Leadership Is Language cover art

Leadership Is Language

The Hidden Power of What You Say and What You Don't

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Leadership Is Language

By: L. David Marquet
Narrated by: L. David Marquet
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About this listen

'Full of compelling advice on how to lead more effectively by choosing your words more wisely' -ADAM GRANT, author of Originals and Give and Take

Your words matter more than you think

Most of us use the language we inherited from a time when workers worked with their hands and managers worked with their heads. Today, your people do much more than simply follow orders. They contribute to performance and solve problems, and it's time we updated our language to reflect that.

In Leadership Is Language, former US Navy captain L. David Marquet offers a radical playbook to empower your people and put your team on a path to continuous improvement. The framework will help you achieve the right balance between deliberation and action, and take bold risks without endangering your mission. Among other things, you'll learn:

· How to avoid the seven common sins of questioning, from binary questions (should we do A or B?) to self-affirming questions (B is the better option, right?)
· Why you should vote first, then discuss, when deciding on a plan with your team, rather than voting after discussion
· Why it's better to give your people information instead of instructions

As a submarine captain, Marquet used his counterintuitive model of leadership to turn the worst-performing submarine crew into the best-performing one in the fleet, a story he recounted in his bestselling book Turn the Ship Around! Now, in Leadership Is Language, he draws on a wide range of examples, from the 2017 Oscars Best Picture mishap to the tragic sinking of the SS El Faro, to show you exactly how the words you use (and don't use) impact how your people contribute.

Career Success Leadership Literary History & Criticism Management Management & Leadership Meetings & Presentations Business Inspiring Thought-Provoking Submarine

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Critic reviews

Full of compelling advice on how to lead more effectively by choosing your words more wisely
A fascinating new paradigm for our modern leader that relies on a balance between thinking and doing, welcoming and minimizing variability, to get the most out of our teams and organizations
A refreshing, actionable framework that helps leaders navigate uncertainty and tackle thorny problems by bringing out the best in their people
In Turn The Ship Around, Marquet challenged us to change the way we lead; Now, in Leadership is Language, he challenges us to change the way we talk as leaders by dropping the archaic language of command and control and learning the language of creativity, collaboration, and commitment
A truly unique take on leadership that re-engineers our language. Anchored in how teams actually talk, Marquet shows leaders how to leave the Industrial Age language behind us
Illustrates the powerful intersection of communication and leadership and offers simple steps to transform your thinking, your influence, and the lives in your span of care
Drawing on a wide variety of examples from all kinds of organisation, David Marquet has written an impressive and engaging book which is not just thought-provoking, but offers simple, actionable ways of escaping the traps that our words lay for us

The definitive guide for those seeking to be real leaders in transformative times. David not only shows us how business and leadership has drastically changed and why the structures of yesterday are hindering our ability to business, but also how to reinvent our leadership style to meet the evolving demands of the new marketplace

This book is brilliant. Seriously
I have seen David in action using words to truly inspire and empower. This is a must-read for every leader!
All stars
Most relevant
Being new to all this I have tried several books on leadership and management , This is by far my favourite, lots of usefull tools and strategies.

Great book, easy listen

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I found this thought provoking, with useful techniques to improve as a leader. I've used some of the "plays" and found they really help bring out the potential in teams. I recommend this to all leaders (even more than 'turn the ship around', which is excellent too)

Thought provoking...

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More topics than just language, but adds new dimensions to communication, strategy & doing stuff. Highly recommended!

Outstanding

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Excellent book - I'd read turn the ship around previously and couldn't wait to get started on Marquet's newest release, it didn't disappoint!

Irrelevant of whether you want to be, are already or have no interest in becoming a leader, you should read/listen to this book. The lessons and tips are as useful for every day life as they are for the workplace.

I'm off to do some blue work...!

Everyone should read this!

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My full review is here: https://cxbeyondthemetrics.com/2020/02/16/how-to-be-the-best-leader-you-can-focus-on-language/

The language of leaders has the power to change lives. Every leader is obligated to understand their role in transforming lives. Leaders that choose not to have a focus on language will change culture in ways that have unexpected consequences, and, can change lives in ways they did not originally intend to.

David Marquet recently released a very important book on leadership, challenging the incumbent and very present industrial age leadership playbook that continues to infuse itself into organisations, defining the culture and ultimately the results of the company.

The key takeaway from Marquet’s book is that a culture, without a thought-through approach on the language of leadership, is most likely to continue an industrial era leadership playbook that is unacceptable in this modern age. Organizational restructures, leadership , diversity and inclusion programs and other change management or transformation approaches, with the backdrop of management principles from the industrial era, will most likely be a waste of money. Marquet’s book is therefore a good use of your time to understand why. One thing is for sure, when the language plays out an industrial era leadership playbook, you can guarantee you are not going to be in control of the culture you are striving for.

What can you do? Marquet offers a practical way to execute the new leadership playbook and how to leave behind the industrial era playbook (the one that might not drive the culture you want and you may even lose lives)…..

How 2 be the best leader you can-Focus on Language

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