Why Connection, Not Command, Is the Real Engine of High Performance | Michael Abrashoff | 649

What if the worst-performing team you’ve ever seen could become the best—without changing a single person? Today, Peter Winick sits down with Michael Abrashoff, former U.S. Navy captain and author of the mega-bestseller "It’s Your Ship: How Great Leaders Inspire Ownership From The Keel Up". Michael shares the extraordinary turnaround story of the USS Benfold—once one of the lowest-ranked ships in the fleet—and how he transformed its culture by focusing on something rare in the military: personal connection. He didn’t ask for a new crew. He didn’t get a bigger budget. What he did instead? Interviewed all 310 sailors, created personal index cards with their goals, strengths, and passions—and committed to leadership by listening. Peter and Michael dig into the difference between authority and influence, and why so many brilliant technical leaders fail when they're promoted. Michael also explains how he helped shift a culture of compliance into a culture of ownership—one small improvement at a time. You’ll hear how his military insights apply directly to boardrooms, sales teams, pharma execs, and even Boilermakers. And why the top five reasons people leave organizations haven’t changed in 25 years! This conversation is a masterclass in practical leadership. Because whether you're running a ship or a startup, the most powerful tool you have isn't command—it's connection. Three Key Takeaways: • Connection Drives Performance – Leaders who invest time in personally understanding their team members build trust, loyalty, and higher performance without needing more resources or authority. • Small Improvements Compound – A mindset of daily 1% improvements can lead to transformational change, even within rigid systems like the military. • Respect and Listening Are Retention Tools – People don’t leave organizations for money alone; they leave when they don’t feel valued, heard, or developed—making culture a strategic priority. If you found value in our conversation on leadership transformation and culture change, you'll want to check out our episode with Christian "Boo" Boucousis, a former Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilot turned CEO and thought leader. Boo shares how he applied military precision and adaptability to navigate the challenges of transitioning Afterburner, a global consultancy of elite military professionals, into the virtual realm during the pandemic. His insights on converting information into wisdom, engaging audiences across modalities, and leading with agility offer a compelling complement to our discussion on building high-performing teams through connection and ownership. Tune in to discover how discipline, curiosity, and emotional resonance can elevate your thought leadership to new heights.

Om Podcasten

Welcome to the Leveraging Thought Leadership podcast, a beacon illuminating the paths and possibilities of thought leadership. With your guides, Peter Winick and Bill Sherman, we will embark on a journey into a captivating world where ideas converge with strategy and insight. Where will thought leadership take you? In each episode, we engage with thought leaders from diverse backgrounds. Whether it’s professional keynote speaking, writing your own thought leadership book, investigating the niche expertise of specialized consultants, or crossing mental swords with distinguished academics, our guests collectively paint a vivid mosaic of thought leadership's multifaceted potential. Through nuanced perspectives and rich experience, our talented co-hosts aim to offer you views of the ways independent thought leaders navigate success, elevate talent, and change company culture – while simultaneously examining how organizations harness the power of thought leadership to catalyze innovation and nurture sustainable growth. Peter Winick is your guide through the realm of independent thought leadership. For the past two decades, he has helped individuals and organizations build and grow revenue streams through designing and growing their thought leadership platforms as well as acting as a guide and advisor for increasing business to business sales of thought leadership products. Peter is the Founder and CEO of Thought Leadership Leverage. His clients come from a diverse set of backgrounds and specialties. They include New York Times bestselling business book authors, members of the Speakers’ Hall of Fame, recipients of the Thinkers50 award, CEOs of public and privately held companies, and academics at prestigious institutions such as Yale, Wharton, Dartmouth, and London School of Business. With a keen eye for detail, he delves into the intricacies of crafting personal brands, fostering genuine engagement with audiences, and expertly monetizing one's expertise. From the artistry of crafting keynote speeches that resonate with audiences to the strategic deployment of bestselling books as conduits for inspiration and insight, Peter's guests offer a treasure trove of strategies for creating value and impact and driving revenue through thought leadership. Bill Sherman specializes in the exploration of organizational thought leadership. He examines how companies conceive, curate, and deploy thought leadership initiatives, and how those initiatives benefit the orgs and the people who work within them. Bill listens to the stories and advice of industry leaders and their triumphs within the competitive business landscape. Whether through the dissemination of white papers that shape industry discourse, webinars that educate and engage, or insightful executive blogs that offer thought leadership at the highest echelons of corporate governance, Bill's guests provide illuminating perspectives on the evolution of organizational thought leadership and its pivotal role in shaping industry paradigms and perceptions. Bill concentrates on organizational consulting and business expertise, investigating organizational thought leadership and its effects, from instructional design and learning product development to marketing strategy and execution, to organizational development and transformational consulting. He enjoys working with business leaders, speakers, authors, academics, and other consultants, connecting their ideas organizational platforms and enterprise-ready product development. As the series unfolds, Peter and Bill will lead us through a nuanced exploration of the latest trends and advancements in thought leadership. From the transformative impact of technology on communication and collaboration to the evolving preferences of consumers in an increasingly digital marketplace, they will dissect the shifting landscape with precision and insight. Moreover, they will shine a spotlight on emerging modalities that are reshaping the contours of thought leadership, from the ascendance of virtual events as a cornerstone of engagement to the growing influence of social media platforms as conduits for thought dissemination and audience interaction. Through their discerning analysis, they will reveal how thought leaders can adeptly harness these trends to amplify their reach, captivate new audiences, and maximize their influence in an ever-evolving business environment. Whether you find yourself at the height of your career as a seasoned thought leader, or whether you stand at the threshold of possibility as an aspiring entrepreneur, the Leveraging Thought Leadership podcast offers an enriching voyage of discovery. Join us as we unravel the enigmatic secrets to success in the vibrant realm of thought leadership, where ideas have the power to shape perceptions, drive change, and inspire action. Together, let us explore how you, too, can engineer value, evoke impact, and cultivate revenue through the sheer power of your ideas and expertise. Welcome aboard.