Leadership and Organizational Development: Lessons from the USS Constitution and the Age of Fighting Sail

摘要

The USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat in the world (1-3). Saved repeatedly at the 11th hour from the scrap heap of time, this magnificent warrior of the high seas continues to deserve attention today as a laboratory for learning about leadership, organizational structure, risk taking, and courage. The history of the USS Constitution is inspiring, and many of the lessons it. offers remain widely applicable.Sailing ships of war venturing over the horizon in centuries past, with no means of long-distance resupply or communication and limited navigational capability, had little leeway for any deviation from their primary missions. Successful captains and crews shared a strong understanding of their circumstances and achieved levels of operational performance that contemporary organizations might well envy even now. Please join me on a brief journey in time.