David Marquet’s leadership was put to the ultimate test when he took command of the Santa Fe, a submarine plagued by poor morale and low performance.
Trained in a traditional “command and control” model, Marquet quickly realized it was ineffective. After unknowingly giving an impossible order that his crew blindly followed, he recognized a dangerous flaw in leadership.
Determined to shift course, Marquet introduced a radical approach: empowering every crew member to take responsibility. As each sailor became a leader, the Santa Fe transformed from the worst-performing submarine to the best in the fleet.
But could Marquet’s model of “leadership at every level” truly revolutionize an entire organization?
Explore how one man’s bold decision forever changed Navy leadership—and how it could change yours.
