Authors

Author Bio

D. MICHAEL ABRASHOFF

Former Commanding Officer, USS Benfold, United States Navy
Author, Founder and CEO of GrassRoots Leadership, Inc.

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, solving core problems with grassroots solutions. Practices that included converting dated command and control with commitment and cohesion to Mike's greatest asset in any situation—People. "You need to recruit your people everyday even though you already have them onboard." Immediately after leaving the Navy, Mike created GrassRoots Leadership, advising others on how to empower their people while increasing profits and cutting costs. Mike continues to spread his message through his first book, "It's Your Ship," published by Warner Books. Visit Captain D. Michael Abrashoff at grassrootsleadership

HEAR MIKE'S STORY
In this two-minute video clip, Mike talks about the day that defined his experience on the USS Benfold, and how this pivotal experience helped him understand the real challenge not just for military leaders, but grassroots leaders in all organizations. View the two-minute RealMedia video clip (1.3 MB). To view the video, you'll need RealPlayer 8 from Real.com.