I recently had the privilege to meet Captain David Marquet and hear him speak on his experiences as a commander in the US Navy. After taking on the USS Santa Fe, the worst performing submarine in the fleet he was able to turn things around and build one of the best team environments in the Navy, which inspired his latest book, “Turn the Ship Around.”
I’d like to share with you the top 3 things I learned from Captain Marquet:
1. Leadership is a Language
When Captain Marquet noticed his crew continually passing the blame on others, he made a rule, “No They on Santa Fe.” Although difficult at first, when crewmates began to say “we” instead of “they”, there was a change in the way of thinking which allowed for ultimate team building. Captain Marquet says we need to “act our way to new thinking” and by practicing this change in wording, the change in behavior eventually fell into place.
2. Don’t Delegate, Elevate
Although it may seem easier to order your employees to complete their tasks a certain way, wouldn’t it actually be more efficient to not waste your time telling them to what to do? When you give your Team the information they need for success and let them have the freedom to decide how to accomplish their tasks, you are empowering them to have a sense of ownership over their job, which can only improve their performance.
3. Give Up Control
By making the work environment a place that embraces variability, you are creating a safe place for growth. You are not the only one who has to keep your company in check. Your Team should feel comfortable enough to voice their opinions and concerns. Listening to your employees will only strengthen your relationships and create a dynamic workplace. There are many things in this life that we cannot control, but when you learn to loosen the reins and let go a bit, you’ll find an authentic willingness that allows creativity and competence to flourish.