Being a Leader Who Builds Others with Doug Crandall | Ep. 60 | The Science of Leadership

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, Tom Collins is joined by West Point instructor and leadership expert Doug Crandall to discuss a core trait of great leaders: building people. Doug introduces the concept that leaders are always either building people up or diminishing them. He defines a builder as a leader who makes people feel more capable, more confident, and more valued.

Doug shares powerful personal stories, including one about Colonel Casey Brewer (now General), who went out of his way to affirm Doug early in his career and even quietly corrected a spelling mistake in an email before forwarding it to the entire department. This small act of grace built immense trust and demonstrated the profound impact of tiny, intentional actions.

The conversation delves into the "builder's mindset," which Doug attributes to relentlessly focusing on positive thinking about the people you lead. He offers practical advice on how to develop this mindset, including:

• Cutting off negative thoughts before they complete themselves.
• The profound impact of believing you've "never met a bad cadet" (or employee/player).
• The psychological reality of the Pygmalion Effect: people rise—or fall—to the level of expectation set for them.

Doug emphasizes that true builders are "relentlessly positive and unapologetically demanding". However, he warns that high standards without assurance of capability lead to burnout and cynicism. Citing neuroscience, he explains that sustained positive and optimistic thinking literally reshapes the brain and changes how we perceive and interact with others.

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References

• Crandall, D. (Ed.) (2009). Leadership lessons from West Point. Jossey-Bass.
• Gladwell, M. (2007). Blink: The power of thinking without thinking. Back Bay Books.
• Newberg, A., & Waldman, M. R. (2013). Words can change your brain: 12 conversation strategies to build trust, resolve conflict, and increase intimacy. Avery.