In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins, MD, and co-host Justin Hamrick dissect the powerful, often misunderstood, concept of servant leadership. The conversation addresses the notion that to succeed, leaders must "step on other people," arguing instead that sacrificial leadership—prioritizing follower growth and well-being over personal glory—is the true path to organizational success.

The hosts differentiate this leadership style across contexts, from the military maxim of "officers eat last" to a CEO forgoing a bonus for frontline jobs. They emphasize that great leaders lead from a position of responsibility, not privilege.

Key insights from the science of leadership include:

• The Win-Win Phenomenon: Giving credit away is not a zero-sum game; it returns more influence and effectiveness to the leader.
• Scientific Validation: Servant leadership is strongly associated with increased trust, loyalty, job performance, and follower well-being.
• Neuroscience: Acts of selflessness activate mirror neurons in followers, fostering emotional resonance and a shared sense of purpose.

The episode concludes with actionable take-home points for adopting the "leader as servant" mindset , including: shielding in public, coaching in private , and making visible gestures of sacrifice that are authentic, not performative.

Previous Episodes Mentioned:

A Leader's Wake: Creating a Lasting Legacy feat. General Vince Brooks | Ep. 2

How to Create Successful Change with Dr. Richard Boyatzis | Ep. 16

Also, I want to remind listeners about the release of my book, "The Four Stars of Leadership," a culmination of over three years of dedicated work, and I'm confident it will be an immensely interesting and helpful guide on your journey to becoming a better leader. Don't miss out on this essential resource—order your copy today at Amazon or Barnes & Nobles and share your thoughts with me!

Sharpen your leadership skills: Subscribe now on your favorite podcast app to ensure you don't miss an episode dedicated to helping you become a better leader.

To learn more about the Science of Leadership, visit https://www.fourstarleaders.com/

Key References

1. Boyatzis, R. E., Smith, M. L., & Beveridge, A. J. (2012). Coaching with compassion: Inspiring health, well-being, and development in organizations. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 48(2), 149–178.
2. Collins, T. (2025). The Four Stars of Leadership: Scientifically-Derived Principles from America’s Highest-Ranking Leaders. Four Star Leaders.
3. Eva, N., Robin, M., Sendjaya, S., van Dierendonck, D., & Liden, R. C. (2019). Servant leadership: A systematic review and call for future research. The Leadership Quarterly, 30(1), 111–132.
4. Greenleaf, R. K. (1977). Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness. Paulist Press.
5. Liden, R. C., Wayne, S. J., Zhao, H., & Henderson, D. (2008). Servant leadership: Development of a multidimensional measure and multilevel assessment. The Leadership Quarterly, 19(2), 161–177.

In this insightful episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins, MD, talks with Bob Tiede, author of Success Unlocked: The Transformative Power of Questions and long-time campus ministry leader. They explore the core idea of leading with questions, which Bob confesses changed him from a "benevolent dictator" into a far more effective leader.

Bob argues that leading with questions is the "hidden symbol" of effective leadership. When leaders ask and genuinely listen to their staff, several transformative things happen:

• Better Ideas: There is a probability that a staff member will have an idea better than the leader's.
• Ownership and Motivation: Staff members are empowered to execute their own ideas, leading to 1000% effort and ownership.
• Trust and Respect: Leaders build immense trust by showing honesty and admitting when they don't know the answer, then asking, "How could we find out the answer?".

The episode features two foundational principles and simple tools:

1. The Gold Nugget Method: Bob explains that research shows people instinctively roll out a "safe answer" first, and it's not until the third and fourth question ("What else? What else?") that you reach their best thought or "gold nugget".
2. The Eight-Second Rule: To listen effectively, leaders must wait 8 seconds before jumping in, as the average person only waits 2-3 seconds. This intentional silence ensures that people feel heard and fully share their ideas.

Bob shares compelling real-world examples, including how Navy Captain Michael Abrashoff transformed the morale of the USS Benfold from "worst to first" simply by conducting one-on-one meetings and asking three powerful questions , and how asking the frontline staff at Walt Disney World Laundry Services slashed employee turnover.

