David Marquet

Captain David Marquet imagines a workplace where everyone engages and contributes their full intellectual capacity—a place where people are healthier and happier because they have more control over their work; a place where everyone is a leader.

After being assigned to command the nuclear-powered submarine USS Santa Fe, then ranked last in retention and operational standing, he realized the traditional leadership approach of “take control, give orders,”wouldn’t work. He “turned his ship around” by treating the crew as leaders, not followers, and giving control, not taking control. This approach took the SantaFe from “worst to first,” achieving the highest retention and operational standings in the navy.

After Captain Marquet’s departure from the ship, the Santa Fe continued to win awards and promoted a disproportionate number of officers and enlisted men to positions of increased responsibility, including ten subsequent submarine captains. Further, having been on the ship, Stephen R. Covey said it was the most empowering organization he’d ever seen, and wrote about Captain Marquet’s leadership practices in his book The 8th Habit.

Fortune magazine called Marquet’s book Turn theShip Around! the “best how-to manual anywhere for managers on delegating, training, and driving flawless execution.”