Turn the Ship Around!

Turn the Ship Around! chronicles former U.S. Navy submarine commander David Marquet's transformation of the USS Santa Fe from an underperforming vessel to a top-rated submarine. The narrative follows Marquet's journey as he implements a radical leadership approach called "Intent-Based Leadership" after taking command in 1997. Marquet details the specific methods and practices he used to shift from the traditional leader-follower model to one where authority is distributed throughout the crew. The book provides step-by-step examples of how this leadership transformation occurred, from changing the way orders were given to implementing new systems for decision-making at all levels. The author documents both the successes and challenges of this leadership experiment through real situations that occurred aboard the submarine. The results of these changes are tracked through measurable metrics, crew retention rates, and promotion statistics. This leadership memoir illustrates how empowerment, organizational change, and cultural transformation can occur within rigid hierarchical structures. The principles presented transcend the military context and offer insights for leaders in any organization seeking to build engaged, accountable teams.

Readers value the practical leadership lessons and real-world examples from Marquet's experience commanding USS Santa Fe. Many highlight the concept of "leader-leader" vs "leader-follower" as transformative for their management approach. Reviews frequently mention the clear, actionable steps and submarine stories that illustrate each principle. Likes: - Concrete examples instead of just theory - Step-by-step implementation guidance - Focus on empowering all levels of an organization - Engaging submarine stories Dislikes: - Repetitive content in middle chapters - Too focused on military context for some business readers - Some found implementation steps oversimplified - Naval jargon can be confusing Ratings: Amazon: 4.7/5 (2,800+ reviews) Goodreads: 4.3/5 (13,000+ ratings) Common reader comment: "Changed how I think about leadership, but needed more diverse examples beyond submarines." Business leaders particularly praise the "deliberate action" and "I intend to" protocols as immediately applicable tools.

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🚢 Author David Marquet served as captain of the USS Santa Fe, transforming it from the worst-performing submarine in the fleet to the best, with a retention rate that increased from 3% to 33%. ⭐ The "leader-leader" model described in the book has been implemented by companies like Google, Intel, and Ritz-Carlton to improve organizational performance. 🎓 The book's concepts are taught at the Naval Academy and have become part of the curriculum at several business schools, including Columbia Business School. 🌟 The USS Santa Fe's remarkable turnaround happened in just one year, and the submarine continued to excel long after Marquet's departure, with many of its officers going on to command their own submarines. 📚 Stephen R. Covey, author of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," visited the USS Santa Fe and declared it the most empowering organization he had ever seen in his life.