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

Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders is a non-fiction book written by retired U.S. Navy Captain, L. David Marquet. The book delves into Marquet’s struggles and eventual successes during his commanding period aboard the nuclear-powered attack submarine the USS Santa Fe. Marquet transformed his ship from being the worst in the U.S. Navy to being the best. The book explores the decision-making process Marquet used to create new standards and practices amongst his team, leading them to trust and believe in themselves, making them into effective leaders.

Marquet began his career in the navy in 1978 after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. Before joining the Santa Fe, he had studied and completed a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and received formal nuclear and submarine training. Marquet took command of the USS Santa Fe in 1999, inheriting a vessel that was labeled as “the worst in the fleet” and had a declining morale, low confidence among its crew members, and a culture of mediocrity.

Upon taking command, Marquet was determined to turn the ship around and help his team reach their full potential. To do so, he adopted a new type of leadership style that he nicknamed “leader-leader.” In essence, the leader-leader style encourages the empowering of individuals so that they can take ownership of their roles and be in control of the decisions they make. This process was done through the issuing of “intent-based” orders from senior officers that set a course of what is to be achieved, but gave individual crew members the freedom to make their own decisions on how to accomplish the goal. In addition, Marquet also focused on teaching and coaching his team members to be problem solvers and independent thinkers, and worked to develop clear communication among all crews.

By implementing these new practices, Marquet’s team on board the USS Santa Fe were able to achieve a level of success that no one thought possible. The vessel broke records for its level of proficiency, and Marquet and his crew also earned a string of awards, including the Retention Excellence Award, the Submarine Squadron Three Tactical Excellence Award, and the Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial Award for Food Service Excellence. On top of these external awards, the true success was seen in the transformed confidence and morale among the crew. The members on the ship were no longer afraid to make decisions and were able to take control of their own development, which gave them a renewed sense of responsibility and ownership.

Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders by L. David Marquet is an important read for all managers and leaders, as it highlights how empowering individuals can lead to a successful business. Marquet provides a new way of thinking and sees the potential in every individual and how they can contribute to the success of any organisation. By giving employees the confidence to make the right decisions, and trusting in the process of allowing them to do so, problems can be solved quickly, and businesses can achieve maximum success.