Turn the ship around! by L. david marquet

This book came to me via the National Fire Academy (it was required reading for a class), and I really liked it. I’ve also read It’s Your Ship, and while I like that book which is also written by a Naval commander who took his assigned ship from “worst to first,” I prefer this one for a couple of reasons.

The key concept for me from Turn the Ship Around! is the idea that authority should be pushed down as far as possible. However, that authority isn’t bestowed without responsibility. Marquet writes, "...as authority is delegated, technical knowledge at all levels takes on a greater importance. There is an extra burden for technical competence." The captain put a practice into place on his ship that I really liked: sailors weren’t allowed to ask for permission; instead they had to state: “I intend to…” before telling what they were about to do. I really like that.

I also really like Marquet’s assertion that empowerment programs don’t actually empower due to the fact that it means the program has the ability to confer empowerment on someone, which Marquet argues, it doesn’t. I like this because it bothers me when people in an organization feel helpless to change things. Everyone should have the power to move the organization positively within their sphere of influence.

Recommended for Officers