Mike created GrassRoots Leadership, advising others on how to implement those practices he used aboard USS Benfold. Mike spreads his message through keynote speeches to over a hundred companies each year, and through his first book - It’s Your Ship - New York Times and Wall Street Journal Best Sellers, with over 550,000 copies sold. |
