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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 Thought-Provoking Submarine

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
The practical nature of this leadership book is enhanced by the many stories with real examples recounted by author.

Helpful structure of book from beg to end. I listened because I purchased w audible to many chapters more than once. In the end I ordered my own book so I can go back and more easily highlight my favourite bit.

I believe my leadership of my staff and other groups I lead - will forever be different and I hope in time to be able to emulate the captain at the end of the story rather than where I am right now which is more like the captain at beginning of the book.

Highly recommended.

Vote first then discuss

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struggled to finish as I felt in places it was repetitive. in saying that I think it did help to drive the concepts home.

great story to link leadership concepts

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Some very useful concepts but the OVER emphasis on EVERY third word REALLY grated on MY ears after A while. I struggled TO listen to THE end.

Some useful concepts. Shame about the narration.

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This book had good points but they were dragged out too much.

The last few chapters were worth the read.

Tought to get through

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