577: Former Submarine Commander L. David Marquet on How Leaders Make Better Decisions

L. David Marquet, former nuclear submarine commander and author of Leadership Is Language, shares a precise, operational approach to leadership, one that replaces command-and-control with a language designed for clarity, ownership, and adaptability. Drawing on his experience turning the USS Santa Fe from one of the worst-performing submarines in the fleet to one of the best, David shows how seemingly small shifts in language can radically improve decision-making, learning speed, and execution.

 

David rejects the traditional leader–follower model in favor of a leader–leader framework, where decision rights are pushed “to the people closest to the information.” He explains how questions, statements, and the timing of communication directly shape whether teams think critically or default to compliance.

 

“What we say and when we say it changes what people do. Language is a leadership technology.”

 

Key Takeaways:

• Replace Permission with Intent
  Moving from “Can I…?” to “I intend to…” changes accountability and ownership:
  “When people tell me what they intend to do, they’re already owning the decision.”
  
  

• Protect Redwork and Bluework
  David distinguishes between redwork (doing) and bluework (thinking/planning) and stresses keeping them separate:
  “Mixing them degrades both. You want focused doing and focused thinking.”
  
  

• Sequence for Thinking, Not Speed
  Meetings often reward quick answers over thoughtful ones. Asking the most junior person to speak first helps reduce conformity bias.
  
  

• Use Language to Invite Dissent
  Adding uncertainty—“I’m not sure, but…”—creates psychological safety and surfaces crucial information that might otherwise stay hidden.
  
  

• Leaders Design Systems, Not Just Give Answers
  The leader’s job is to build communication structures that distribute thinking and enable faster adaptation in changing conditions.
  
  

This episode is a practical blueprint for leaders who want to operationalize empowerment without losing control. By deliberately changing how they speak and listen, executives can create teams that are more resilient, accountable, and high-performing.

 

Get David’s new book here: https://shorturl.at/sv6QO

Distancing: How Great Leaders Reframe to Make Better Decisions

 

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