Book Summary | It's Your Ship

Book: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy - It’s Your Ship 

Author: Captain D Michael Abrashoff.

 

The book contains practical lessons from his experience of transforming the USS Benfold, previously one of the worst performing ships in the US Navy.  His management techniques provide a unique collection of best practice, which can be used with as much success in the business world as they have had in the military. Whether it is Armed Forces or the Organisations, all leaders face common challenge of getting the most out of the crews (Employees). This depends upon the three variables – The Leader’s needs, The organisation’s atmosphere, and the crew’s potential competence. This is where the book provides the leadership examples of overcoming through 11 practices of leadership tested at Benfold. Leadership lies in simple things – common-sense actions that ensure high morale and increase the odds of winning.  Leaders must be willing to put the ship’s performance ahead of their egos.

Chapter I – Take Command

Top reasons for people quitting the organisations  | Not being treated with Respect or dignity | Prevented from making an impact on the organisation | Not being listened | Not being rewarded with more responsibility and compensation is the fifth reason for quitting.

• -       The key to being a successful Leader is to see the ship through the eyes of the Employees
• -         Empowering means defining the parameters in which people are allowed to operate and then setting them free. As a leader empower the people to take decision and whenever the consequence of a decision had the potential to kill or injure someone, waste taxpayers money, or damage the ship, make leader to be consulted.

Chapter II – Lead by Example

• -          A leader will never accomplish what he or she wants by ordering it done.
• -          It’s funny how often the problem is Leader.  
• -          Never forget your effect on people: Mediocre leaders don’t even take the trouble to know their people.  Enthusiastic leader, will have enthusiastic workforce.
• -          Leaders know how to be held accountable
• -          Obey even when you disagree.

Chapter III – Listen Aggressively

• -          See the ship through the crew’s eyes
• -          Find round people for round holes
• -          Use the power of word magic –

Chapter IV – Communicate purpose with Meaning

• -          Make your crew think we can do anything
• -          Open up the clogged channels
• -          After creating a great band, Defend It
• -          Freedom creates Discipline

Chapter V – Create a climate of Trust

• -          Never pit dog against dog – Internal bickering and posturing does nothing for the bottom-line.
• -          Even the worst screw-up may be redeemable
• -          Welcome the bad news messenger – Mid level managers should be the one to survery the grey areas and provide directions.
• -          Protect your people from lunatic bosses – Helping your boss when he or she needs you badly is a pretty good investment.
• -          Trust also makes money

Chapter VI – Look for Results not Salutes

• -          Help knock down the barriers
• -          Let your crew feel free to speak up – Facts are facts and deserve attention not retribution.
• -          Free your crew from tip down its
• -          Nurture the freedom for fail
• -          Innovation knows no Ranks
• -          Challenge your crew beyond its reach

Chapter VII – Take Calculated Risks

• -          Bet on the people who think for themselves
• -          Take a chance on a promising sailor
• -          If a rule doesn’t make a sense, Break it

Chapter VIII – Go beyond Standard operating Procedure

• -          Keep your priorities in Focus
• -          Stay ahead of the competition
• -          Push the envelope for Innovation
• -          Go for the obvious, it’s probabaly a winner
• -          Don’t work harder, work smarter

-          Innovation and progress are achieved only by those who venture beyond Standard operating procedure.

Chapter IX – Build up your people

• -          Little things make big successes
• -          Trust people., they usually prove you’re right
• -          Expect the best form your crew. You will get it
• -          Build a strong, deep bench
• -          Counsel continuously and Honestly

Chapter X – Generate Unity

• -          Forget diversity. Train for unity
• -          Deal out punishment strictly but fairly  - First take background and circumstances into consideration before passing judgement. Second help wrongdoers become better citizens.

Chapter XI – Improve your people’s Quality of Life

• -          Fun with your friends makes a happy ship
• -          In heavy times, lighten up
• 
  

 https://www.amazon.in/Its-Your-Ship-Michael-Abrashoff/dp/145552302X

Book Summary | Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World

Book Name :  Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World 

Author: Zig Ziglar 


Today we live in a smart world where kids are more smarter, faster and technologically advanced than parents. Today the kids are more sensitive. Today although technology has advanced, this also had lead to growing negativity in the world and kids are victims of the same. Therefore raising them in a positive way becomes necessary.  This book was first published in 1985 and still the content is relevant to todays digital world.

# To raise positive kids we’ve got to use many essential ingredients – Love, Discipline, Forgiveness and many other qualities all wrapped in any abundance of care and commitment for our children’s eventually well-being. 
# Attitude building is highly important and the author suggests the three gems for building attitude: Faith, Hope & Love:
Faith: Faithfulness is an attitude; It speaks of the qualities of trust, reliability and loyalty. Faith is the unifying principle of life, its gives life meaning and definition and direction. Faith is the attitude of man that results in his ability to believe in the future and to work towards tomorrow. Faith is the first step and in s unifying principle that gives us a sense of confidence. Faith is your response to Gods ability. 
Hope: Hopefulness is a attitude; expectations, confidence, inspiration and enthusiasm. Hope is the fruit of faith. Hope with believably is one of the greatest gift you can give your child. Hope through spiritual relationship with god, produces an attitude of enthusiasm. Faith opens the door to inspiration and hope powers the forward trust of aspiration. 
Love: Love describes the most lasting, most precious and valuable spiritual attitude that bears the slid gold fruit of commitment, sacrifice and honesty.

# The way you think is the way your perform

# When we positive input, we have positive output and when we have negative input, we have negative output

# Those who can make you believe absurdities can make your commit atrocities

# Great music can lift a person to heights of accomplishment and inspire marvelous contribution to society

# Honesty is a marketable commodity

# We fail our children if we say Don’t do as I do, but do as I say

# When you find something good tell your child specifically what you found that you like. Applaud your child.

# Applause is the best motivator, we’ve found to make children feel good about performing and about themselves. Motivation is something you do on a regular basis

# To raise your children as positive winners, you need to frequently assure them that they are winners. Tips for positiveness: 
1. Make mealtime, when humanly possible the most casual, relaxing experience of the day
2. Limit your child intake of junk food
3. Provide a healthy breakfast
4. Use common sense principles
5. Be patient
6. Be a good example
7. Encourage healthy snacking
8. Parents must forgo the temptation to constantly repeat to their children what they accomplished when they were in school
9. We need to teach our children and remind them often that nobody can make them feel inferior without their permission and they need to be taught not to give that permission to any one
10. Since your personality is judged by the way others perceive you, the way you teach your child to communicate and come across is extremely important for every phase of his life
11. Select your children jobs or choose the house coarse that have definite starting and stopping points
12. Encourage your children to carefully choose their friends
13. Encourage your child’s character
14. Learning how to read is most important
15. To build your child’s self-image, teach him manners
16. Emphasize the development of a craters, imagination, teach your child to “see”
17. Develop a healthy self-image and to establish a positive loving environment
18. Help your child develop pride in being an important part of something worthy and noble that is bigger than any one individual
19. Build your self image by starting the day looking yourself in the eyes and making the commitment to do and be your best that day.
20. If your child has a physical problem that contribute to a negative self-image, explore your options.

Successful parents raising positive kids need to see, their kid as finished, competent, positive adults 

https://www.amazon.in/Raising-Positive-Kids-Negative-World/dp/0785264787