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Turn the Ship Around! A True Story of Turning Followers Into Leaders by L. David Marquet

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Leadership isn’t just about giving orders and expecting results—it’s about empowering others to take ownership and responsibility. In his groundbreaking book Turn the Ship Around!, former U.S. Navy Captain L. David Marquet shares how he transformed the USS Santa Fe, a nuclear submarine, by turning followers into leaders.

The Problem with the ‘Leader-Follower’ Model: When Marquet took command of the Santa Fe, the submarine was struggling. Morale was low, and the crew was stuck in a ‘leader-follower’ model where every decision had to be approved by someone higher up. This not only slowed down operations but also led to a culture of risk aversion—no one wanted to make a decision in case they got it wrong.

The ‘Leader-Leader’ Approach: Marquet realized that to turn things around, he needed to implement a ‘leader-leader’ approach. Here’s how he did it:

  1. Empowering Mid-Level Managers: Marquet began by empowering mid-level managers. He asked them what they liked and disliked about their roles and then gave them more independence. This shift allowed them to take on duties with a sense of purpose and accountability, which in turn increased their effectiveness.
  2. Changing the Culture of Risk Aversion: By empowering his team, Marquet helped shift the culture from avoiding mistakes to striving for excellence. The crew was no longer paralyzed by fear of making the wrong decision—they were motivated to excel.
  3. Improving Communication: Marquet opened direct lines of communication between top-level and lower-level management. This meant that instead of waiting to see a finished project (which may have been unnecessary), brief conversations could steer efforts in the right direction from the start, saving time and resources.
  4. Implementing the ‘I Intend To’ Method: One of the most innovative changes Marquet made was introducing the phrase ‘I intend to.’ Instead of giving orders, crew members would state their intentions before taking action. This fostered a culture of deliberate action and open dialogue, reducing the risks associated with a top-down command structure.
  5. Collective Decision-Making: Marquet also made it a point to avoid giving orders unless someone recommended it first. This ensured that decisions were well-considered and based on the collective knowledge of the team. While this approach posed challenges in urgent situations, it encouraged a proactive rather than reactive mindset.
  6. Revamping the Briefing Process: The traditional, passive briefing process was replaced with a more interactive certification process, where updates were actively sought by the boss. This kept everyone engaged and informed, promoting continuous dialogue and improvement.
  7. Strategic Promotions: Understanding the importance of career progression, Marquet strategically planned promotions. He made adjustments to duties that allowed crew members to dedicate time to studying and improving, which not only helped them excel in exams but also showed that leadership had their best interests at heart.

Conclusion: L. David Marquet’s Turn the Ship Around! is more than just a story about a submarine—it’s a powerful lesson in leadership. By shifting from a ‘leader-follower’ to a ‘leader-leader’ model, Marquet transformed the USS Santa Fe into one of the Navy’s best-performing submarines. His approach teaches us that empowering others, fostering open communication, and making deliberate, collective decisions are key to successful leadership.

Call to Action: Whether you’re leading a team of five or five hundred, the lessons from Turn the Ship Around! can help you turn followers into leaders. Start implementing these strategies today and watch your team thrive.

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