Leadership Is Language

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

By: L. David Marquet

Narrated by: L. David Marquet

Wall Street Journal Bestseller

From the acclaimed author of Turn the Ship Around!, former US Navy Captain David Marquet, comes a radical new playbook for empowering your team to make better decisions and take greater ownership.

As a leader in today's networked, information-dense business climate, you don't have full visibility into your organization or the ground reality of your operating environment. In order to harness the eyes, ears, and minds of your people, you need to foster a climate of collaborative experimentation that encourages people to speak up when they notice problems and work together to identify and test solutions.

In Leadership is Language, you'll learn how choosing your words can dramatically improve decision-making and execution on your team. Marquet outlines six plays for all leaders, anchored in how you use language:

• Control the clock, don't obey the clock: Pre-plan decision points and give your people the tools they need to hit pause on a plan of action if they notice something wrong.

• Collaborate, don't coerce: As the leader, you should be the last one to offer your opinion. Rather than locking your team into binary responses ("Is this a good plan?"), allow them to answer on a scale ("How confident are you about this plan?")

• Commit, don't comply: Rather than expect your team to comply with specific directions, explain your overall goals, and get their commitment to achieving it one piece at a time.

• Complete, not continue: If every day feels like a repetition of the last, you're doing something wrong. Articulate concrete plans with a start and end date to align your team.

• Improve, don't prove: Ask your people to improve on plans and processes, rather than prove that they can meet fixed goals or deadlines. You'll face fewer cut corners and better long-term results.

• Connect, don't conform: Flatten hierarchies in your organization and connect with your people to encourage them to contribute to decision-making.

In his last book, Turn the Ship Around!, Marquet told the incredible story of abandoning command-and-control leadership on his submarine and empowering his crew to turn the worst performing submarine to the best performer in the fleet. Now, with Leadership is Language he gives businesspeople the tools they need to achieve such transformational leadership in their organizations.

Critic reviews

Early praise for Leadership is Language

“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, and host of the TED podcast WorkLife

“Leaders have to make difficult decisions every day under conditions of uncertainty. How can they get the best information and ideas from their people to help them decide? Leadership is Language is a refreshing, actionable framework that helps you navigate uncertainty and tackle thorny problems by bringing out the best in your people.” —Annie Duke, author of Thinking in Bets

“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 – dropping the archaic language of command and control and learning the language of creativity, collaboration, and commitment.””
—Liz Wiseman, author of Multipliers

“Another outstanding book from Marquet – and 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 and use a different, “more blue” model going forward.” —Verne Harnish, founder of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and author of Scaling Up

“How do you motivate team and individuals to do their best, be their best? Marquet’s latest illustrates the powerful intersection of communication and leadership, with simple steps to transform your thinking, your influence, and the lives in your span of care.” —Bob Chapman, CEO of Barry-Wehmiller and author of Everybody Matters

Fantastic!!

I loved this book. I listened to it, talked about it and have gave a copy away.
Great read!

The Words We Need to Lead

Marquet, in this book, gives leaders in any organization the words and phrases to bring about the culture he describes in Turn the Ship Around. If you’ve struggled, like I have, in implementing Turn the Ship Around, this is the guidebook you’ve been looking for!

I love Marquet’s enthusiasm in narrating his own book.

Life altering guidance from the leader of a genera

I love this book!!!!! Leadership masterclass! This is a must read for anyone in a leadership role!!!

Great for Any Leader

really enjoyed this book. took a little while to get moving but has some very good tips and approaches to leading!

Language is not only about words

Thank you David for this book reminding us that our language go beyond words and speech.