Email Adam Email
Financial
Nov 15, 2017

Leadership Lessons From The Battleship

Sponsored Content provided by Adam Shay - Director of VCFO Services, Red Bike Advisors

Our team was fortunate enough to recently take part in a lunch-and-learn Academy Leadership session with Ron Hewett at the USS North Carolina

It was an interesting afternoon spent discovering more about how leadership principles that apply to life on a battleship can also apply to our modern-day accounting firm. 

Each of us took away different lessons from the session, but there were five main takeaways:

  1. Everything you do should reflect professionalism. You can have fun doing what you're doing, but you should always leave that impression of professionalism.  What are people's first impressions when they walk into an office? Do they feel comforted and reassured by your professionalism? How do people and data flow in and out of your organization?
  2. People should be held accountable for the work they do… or don’t do. There should be rewards for jobs well-done, as well as repercussions for not meeting expectations.  Accountability is a key component of the autonomous environment that flat-level organizations operate. While the military is anything but a flat organization, accountability is a core value of military life.
  3. Do Your Job. Tied to the previous point, you have an obligation and expectation to do the job you are supposed to do. Other team members, as well as customers, are depending upon you.   You don't want to let them down. Do what is expected of you - and more.
  4. Communication and Feedback. There should be constant communication and feedback within a team. People need to know who is doing what and what they each can do to help the team succeed. We need to take a more frequent step out of the digital world and do those in-person meetings and phone calls.
  5. Everyone has to take his or her responsibilities seriously, not shirk them. Accepting responsibilities brings opportunities for success and growth.
It was exciting to spend part of an afternoon on the battleship and enlightening to learn that the principles of leadership required to operate the USS North Carolina during wartime situations in the 1940s can be used in our firm on a day-to-day basis.

Adam Shay, CPA (N.C. License Number 35961), MBA, is managing partner of Adam Shay CPA, PLLC. He focuses on minimizing taxes and improving the financial results of entrepreneurs, and is actively involved in supporting the Wilmington entrepreneurial and startup community. For more information, visit http://www.wilmingtontaxesandaccounting.com/ or email him at [email protected]. He can also be reached by phone at (910) 256-3456.
 

Other Posts from Adam Shay

Redbikeadvisors block[55]
Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
17290874517631

Fall Is the New January for HR Planning

Andy Almeter - Leath HR Group, LLC
Ccoudrietheadshot 942542742

A New Investment Model for Workforce Housing in New Hanover County

Chris Coudriet - New Hanover County Government
Untitleddesign13 162533932

The Hidden Drivers of Enterprise Value

Tully Ryan - IQEXIT

Trending News

7-Eleven Planned At Carolina Beach Road Intersection

Emma Dill - Aug 25, 2026

Hilliard Joins Live Oak Bank

Staff Reports - Aug 25, 2026

As It Vies To Build Hospital Here, Atrium Health Buys 65 Acres In New Hanover County

Cierra Noffke - Aug 24, 2026

Becker Morgan Group Ranks On Top Architecture Firms List

Staff Reports - Aug 25, 2026

Heart Association Recognizes Local Novant Health Facilities

Staff Reports - Aug 25, 2026

In The Current Issue

Protocase Firms Focus Growth Here

In five years, the Proto companies plan to generate $1 billion in annual revenue, according to Protocase co-founder Doug Milburn....


New Bank Laws Aim To Halt Scams

With billions in losses reported each year nationally, “financial scamming is an enormous industry. Scammers literally go to work every sing...


Bridging Gaps In Cancer Care

To date, the region’s only dedicated, comprehensive cancer center is the Novant Health Zimmer Cancer Institute, which originally opened in 2...

Book On Business

The 2026 WilmingtonBiz: Book on Business is an annual publication showcasing the Wilmington region as a center of business.

Order Your Copy Today!


Galleries

Videos

2024 Power Breakfast: The Next Season