Also, I want to remind listeners about the release of my book, "The Four Stars of Leadership," a culmination of over three years of dedicated work, and I'm confident it will be an immensely interesting and helpful guide on your journey to becoming a better leader. Don't miss out on this essential resource—order your copy today at Amazon or Barnes & Nobles and share your thoughts with me!

Sharpen your leadership skills: Subscribe now on your favorite podcast app to ensure you don't miss an episode dedicated to helping you become a better leader.

To learn more about the Science of Leadership, visit https://www.fourstarleaders.com/

References

Cannon-Bowers JA, Bowers CA, Carlson CE, Doherty SL, Evans J, Hall J. Workplace coaching: a meta-analysis and recommendations for advancing the science of coaching. Front Psychol. 2023 Oct 10;14:1204166. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1204166. PMID: 37881215; PMCID: PMC10597717.

Collins, T. (2025). The Four Stars of Leadership: Scientifically-Derived Principles from the Experiences of America’s Highest-Ranking Leaders. Four Star Leaders.

Huang, K., Yeomans, M., Brooks, A. W., Minson, J., & Gino, F. (2017). It doesn't hurt to ask: Question-asking increases liking. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 113(3), 430–452. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000097

Marquardt, M. J., & Tiede, B. (2023). Leading with Questions: How Leaders Discover Powerful Answers by Knowing How and What to Ask. Wiley.

Tiede, B. (2020). Now That’s a Great Question. Bob Tiede

Tiede, B. (2025). Success Unlocked: The Transformative Power of Questions. Bob Tiede.

Wang, Q., Hou, H., & Li, Z. (2022). Participative Leadership: A Literature Review and Prospects for Future Research. Front Psychol. 2022 Jun 3;13:924357. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.924357. PMID: 35719563; PMCID: PMC9204162.

In this electrifying episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins welcomes retired Navy two-star Admiral Mike Manazir—Top Gun fighter pilot, former commander of the USS Nimitz, and author of Learn to Lead to Win. They explore the foundational leadership concept of trust, revealing why it's not just a soft skill, but an operational necessity, especially in high-stakes environments.

Admiral Manazir shares that an effective leader needs to accomplish only two things: ensure every team member feels valued and feels part of something bigger than themselves. He asserts that trust is the core of this human connection, and a leader must be the first person to extend that trust. This extension, he notes, initiates the Pygmalion Effect, inspiring the team to be trustworthy in return.

The Admiral brings this concept to life with two incredible, visceral "sea stories":

The Golden Knights Jump: He recounts the paralyzing fear he felt at the door of a plane and how the total competence and trust he had in his Delta Force jump instructors instantly took the fear away.

The High-Stakes Landing: He shares the story of a catastrophic partial ejection aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and how the success of the emergency landing hinged on the mutual trust between the pilot, the ship's captain, and the Landing Signal Officer (himself).

The episode also delves into the science, explaining that trust is the foundational element that enables psychological safety. Admiral Manazir offers practical advice, emphasizing that delegation must be the primary action for extending trust—tell your team the what and the when, but never the how. He ultimately concludes that if a leader wants to be trusted, they must first be trustworthy themselves.

Sharpen your leadership skills: Subscribe now on your favorite podcast app to ensure you don't miss an episode dedicated to helping you become a better leader.

To learn more about the science of leadership, visit https://www.fourstarleaders.com/

Resources A-6 Partial Ejection Story: https://gallagherstory.com/ejection_seat/ Rear Admiral Manazir's webpage: https://mikemanazir.com/

References

Edmondson, A. (1999). Psychological Safety and Learning Behavior in Work Teams. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(2), 350–383. https://doi.org/10.2307/2666999

Edmondson, A. C. (2018). The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth. John Wiley & Sons.

Mayer, R. C., Davis, J. H., & Schoorman, F. D. (1995). An Integrative Model of Organizational Trust. Academy of Management Review, 20(3), 709-734.