If you’d ask me tenwty years ago, if the captain of a nuclear-powered submarine could teach us something about leadership in complex environments – I would prety much shook my head.
But it’s true – David Marquet introduced “intent based leadership” and by giving control and granting responsibility for everything a colleague did, from simple tasks to crucial combat decisions.
“Turn the Ship Around!” by L. David Marquet tells the compelling story of a naval officer who transforms a struggling submarine crew into a top-performing team through a radical leadership approach. When Marquet takes command of the USS Santa Fe, he quickly realizes that traditional, top-down leadership won’t work. Instead of giving orders, he empowers his crew to take ownership and make decisions. This “leader-leader” model fosters a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement. Marquet’s crew, once demoralized and underperforming, becomes one of the best in the fleet. His story illustrates that leadership isn’t about controlling people but about giving them the authority and responsibility to lead themselves. By shifting from a command-and-control approach to one that promotes empowerment and trust, Marquet shows that any organization can be transformed through shared leadership and a commitment to excellence.
Albrecht Günther 