Customer Reviews
Timeless wisdom in leadership - By: Faure Marvin, 13 Aug 2008 
As an ex-Naval Officer, now consultantin leadership, I couldn't pass this book by.
For many people, "military leadership" means strict hierarchy, shouted orders & unquestioned obedience. This book sets the record straight.
The times when shouted orders are necessary are actually few & far between, & unquestioned obedience is earned by mutual respect, patiently built over a long period of time. The book is particularly striking for the emphasis placed on earning that respect, & for the warning against the abuse of power.
In organisations today the abuse of power is usually called "ego" & overbearing managers are referred to as Alpha males. Such behaviour remains unfortunately prevalentin the workplace & is the source of much harmful stress.
In the words of Admiral Willis, Second Sea Lord, writingin 1944: "Do not forget that it is within your power to cause considerable mental anguish to your younger officers by a consistent tone of sarcasm & contempt... & what is worse, nobody is going to tell you about it. In all officers, but above allin Commanding Officers, the words Officer & Gentleman should be entirely synonymous".
The book is full of good, specific advice for peoplein leadership positions. This advice remains as validin organisations today as it wasin the wartime Royal Navyin 1944.
Here is one example:
"You must look upon your talks with your men as one of the most important things you do. An intelligent man wants both information & inspiration. Work out exactly how to say it beforehand. If Winston Churchill has to rehearse all his speeches, there is no reason why you should not. Explain all you can, giving praise where due."
To get the most of the book, you will nevertheless need a minimum of interest & sympathy for the conditions of life at seain a warship. At only £3.99, you don't have much to lose!
Nostalgic, Capturing and Practical! - By: Nicholas Dufton, 22 Dec 2007 To start with, wow! What an insight into the 1944 Navy, it reveals aspects which intrigue & surprise. It's amazing to see how elements of the naval ships then still live onin the modern navy today. This book is a must have for any person/persons wishing to join Her Majesty's Navy, like me. To have read this book reassures, but also helps you to understand where a leader comes from, just exactly how to lead & how to be successful.
It's got every eventualityin it with a guide on how to deal with said event. It's also amazing to see how valued the knowledge was, you weren't allowed to share any of it's content with anyone you suspected not to have read it!
It's detailed images & traditional structure create a book which captures your imagination, & it allows you to envisage, to a certain extent, what it was like to servein 1944.
A must have book, especially if you wish to join the navy today!
A Gem - relevant for leaders and for all naval officers today - By: L. E. May, 16 Oct 2007 This little book is indeed a gem. Not only does one salute the writers for their incisive advice to Royal Navy officersin a time of total war, this book makes clear the steep learning curve of those many civilians who became sea officersin World War II. The introduction begins with a lovely quotation from some time RNVR officer Sir Alec Guinness.
But this is more than a document - rather, a collection of documents - of war history. It is a pocket-book that will be instructive for naval officers, of any nationality, even today. Anyone who has had sea command, indeed servedin a warship, will enjoy reflecting on chapters entitled "Your Ship", "HMS Duncan - Captain's Orders" & "The Home Fleet Destroyer Orders". Thosein the sick bay might not so much enjoy the two chapters aimed at Medical Officers at seain wartime!
Any naval rating who has been a defaulter will be interested to see the advice offered to investigating officers (too late to request 'to state a complaint' now, though!) & the final chapter, on "Mutinyin the Royal Navy", is a lesson for all time.
The section on leadership is just as relevant today, perhaps moreso, & is not just for naval officers; the advice should be read by anyonein a leadership role, whetherin the armed forces or civilian life. Those who have servedin the Royal Navy, as well as other services, will surely nodin agreement as they read "Never forget that the Ratings have few rights; but they definitely have got a right to good Officers", & "Do not despise advice tendered to you by your subordinates", as well as "There is nothing more irritating to a sailor than to be addressed as 'You there' or something akin to that. He likes to know that he is known by name." At this price, I'd wager that this is one of the best value books on leadership on the market today - the basics are timeless. There are indeed good lessons from history.
For those with an interestin family history, with ancestors or relatives who servedin the Royal Navy, this little volume will certainly give a good idea of the responsibilities of naval officers & of lifein the Royal Navy. Although the book cover states 1944, it could just as well read 1964, 1984 or, perhaps, 2004.
Finally, a delightful idea. It is time for me to thank, albeit belatedly, some of those sea captains & other officers who shaped my naval career and, indeed, life. An inscribed copy of this book is ideal to give as a token of gratitude, as a salute, to those fine naval officers (now all, dare I say, rather old sea dogs!). Aye aye, Sir!
